WELL DONE, GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT

These words of Jesus echo in my mind as I ponder the retirement of our Church Administrator, Yets Saguchi. Yets and I have been serving the Lord together at Evergreen for over twenty-seven fruitful years. As I reflect over the years, I realize that some things change and some things never change.

Prior to hiring Yets, she lived in Japan and returned to a church, which had tripled in size, which meant that she had to meet and interact with a lot of new people.

Some things change – today, we are several times larger than when she first started. Some things never change – she has met and probably knows more people than I do.

When she first started, I used to dictate letters to her, which she would faithfully transcribe, correct and send out via our mail carrier.

Some things change – today, we have computers and e-mail. Some things never change – through it all, she has always been diligent in her responsibilities.

Yets used to formulate, type and reproduce the church bulletins and newsletters, which would then be run off on an offset printer by one of our members who was a printer by trade. We actually owned and operated an offset printer on site.

Some things change – today, she oversees a wonderful office staff that does the work with copiers and color printers. Some things never change – Yets has been always able to adapt to the ever changing environment of a growing church and an ever changing technological world.

In the early days, she helped manage a budget of around $60,000.

Some things, change – today she helps oversee a budget of over $2.5 million. Some things never change – Yets is always concerned with stewardship and the proper management of all funds, no matter how small or large.

We started with a staff of two.

Some things change – on Mondays, we can have a full-staff meeting of up to twenty people.
Some things never change – Yets has always been a great care-giver and listening ear to our entire staff, ever reminding us of proper protocol.

Twenty-seven years ago, Yets was extremely reluctant to lead a Bible Study.

Some things change – today she oversees a Branch Ministry in Monterey Park in which all of the ladies do homework and help lead.

Some things never change – Yets has always loved the people in the church and desired for each of them to grow in the Word of God.

The more I reminisce, the more I come to understand that in the midst of change, some things never change. And because Yets has been so consistent in the things that God has called her to do and to be. I can echo the words of Jesus to her, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Blessings,
Pastor Cory, d.v.

P.S. We will be celebrating her retirement on Sunday, October 8, 2006, with a cake reception between services. There will be a Retirement Dinner in her honor for all those who wish to attend. More news forthcoming.