Carol and Dale Barnhurst were freshmen at Andrews University when they met. Carol worked in the cafeteria, and it was there where Dale got her attention. Carol says it was Dale's "sparkly eyes" that first drew her to him. Dale recalls intentionally choosing to go through her serving line because he "liked her smile." Through mutual friends, Carol and Dale later learned each other's names, and a great friendship began.

Dale was a math major, but during his freshman year he attended a week of prayer where he heard an invitation extended to students who wanted to commit their lives to pastoral ministry. Dale says that's when he started running, and he ran from the idea of ministry for close to a year. He began to make excuses as to why he shouldn't pursue ministry, such as he was an "introvert" and "didn't speak real well." Dale also wanted to try to draw some family members back to church and thought being a minister might hinder those plans. He says one day he just became convinced being a minister was what the Lord wanted him to do. He was impressed that God was telling him, "I want you to do it and if you don't do it, it's going to hurt our relationship." Dale remembers saying, "Okay, Lord, I get it."

At the same time the Holy Spirit was working on Dale's heart, Carol also formed a new relationship with God. Carol's father died during her junior year in academy, and she had begun to run from God. Carol was angry because He let her father die, and says she made choices that weren't the best for her life. But during a week of prayer—the same week of prayer where Dale heard the invitation to commit his life to ministry—Carol recommitted her heart to the Lord. She remembers thinking, Yes, I want to serve the Lord.

Carol had been told earlier in life, "You'd make a good pastor's wife." But she couldn't see herself in the role of the stereotypical pastor's wife. Carol remembers thinking, "No. I don't think so." She didn't play the piano, didn't sing up front, and says she wasn't good with felts—which she believed was expected of a pastor's wife. So when Dale shared his conviction about changing majors so he could be a minister, Carol wasn't real excited, but she wanted to be his wife. She told Dale, "Okay, if that's what you want to do. If that's what God's wanting you to do, you better do it."

One and a half years later, Carol and Dale enrolled in the first Engaged Encounter class taught by Sue and Don Murray. They united their lives shortly thereafter and soon began an adventurous ministry journey together.

Carol and Dale currently serve the members of the Eldorado, Marion, and West Frankfort congregations in the Illinois Conference. What really excites Dale about ministry might surprise you. "It's the paycheck," he said emphatically. But the paycheck he's talking about is when he sees an individual's life being changed by God. He enjoys seeing the light go on in someone's eyes as they are led to Christ, and when they all of a sudden say, "Yeah, this is what I've been looking for."

Dale often witnesses God's hand at work when he studies with an individual. At times he also watches Him leading at other events or places, such as youth events, camping outings, or float trips. He says baptism is just the culmination, but it's the actual change in someone's life that brings him joy. Many times, Carol and Dale see God pulling an individual to Him, but the person's response is not always instantaneous. It brings them great joy to learn about commitments made even after they leave a district.

Carol still doesn't see herself filling the role of pastor's wife she once thought was expected of her, but she has learned that she likes being with people and helping people. She said, "Being a pastor's wife kind of puts me in a position sometimes that I can see other people's needs a little more clearly, and gives me an opportunity to help people out."

Carol and Dale both believe God has placed people in their lives throughout their years of ministry to be a special support and encouragement, and they don't have trouble coming up with names—professors, pastor friends, and conference presidents. They both have always been blessed by church members, too, who go out of their way to encourage them. One woman liked to send cards. Dale remembered one card in particular that Carol received. It reminded them, "As you are tending the garden of your ministry, don't spend all the time chasing the rabbits, but tend the garden, too." They appreciated her gentle message and said it stuck with them a long time.

As they looked back at these special friendships, Carol and Dale say they didn't necessarily choose them. Dale says, "A bond developed and it just took off." Carol is pretty sure each of the individuals they mentioned had, at one time or another, said they were praying for them. She said, "That, to me, is so awesome, when someone out of the clear blue says, 'I've been praying for you,' in our church. And I know they mean it. It isn't just something trite, because I know those particular people are prayer warriors. And when they say they are praying for us, they mean it. It is usually quite specific and genuine."

Dale believes God placed these individuals in their lives as a gift, and a support. And he believes prayer is the foundation of their relationship with Christ. Dale and Carol pray together every day. Dale says, "It's what makes our relationship with God work, and makes it stronger, and makes it relevant. Without it, ministry wouldn't happen. We have to have a prayer life to make ministry happen, because we're not the ones that makes things happen; it's God that makes it happen. If we're not asking, then we're not receiving. If we're not receiving, we're not getting a blessing, and we're not able to be a blessing."

Dale says the most important message God has given him to share is the importance of a relationship with Jesus. As Dale spoke, his thoughts drifted back to his childhood. He and a special friend used to say to one another, "We're really good friends, but our Best Friend is Jesus." Though Dale admits He drifted away from Christ for a while, it was after his high school years while reading through The Desire of Ages that he put his relationship with his Best Friend back together. That experience stuck with him, and now he focuses on the importance of building that relationship with Jesus. As he prepares every sermon, he asks himself, "How does this help me in my relationship," and he wants to be sure it will help his church members in their relationship with Jesus Christ, too.

When Dale encounters individuals who question whether they want to be a Seventh-day Adventist, he continues to encourage them to take a look at their relationship with God to be sure it is intact and growing. "If it is," he tells them, "God will guide them." Dale has seen the ministries of individuals flourish as they realize that a relationship with Jesus is the key, and they once again put their lives in God's hands.

Dale says, "If our relationship is intact and growing, we will want to do what He wants us to do. Everything He asks us to do is easier to do. It's a given, whatever He asks us to do then we'll do. That, for me, is the most important [key] in my own life and in our ministry."

Dale's message to you is, "Keep loving Jesus and keep faithful to what He wants all of us to do, because I believe He is coming soon."

Diane Thurber is the Lake Union Conference assistant communication director.