Archive for the 'preaching' Category

The Congregation of Faith Bible Church Today

This summer, Carole and I traveled to North Lansing, NY to help Faith Bible Church celebrate becoming self-supporting. This means that the church is now able to cover our self-funded health insurance premium as well as the base salary of $1700 per month. Faith Bible Church reached this level in April 2011 and we joined them to celebrate this milestone on August 21, 2011. Village Missions assigned Jason and Kathi Berga to North Lansing in March 2004. You can see pictures and read a further account of this visit by clicking on this link.

Jason reflects on how God has worked in his report written just before April:

Well, next month we are beginning to pay the full salary. I never thought this church would get to the point that it is. It is just amazing what God has done. I still have the picture of my first Sunday. There was nine people total. One lady, Miss Carrie, was brought here to fill a pew since she was deaf. I never saw her again in the church but my kids and I visited her at her old farmhouse until the day she passed away. Another lady was on her way out. She was kind enough to stay through the VM transition since she was the only member with any business savvy. Interestingly enough, three years later not only did she return but her son and his family now attend. Another lady was on her second Sunday. The first Sunday she attended church she heard the VM associate announce that their permanent pastor was coming the following Sunday. Turns out, she was the piano player I had prayed for diligently prior to coming to the field. God sent her a week earlier to be acclimated. Then there were three other older single ladies; two divorced and one never married. There was one couple, the young ones of the bunch, in their late fifties. He was my only man and he assured me when I first arrived that he was a baby Christian…translation: I am not helping.

For close to two years we did not see one new person and frankly I could not blame anyone for coming and not staying. I began to wonder what I was doing here if I was to be honest. However, through this field, God did a tremendous work inside of me, reshaping my ideology about what precisely ministry is and what is truly important. We are beginning our seventh year this next month, and I am just amazed as to what God had done. Prior to coming to the field, I had a sermon series written on what a healthy church looks like. I am glad I arrived on Palm Sunday and had two weeks to scrap that sermon and begin over. What a discouragement that would have been to these folks!

The years of Bible school, Seminary, and many growth strategy seminars hardly prepared me for this field. The core of Village Missions’ philosophy is to teach the Word of God and love the people, and so, that is what we have done. Sometimes things physically grow and sometimes they don’t but that is not what is important. What is important is to serve God faithfully and obediently right where we are with the resources He has given us. As Paul reminds the Corinthians, we just plant and water, God will cause the spiritual growth. So, though there have been difficulties, I think of those that have been saved. I think of those that have been discipled.

But most of all, I think of how God has changed me, not just as a pastor, but also as a child of His. I know He does not need me at a big church and He does not need me at a small church because the truth is He doesn’t “need” me at all. It is a privilege. So, though I recognize things may progress forwards or even backwards here, it doesn’t matter. What does matter is that my family and I continue to be faithful, loving, planting, watering, and recognizing what an amazing God we serve.

Worship at Balsam Bible Chapel

Carole and I particularly enjoy visiting the missionaries and fields served by Village Missions. We observe how God is using Village Missions and the dedication of those who serve with us. We were able to visit several fields on our recent trip to Balsam, MN to be the speaker for the mini-conference. We visited so many fields that I only have space to highlight each visit briefly. I’ve included links to pictures and a travelogue of each field. Enjoy!

Our first visit was to Hokah, MN to visit Dave and Kathy Possing who have served there for thirteen years. We flew in to Chicago, arriving early Thursday morning, spent the night, and arrived in Hokah in time for dinner. What a treat to have retired missionaries Don and Marylee Still join us! Don and Marylee drive 1½ hours to attend their church. Don and Marylee served near us in Iowa, and then became our District Representatives for a short time before we moved to Colorado. Don also helped me transition into the position of Executive Director. It was great to see them again.

After dinner, the Possings took us on a walk over to their church. Their church is the only evangelical witness in their community of about 800 people. In the Summer 2011 issue of Country Matters, you’ll read the story of a young couple that came to Dave, asking him to marry them. Neither one had ever opened a Bible nor did they have any spiritual background whatsoever but they will now hear what God has to say about marriage and salvation from His Word! Coming from a Roman Catholic background themselves, the Possings are uniquely suited to reach the people of Hokah, who are predominantly Catholic.

Dave and Kathy took us for another walk in the morning to see more of the town. Just before we were to leave, I locked the keys in the trunk of my car. Fortunately, they live next door to a gas station and the guys at the station had us on our way in about an hour.

The next stop was Elk Mound, WI, served by Dale and Suzy Bussinger. After a delicious lunch, Dale and Suzy took us on a tour of Elk Mound and then over to Amy Chapel, which is located a few miles outside of town. Two years ago, the congregation dedicated their beautiful new building. The contrast between the old building and the new one is just amazing. You can hardly see any homes from the church but people are coming from all over to be part of this vibrant congregation.

