Andy McRae, Pastor

My first job out of college was working as a campus chaplain at Broadview Academy in La Fox, Illinois. Andy McRae was the pastor of the church and eagerly embraced the opportunity to allow me to tag-a-long with him in the tasks of ministry. He introduced me to books and more books as we made frequent trips to the bookstore on the campus of Wheaton College. Andy liked to play in the “sandbox” of ideas. I had the temperament to help take those dreams and make them come to reality. We were a good team.

Here’s a funny story. Andy took me on a visit to the home of a woman who did not belong to our church. She served us each a tall glass of “apple cider.” I took one swallow and it burned my throat. I looked at Andy’s glass and saw he had almost finished his. I surreptitiously exchanged glasses with him but he slid mine back to me with some quip about the need to learn to accept hospitality in my pastoral role. I drank it all. I was 21. On the way home, I threw up in Andy’s car. I think he deserved it. (I haven’t touched the stuff since.)

We were later both associate pastors at Sligo Church in Takoma Park, Maryland.