Prayer and commitment kick off monthly Vinton City Council meetings. Even when the prayer comes from the same person month after month, the words can stir and set the tone for a meeting marked by the spirit of appreciation, cooperation and compassion.

At the monthly meeting of the Vinton City Council, it is Reverend Rickey Watson who prays.

“My wife, Therese and I got involved by going to city council meetings to play an active role in the community,” Watson said. “Often these prayers include thanks for our administration, board and employees who are ready to serve our community,” he said.

Engaging in a life of service and making himself available to God’s will is what took Watson from the post office to the pulpit.

“I got involved in ministry as a lay person,” Watson said. “Involved in secular language for almost 40 years, I wanted to do more. God just spoke to me and began to open up opportunities to serve.

He served as supply pastor at various churches including Roanoke, Florien, Raymond and Merryville churches until 2016 when he was asked to become an assistant at his home church, Vinton Welsh Memorial United Methodist Church.

“I just have this desire to spread the word of God as best I can and to serve in some capacity,” he said. “I started this as a way to help pastors, take some of the load off them, and it worked a little more.”

Watson recently taught how God put words in Jeremiah’s mouth. Jeremiah is an Old Testament prophet concerned with false and hypocritical worship and lack of trust in God in national affairs.

“God is there for us,” Watson said. “He will not abandon us and he will equip us to do his will. We can get comfortable or settle into our situations. Some of us believe we’ve done our part and there’s nothing left for us. I believe we have something to do every day here on this earth. We often have to step out of our comfort zone.

Christianity, at its core, is an uncomfortable faith, according to CS Lewis who said that if you’re looking for a religion to make yourself comfortable, don’t turn to Christianity.

Not everyone can be called to teach or preach.

“There’s always something we can do to serve, no matter how hard we think about it,” he said. “We can be there for someone with a visit or a phone call.”

Watson said that when God puts it in his heart to visit or call someone and he obeys, he usually gets more out of it than they do. Her favorite verse is: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13).

Watson said he had to remind himself often that it’s not just important to pray, but also to listen.

“Be still and listen to what God has to say,” he said. “Give God a chance.”