Dr. Craig Ward is Senior Pastor at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Clarkesville. To learn more about the church’s ministry visit www.bbcofclarkesville.org. 
Fishing was not a sport in which I was very interested while growing up. Yes, I had an active upbringing pursuing a variety of sports such as baseball, tennis, golf, and cross country. I even tried wresting, basketball, and football for a few seasons but soon realized God did not give me the height or the mass to excel at some things. Indeed, I was involved in a variety of sports. However, “sportsman” sports such as fishing and hunting were not a part of my repertoire.
This lack of fishing was not something to cause concern until I married my wife. My new father-in-law was a diehard fisherman. He invited me to go fishing with him my first spring as the new son-in-law. Remember, fishing was not something in which I had a lot of interest and was not something I knew a lot about. However, the importance of making a good impression on the new father-in-law (aka. Super Fisherman) could not be over stated. Thus, I said yes to his invitation.
Much research took place the week before the trip in an effort to avoid the humiliation of feeling less than a man. The Bill Dance Show was viewed several times. I watched closely as ole’ Bill fixed his bait . . . cast out the line . . . and caught the fish. I even took a fishing rod and practiced casting off my porch in preparation for the big day.
Finally, that Saturday arrived, and we loaded into the boat then headed out to the lake to catch some fish. While traveling to our spot, I envisioned, sitting in the swivel chair with my hat and sunglasses casting and reeling just like Bill Dance. Once at our spot, my father-in-law pulled out what seemed like 100 rods. He baited the hooks, cast the line and placed them in specific holders strategically located around the boat. He then sat in one of the swivel chairs and asked me to sit in another. He opened a cooler at his feet . . . retrieved a Mountain Dew and a moon pie . . . tossed them to me . . . and said, “Let’s fish.”
This was quite different from what I had observed Bill Dance demonstrate on his “fishing show.” He had one rod and spent the whole time casting and reeling, casting and reeling. My father-in-law must of saw the confusion on my face and said, “You will learn something about fishing. The more hooks you got, the more fish you catch.”
Jesus saw some fisherman while walking along the Sea of Galilee. He said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fisher of men.” Christians must realize something very important: Followers of Jesus Fish. If Christians are not fishing, we are not doing our job..
The local church was not designed to be a cruise ship. Yet, most think the church is to be for our pleasure and to meet our needs.. The local church is a fishing boat. The ministries of that church are hooks. The variety of ministries offered are different opportunities to catch fish . . . those who do not know Christ.
My prayer is the churches in Habersham County will get busy doing what we are called to do . . . fish. Realize God chose the church to be the catalyst for a lost and dying world.
