For The Reverend Carl “Sonny” Plischke, his career has taken some interesting and unexpected turns. Before entering ministry he worked in the oil related industry for 25 years at Williams Brothers Engineering and Cities Service Oil and Gas Corporation of Tulsa. But following a significant spiritual experience, he followed God’s call to enter the ministry in Tulsa churches for 11 years.

Then Sonny received a call from the Oklahoma bishop offering him a most unusual position—a chaplaincy with Parker Drilling Co. USA. In this position, Plischke would minister to the 3,000 employees and their families worldwide. He would be responsible for visiting offices and drilling rigs throughout the four divisions which included the Mid-East, Far East, Europe and South America, as well as the Gulf Coast offshore facilities.

At the time, Sonny was senior pastor of St. Paul United Methodist Church of Tulsa. He had only a weekend to consider this offer. After reaching a decision he had the difficult job of resigning from his church.

Though totally unexpected, Sonny viewed this turn of events as a God-given opportunity that took his two distinct areas of experience and combined them into the perfect job.

“My career and ministry has been a marriage of my oil industry experience and ministry. It’s like I was out of the oil industry and into ministry, when God decides to send me back to combine the two,” he said.

Looking back, Sonny views his life as a road map. “God doesn’t manipulate us, but He does allow things that move us in such a fashion that is not intrusive. He slowly stretches us to be more than we could be on our own. Life isn’t a four-lane highway. Instead, there are lots of crooks, turns and speed bumps in the road. It’s good to know that He’s always by our side. I can’t think of a better traveling companion.”

While God is his constant companion, Sonny also has the companionship of his wonderful wife and soul mate. Mary Helen. They were childhood playmates, but were separated for many years. When Sonny’s Dad was ill, Mary Helen and her mom came to visit. “I didn’t recognize her when I saw her and I thought to myself, ‘Who’s that beautiful woman?’”

He was delighted to find that this remarkable woman was his long lost playmate. He admires Mary Helen and feels she is a true expression of what God is like in that she loves him unconditionally. He credits Mary Helen with helping him grow deeper in his Christian walk.

Sonny first came to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ when a teenager. “At 15, my mother, father and I had gone to Greenville, South Carolina to visit my brother and his family. He was attending Bob Jones University and was also serving a small church. When he gave the invitation at a service, I found myself with my brother at the altar accepting Christ in a verbal way. Interestingly enough, he announced later that he believed I was called to preach,” Sonny said.

His walk wavered some during his teenage years and time in the military. Also, in 1981, he and Mary Helen lost a child. This signaled a period of anger toward God. “He and I had long conversations about my anger which lasted for two years. Then in February 1984, I attended a Walk to Emmaus. During the Saturday morning communion, God and I met at the altar. It was an awakening experience. The next day in the quietness of home, I realized that God had used this experience to get my attention. It was as if He said to me, ‘Now, it’s time for you to serve Me.’”

That same year, Tom Albin called him to serve as Associate Minister of Evangelism and Assimilation at First United Methodist Church of Tulsa. This began his years of ministry culminating in his chaplaincy with Parker. Though now retired from Parker, Sonny’s ministry is simply transferred to Asbury where he now serves part time as Pastor of Care. He delights in the opportunity to continue bringing the Good News of God’s love to those around him.

“My greatest joy comes from knowing that I belong to God. In making that statement part of that joy is knowing Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. That is the ultimate joy!”