Shark’s Tooth
After having lived in Myrtle Beach from 1983 to 1991, Dick and Linda Albert realized that one day they would like to return to Myrtle Beach. When vacationing, they always enjoyed worshipping at St. Philip Lutheran Church and hoped one day to make it their more permanent home. In May 2014 after Dick had a bad surgery and started experiencing chronic pain, they decided to leave their home in West Columbia. They moved to Myrtle Beach several months later.
After moving and worshipping again at St. Philip, Dick and Linda were very impressed with Pastor Jason Lee—his warmth and friendliness, competence, his desire for the church to be involved in the community, and his challenge for the church to move forward and not be stagnant. Dick had served as Associate Pastor of St. Philip 1983-1987 and Senior Pastor 1987-1991; and he was aware that as a former pastor, he had to be careful not to negatively affect Pastor Jason in any way. Dick wanted Pastor Jason to feel his support. Dick and Linda were greeted warmly when they became members in November 2014.
At one of the first services upon returning to St. Philip, Dr. Bill Davis stood up and requested that persons from St. Philip serve on a team to pack meals for “Meal Mania” to feed persons in emergency situations all over the world. Dr. Davis, Pastor Jason, and several others, including Dick and Linda, formed a St. Philip team and joined other community teams in packaging the food. It was exciting to be with a group of persons who wanted to help others! Dick didn’t let his chronic pain stop him from serving.
St. Philip continues to provide ways for Dick and others to be in mission, and Dick keeps saying yes. He helps with the homeless most Saturdays—either at Chapin Park or at St. Philip. He was involved with Neighborhood Visitations to knock on doors and share an invitation to St. Philip. Dick is also active with the Men’s Group, the Pastor’s Sabbatical Committee, and other ways that he has found to serve; and as he does, he has discovered that he is less aware of the chronic pain which has plagued him since May 2014.
St. Philip gives Dick opportunities to serve and live out his commitment to Christ which is evident through his involvement at St. Philip and in this community. He also enjoys golf, taking care of all the dogs they’ve had in their lives, and looking for sharks’ teeth - some of which he delights in sharing with children who have never seen a shark’s tooth.
Your generosity provides a place where members can come together and be inspired to reach out to the homeless and others who are in need.