Carol Buser

After spending my early years through high school in rural western Maryland, a typical farm girl, I moved to Pittsburgh and began my search for new opportunities and challenges. I soon became active in a local Methodist church, experiencing happiness through new friendships and the very circumstances that required my talents. I can vividly recall the chorus of a hymn we sang during a special worship service, “O Jesus, I Have Promised,” that became the invitation for me to spend my life serving others in the name of Jesus Christ: “O Jesus, I have promised, to serve thee to the end; be thou forever near me, my Master and my friend. I shall not fear the battle if thou art by my side; nor wander from the pathway, if thou will be my guide.” Jesus has definitely guided me since that memorable experience.

Soon I was enrolled in a Christian Education and Psychology degree program in Kansas City, taking a full class load and working twenty to thirty hours a week. Frequently, I would ponder whether such a struggle with my commitment was realistic: Did God really expect me to work this hard to fulfill my promise “to serve Thee to the end?” The answer was always, “YES!”
My Christian Education career began with a seven year appointment to Bethany Methodist Church in Wichita, followed by a five year assignment to Pleasant Valley U.M. Church, then a nine year opportunity to serve at United Methodist Youthville in Newton. The longest term at a single institution, which gave me the chance to “serve Thee to the end” was with the Goodwill Easter Seal Society of Kansas, for fifteen years before my retirement. During this entire tenure I was privileged to be an active member of a local United Methodist Church.

The experiences I best remember from all of the roles I have assumed: seeing God at work in the lives of children and youth as they learned about Jesus and His unconditional love for them; getting to see young people give their lives to Jesus Christ and then serve Him faithfully; seeing adults explore the word of God through study of the Scriptures and applying the Word to their daily lives; counseling troubled teens to experience the kind of love only Jesus can promise; teaching persons with disabilities as they found joy and self worth in their lives when they earned their first pay check, learned to cook, shop, and balance a check book, leading to an independent lifestyle. I am convinced that God’s guidance was truly with me during all of these years, as I constantly prayed that my leadership was done within the realm of Jesus’ teaching.

Finally, my testimony would be incomplete without acknowledging how blessed my life has been, by all of the children, youth, and adults I have met and worked with. I have received more love, encouragement, and support during these many years than I could ever have given in return. In these retirement years I will continue to be of service to others in the name of Jesus Christ, and especially be guided by the Scripture found in Matthew 25: 31-45. Thanks be to God!!