A Pastoral Update: LaMar & Teresa

As the personal pastor for LaMar and Teresa, I often receive requests for an update on their journey. Those kind and caring voices reflect the great depth of love which so many have for both of them.

So, I want to bring you – friends and ministry supporters – up to date on each of them. In doing so, I will (with their permission) be quoting directly from recent conversations and email from them. 

Obviously, the past fifteen months have brought radical change. LaMar has gone from complete terror through loss, depression, isolation and into complete brokenness. He lost his marriage, ministry, reputation, home, car, income, and (at least for the moment) the relationship with his son, Jordan. 

And, Teresa, through no transgression of her own, felt like her world was blown apart. She too lost her marriage and home. Additionally, she lost her job of 30 years, and even her longtime pet (Chase died in the midst of all this). Naturally, she felt the loss of Jordan in a different way. His move to Vancouver, Canada was the final loss of her family unit. 

Also, during this same period of time, she had surgery for a torn rotator cuff and was diagnosed with diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. 

New Realities

The Bible says “where sin abounded, grace abounded much more.” (Romans 5:20). In the mysterious wisdom of God, sin often leverages a larger load of grace. And, we are seeing that wonderful dynamic at work with LaMar and Teresa. All that they have experienced has brought them to new realities.

Teresa felt she should divorce LaMar so his motivations for restoration would be for all the right reasons. As her and LaMar’s pastor, I agree with her choice; I still hold hope for the future, but that is in God’s hands. In spite of the divorce, both of them are not hostile nor do tensions exist between them. I am so proud of how well they are doing individually. This is a mysterious mix over which the Lord maintains ultimate rule. I have peacefully entrusted the larger process to Him.

For example, LaMar recently told me that he now sees that “Teresa’s only public identity was found in my ministry and I enjoyed the power that it brought me. I failed to help her find her own distinctiveness.”

And, Teresa said, “I love LaMar dearly and I pray he finds success in this new walk. I only want what is good for him. I have no resentment or bitterness towards him…” She adds “from time to time I’ve wanted to hit him across the head and shout ‘WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?!?’” Yes, we all fully understand that; LaMar now wishes he had handed her a baseball bat to help her make the point with him.

As their pastor and friend, I appreciate the new level of maturity, reality and grace in each of them for the other. Sin took a terrible toll. But, in fact, it has not won – the grace of our Lord is larger!

Life Today

Teresa is working full time now as office manager for a home building company (owned by longtime friends).  You can almost hear the new bubble in her voice as she writes, “I am enjoying it very much! And I now have TWO dogs… one – Gracie – my friend & I almost hit one night on a very busy road… she’s the sweetest, most loving dog I’ve ever owned (Bichon Friese). And Bella (Yorkie) was a gift from some very dear friends that were so sad to hear about me losing Chase at such a critical time in my life. Bella and Gracie are wonderful companions to me and also very entertaining!”

LaMar is working mostly as a painter. He also does landscaping and small construction projects. But, the Texas heat has been brutal. So, he is hoping to find something else which will provide sufficient income and…air conditioning! 

He feels like he has turned a corner in life: “The depression, negative thoughts, loneliness and self-condemnation seldom haunt me these days. I have found myself on the other side of a dark and lonely passage. It has been a valley of death, but the Lord has been with me.”

LaMar and Teresa are so blessed by their son Jonathan and his wife, Juliana’s, love and support. This fine couple has been so mature and stable and helpful toward LaMar and Teresa.

Gratitude

Recently, LaMar wrote to me, “I thank God everyday for my job and remind myself this is what everyone does in the real world, far away from the celebrity-ministry fantasy world. I know I could have never made it through this long tunnel and past this turn without my friends.”

That one paragraph marks one of the new dimensions of LaMar: deep and genuine gratitude. I think it looks very good on him!

He also wrote, “I am so grateful to Teresa for her fairness and kindness in helping with the financial details that remain. And, I thank Jonathan for the effort he has shown in looking out for his mother and me. He has been such a wise and very faithful son helping me with my financial decisions. I am grateful to God for this excellent young man.”  

LaMar also wanted to formally and directly express gratitude to and for others:

“I appreciate Bob Sorge for encouraging me when I am so lonely and depressed (He is one of my heroes); Bob Fitts for checking in with me and giving me hope for a brighter future and sending me gifts and lavishing his love on me; Justin and Valerie Ensor for their faithful support and love; Lucy Sebastian for her prayers and concern; Jimmy Botter for being there when I was homeless, and caring for me; Billy & Amy Harrison for taking me in and giving me a job when I had no where to go; Calvin and Rene Brown for helping me when I didn’t know what to do and speaking the Word of God to me and most of all Glen Roachelle for his pastoral care and guidance. He has been a main stay, an anchor for me through this storm.”

And, Teresa also wanted to write something to all of you:

“I am reminded daily of the care for us from so many friends and partners. The encouraging words, financial support, prayers and calls have been overwhelming. I thank you all for helping us walk through this season. My gratitude is especially overwhelming for those that have gone above and beyond…

Thanks to the LaMar Boschman Ministries/Worship Institute Board members, who have given so much of themselves through all these challenges. They have truly been devoted friends to us over our years of ministry.

Our pastors, Glen & Berta Roachelle who have stood with us in their love, wisdom and ongoing counsel and advice. Steve & Nancy Fry for being willing to hear God through all this and take on yet another responsibility in the midst of all their own ministry challenges. Ed Chinn who has given himself once again to take over Executive Director position of WI.com even though he had his own career responsibilities. And our longtime friend, Howard Rachinski, who has given his time and resources as a board member.

Justin & Valerie Ensor, our precious friends and partners whose love and support have been unconditional and generous beyond measure. 

My dear, dear personal friends for life… Lucy, Cindy, Pam, Lynn, Patty, Gerri, Dawn… thank you for your expressions of support, tears, laughter and constant contact, walking through the days and nights of something I never thought I’d be experiencing.”

The Future

As most of you know, Teresa told the Board that she wanted to keep the non-profit entity, LaMar Boschman Ministries, alive because of the great anointing and truth contained in recorded and written products. And, more importantly, she wants an intact organization…for a time when LaMar might return to ministry.

So she works evenings and weekends as needed to fulfill orders, keep the website up and office operating at a minimal.

There is much left to do in LaMar’s restoration, but I am pleased with his progress. He and Teresa both are in a far better place than I expected at this point. They both possess rare quality and resilience. I commend them both. Continue to pray for them.

Sincerely,

Glen Roachelle
Gate Ministries