Bridgeway congregation surprises pastor ... twice
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| Bridgeway Pastor Bill Henshaw and his wife, Tammy, feted Friday for their service to their church and their community. |
Pastor Bill Henshaw and his wife, Tammy, didn't know why they were called to the church at 6 p.m., only that they were called and they had to answer. They were stunned to find a crowded foyer, not only of congregants and deacons, but of family and friends there to celebrate their 10th anniversary in service to the church.
It wasn't the first surprise of the night.
Bill and Tammy were married July, 1984.
On a Sunday morning two months later, Tammy insisted they go to church, unknowingly changing their lives forever and setting them on a course to become the servants instead of the served. All it took was a roof and a raised hand.
"Our church needs a new roof!" their pastor pled.
"I have the tools and know how to do that," Bill cried out. Within a week, his church had a sound new covering. Bill and Tammy never stopped serving.
Bill became an ordained pastor, and he and Tammy served congregations as far northwest as Washington and Idaho, as far southeast as Thailand and Vietnam.
They served in Japan, Burma, India, Thailand.
On an October day in 2003, they arrived in Bonners Ferry to serve at the Bonners Ferry Assembly of God.
In 2007, a new church was built on Highway 2, Bridgeway.
Every day since, Bill and Tammy have shared the congregation's joys and blessings, right along with their hardships and pain.
And somehow, the congregation kept a celebration two months in the making hidden.
"We held planning meetings here at the church and just prayed they wouldn't pop in," said one congregant, who asked not to be named.
Ushered to their seats at the head table, Bill and Tammy at first appeared shocked, and later humbled as a fine dinner was served and as the members of their flock shook their hands or hugged them, affirming their gratitude.
Spur of the moment, Bill's brother, Dan, a pastor for 30 years now serving in Washington, stood to both congratulate his little brother and encourage him to keep enduring the heart-wrenching times and the good, to never stop serving.
Obviously moved, neither Bill or Tammy appeared quite ready when Deacon Doug Jensen handed them an envelope, and announced the congregation's gift of gratitude ... bus tickets to and an all expenses paid trip to lovely downtown Elmira, Idaho.
He was kidding, of course. The vacation reflecting so much appreciation will take Bill and Tammy on a vacation to beautiful Friday Harbor, Washington, come spring.