Painting a Legacy
The canvas of Mike Honeycutt’s ministry is filled with images painted by broad and narrow strokes from a palette that represents varied facets of life at Southwood and in Huntsville. When asking various people what they have appreciated or will correlate to Mike’s nine year presence in and among us, the answers reflect the pastor, the friend, the shepherd, the visionary, the theologian or the teacher. His ministry can be marked by broad strokes painting a legacy and fruits of his labor here. The pastor-teacher’s care for a congregation, the vision for vibrant youth ministry and a heart for a dying part of the city will continue to yield fruit after he changes place and ministry focus.
Connections to Mike whether through a sermon, a story, a prayer, books, eating (his spiritual gift), a touch or laughter help paint the colors that fill the edges of the canvas of his ministry to this congregation. As Mike has shared his weaknesses and human failures as they tied to a passage of Scripture, his humble transparency became a conduit for many needing to hear the unending love of the Father. Because of his adherence to the inerrancy of Scripture, Mike often preached from passages which challenged, even if subject matter created discomfort in the listener’s ear.
Sunday worship is also a rich painting. We have seen Mike moved to tears by a hymn text or confession which in turn affected us. Mike has enjoyed visiting in the halls and sanctuary before worship. His shepherd’s heart has ministered to many who have walked through a crisis, experienced loss or needed counsel. The gentle touch of his hand on a shoulder as he spoke the benediction was often the balm to a weary soul. Parents speak of the sweet kiss on their baby’s head after a baptism along with the delighted expression on his face as he held up the little one and introduced him to their new church family.
The Lodge, the second stroke on the canvas, is a manifestation of the life that exists in our junior and senior high youth ministries. Mike’s voice, combined with Ken Leggett’s passion, was a catalyst which enabled our youth have a gathering space designed for their unique interests and needs. The love for our covenant kids and non-Southwood students has created a community filled with winsome talks and the truth of the Gospel, leading to changed lives.
A third image is Lincoln Village. Mike’s response to Mark Stearn’s plea to intervene in the Lincoln Village area was, “How can we not help?” The past five years have been filled with restored homes and lives, healthier bodies and minds, and renewed interest in education and the arts. Those who needed to hear the hope of the Gospel in the midst of desperate economic and personal situations have been offered a cup of living water through ministry, deed and word.
As Mike transitions from pastoring a flock to pastoring students at Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis, MO, he is quick to say that his nine years of ministry at Southwood has equipped him to teach with a pastor’s perspective in an academic arena. In 1999, Mike wrote a letter to the pastor search committee, “My understanding of church history keeps me from being tied to this moment in time enabling me to be more aware of the cultural biases we bring to our study of God’s word.” As Mike enters the classroom, he will bring pastoral ministry experience combined with a heart filled with a deep understanding of grace and with a Kingdom view. He will be able to share how a flock loves a pastor well, the delights of ministry or the struggles and bumps of pastoring and leading fallen people. More importantly, Mike will be able to tell of the joy of seeing lives changed by the Gospel.
His ministry has broadened our view, opening the Kingdom’s windows wider, so that we will all turn everyone we meet into fully devoted followers of Christ where we live, work, play and serve. What a painting! May the students you meet, teach and mentor see the complex, colorful, loving images painted from your time ministering at Southwood. Well done, our good and faithful servant.