The first time I ever learned the name “Dolly Parton” was in my 7th grade science class. While explaining the phases of mitosis and how cells divide, my teacher used the scientific term ‘cleavage’ which was new to many of us in the room. As she defined the word, she asked if any of us in the class had heard of the famous country singer. (I’ll let you fill in the blanks as to why she made such a connection.) Later on in life, after my wife and I began having kids, we learned of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and all five of our children would eventually be blessed recipients of her free book program. Indeed, she is no doubt known just as much today for her philanthropic efforts and generosity as much as her musical (and mitosis adjacent) career. But those things, and the movie Steel Magnolias, was about the extent of my knowledge of the legendary Dolly. That is, until we moved to Fort Myers, Florida in 2023.

When I became the Senior Pastor at Westminster Presbyterian Church (PCA), I would once again have the opportunity learn a bit more about Dolly Parton through working with our Worship Director at the time Randy Thomas. Randy had grown up as a teenager out in California and came to faith during the Jesus Movement in the 1970s. As a talented guitarist and singer/songwriter he would go on to be known in the CCM world for his work with Sweet Comfort Band and other works. But as his daughter Sarah recently shared on social media, there was a particular song Randy co-wrote with Bob Carlisle that was later picked up by Dolly Parton herself. In 1989, “Why’d You Come In Here Lookin’ Like That?” changed the trajectory of Randy’s life in many (good) ways all thanks to Dolly. Later he and Bob would have another one of their biggest hits “Butterfly Kisses” make quite the splash as well. Not to mention he’d also be involved with country music star Shania Twain’s band touring as a guitarist among other adventures over the years. So by the time I met Randy Thomas, he had Grammy Awards and pictures with various bands and musicians – including Bob & Dolly – on the walls of his office at Westminster Presbyterian Church of all places.

But here’s the thing… as Randy shared in his story (which you can read more about in his book here), he was able to move his family to Nashville, TN, where eventually he wound up in a PCA church. And about 20 years ago, Randy shared that he sensed the Lord calling him to ministry in the form of worship leading in a local church. So then in 2007, Randy Thomas was called as the Worship Director at Westminster in Fort Myers. However, as many worship/church musicians have learned at various times, it wasn’t exactly easy making changes as the ‘new guy’ in an established church. Randy had to navigate complaints about him playing guitar and introducing new songs, and some folks even left the church preferring the more traditional ways they had done music in the past. And then to top it off, the housing crisis hit in 2008 leading to an economic recession, and things got financially complicated. The pastor of the church at the time, perhaps out of a panic related to the recession, would actually try to fire much of the staff, including Randy, within only a year or so after uprooting his family to move down to Florida. But by God’s grace, Randy was kept on by the elders of the church and would go on to a ministry career of almost 20 years at Westminster.

Throughout the years, the church saw other lean moments. Some, like that of 2008-2009 era, were so difficult they wondered if the church might’ve made it. Over the course of 2 decades, Westminster would have 4 Senior pastors, a handful of interim pastors, 4 or so Assistant/Associate pastors, a variety of administrative assistants and others… but only ONE Worship Director. Randy, and his wife Lori, remained the constant through thick and thin. Not only did they serve in music ministry, but Randy became a Ruling Elder at the church, making hospital visits, teaching Sunday School classes, leading the Senior Adult Ministry, and caring for the congregation in so many ways. Lori served as church pianist/vocalist, as well as other roles such as administrative assistant and helping plan fellowship events, women’s ministry, and eventually as a key benefactor/volunteer for re-launching Westminster’s children’s ministry just a few years ago. I’ll never forget in the conversations I had with Randy that he said he had never felt released from his work at Westminster through all those tough times. And I praise God for that – because I am certain that if Randy & Lori Thomas had thrown in the towel when others did, Westminster wouldn’t be around today.

This past Spring, Randy officially retired from his role at Westminster, and he & Lori have made their home back up in Tennessee. I knew this would be a huge deal for our church – what even IS Westminster without Randy & Lori? But even in that, he did such a great job helping transition to this new season in the life of our church, in hopes of seeing our new Worship Director be received in a way Randy was not back in those early days. Talking with him on the phone earlier today, I joking said, “It’s almost like you guys dealt with a lot of ‘manure’ over the years, now for us to see some flowers sprouting.” And Randy said, “You know… that’s not a bad way to put it!” These last 3 years, the Lord has kindly blessed our church with a lot of growth and health that Randy was so excited about, and being the godly man he is, he told me several months back that he preferred to transition knowing things were going well for a change and the church was headed in a good trajectory.

As I reflect on Dolly Parton’s passing yesterday, most of all it reminded me of my gratitude for Randy Thomas. I can’t help but think that if it weren’t for how God sovereignly ordained that Dolly would bless Randy and that down the road Randy would bless Westminster (myself included), our church would simply not exist. I realize some folks may, even rightly, take umbrage with various words or actions of Dolly Parton throughout her life. I’m not looking to adjudicate any of that. But the truth is we ALL have a bit of an interesting and convoluted past – be it Dolly Parton or Randy Thomas or Ryan Broadhurst or Paul the Apostle. But thanks be to God that when the Lord Jesus greets us, it is with the words “Come to me all who are weary and heavy laden” and not “Why’d you come in here lookin’ like that?”