Passing of a Mentor
The Revs. Jim Jones, Dennis Ticen & Tom Rough (a few years ago!) Today, the world lost one of the best, a faithful and committed Christian, a man who made a world of difference for me. Dr. Thomas Rough was the senior pastor at High Street United Methodist Church in Muncie, Indiana, when I was appointed there in June 1993. I was a fresh, wide-eyed seminary graduate, out to change the world with (I admit now) absolutely no idea what I was doing. (Seminary teaches you a lot about theology, the Bible, and administration, but honestly very little about actually being a pastor.) Tom quickly became a valued mentor and in the two years I got to work under his supervision and sit under his preaching, I learned how to be a senior pastor. Who I am today in many ways is because of Tom. Early on in my appointment (it may have even been the first day), Tom said something that continues to shape me. I even remember exactly where we were when he said it. He was giving me the "windshield tour...