Leaving Elk Mound (this sounds like a travel magazine), we traveled past Minneapolis to our new field in Glendorado, MN, served by Paul and Denise DeVall. Located on a gravel road, almost literally in a cornfield, the church has never had a full-time pastor. The church rented a wonderful farmhouse for the Devalls and their boys. They are hard at work, seeking to reach the area for Christ. It was a joy to take the family out for pizza in St. Cloud, where we spent the night.

Saturday we traveled north to Sebeka, MN to visit Dave and Valerie Wing. Blowers Chapel is another church almost literally located in a cornfield, or in their case, a cattle pasture. Yet it is obvious from how the Wings described their ministry and the facilities, that God is doing a great work here as well. Sunday mornings the church is filled with young people.

Saturday evening found us in Balsam, MN, location of the mini-conference. Balsam Bible Chapel has also built a new building. The people were so gracious in hosting us and ministering to us during the conference. I had the privilege of speaking Sunday morning as well as being the speaker for the mini-conference. One highlight for me out of many was being taken fishing by Loren, a church member, and catching a decent Northern Pike.

After the conference was over on Thursday, we drove to Land O’Lakes, WI where I would be speaking the next Sunday, passing by the church we serve in Watersmeet, MI, served by Skip and Venita Pullen. Frank and Lynn Puffer, who have been there six years, serve Land O’Lakes. The church is located on several beautiful acres and ministers to what is largely a resort community. Among many other things, Frank ministers to about 16 men who gather early each Saturday morning.

Saturday we were able to take a day trip up to Calumet, MI, served by Merle and Gyngr McGee. We have served this field for three years, when we assigned the McGees to their first field. I was surprised at how large this community is. Yet we learned that the little church we serve is the only evangelical witness in the community. Calumet was once a prosperous city due to the copper mines but now struggles to survive. We arrived during the “Pasty Days” celebration. A “Pasty” is a pastry with a beef and vegetable filling originally used by the miners for their meals in the mines. They are delicious!

Several common themes surfaced as we visited these fields. First were the deep and sometimes disturbing needs of the communities. Merle McGee told us that the local bar offers a free drink to anyone willing to surrender his or her thirty-day sobriety pin! Second was the dedication of our missionaries and their families. The DeValls told me a story of their son Alex leading a classmate to Christ. I was awed by the hard work and passion exhibited by each missionary we visited. Third were the tremendous things God was doing in the most unlikely places. In struggling communities as well as cornfields, in new fields as well as old, I heard story after story of changed lives. I personally witnessed two dynamic and alive congregations at Balsam and Land O’Lakes. We would have found the same thing at the other churches if we had been there on a Sunday morning.

Carole and I came away from this trip excited! God is powerfully at work through Village Missions and we had the privilege of seeing this work first hand!

Pierceville Federated Church

The greatest joy I have as Executive Director is traveling to one of our churches to meet the people, visit with our Village Missionaries, and see first-hand what God is doing.  Traveling to Pierceville for their annual missions conference was very special for us.  We had the privilege of staying with Doug and Saundra McGraw.  Doug is one of our board members on the U.S. Board.  The Village Missionaries, Terry and Martha Major, were our Village Missionaries in Fernwood, Idaho for a short time before we left for Moody Bible Institute.  The church is filled with wonderful, dedicated believers.  And, boy, do they cook!

To read further about the visit and see pictures click on this link.  Once at this site, click on the first picture to enlarge it, read the caption, and then click “next” to view the following pictures. Enjoy!

I don’t cry at weddings-guys just don’t do that sort of thing.  But as I sat with Carole in the Evergreen Community Church, a church served by Village Missions in beautiful Redland, Oregon, tears began to flow down my cheeks as I learned more of this remarkable couple who stood before the congregation to exchange vows. 

Consider, Travis, the groom.  Travis grew up in a godly Christian home, a farm family in eastern Washington.  In High School Travis became convinced that God was leading him to some type of vocational Christian ministry.  Acting upon that conviction, he applied and was accepted at Moody Bible Institute.  God soon directed him into pastoral ministry and then, more specifically, into rural ministry.

I met Travis when he was in his junior year and John James and I were representing Village Missions at the annual Missions Conference.  Travis was interested in learning more about Village Missions.  The chair of the Pastoral Department, Dr. John Koessler, highly recommended him.  We had just changed our policy about accepting single young men.  Believing that God was leading him to Village Missions, Travis applied and we accepted him.  We assigned him to serve an internship of one year with Village Missionaries Tony and Kathy Pinkham, serving in Kettle Falls, WA.

Consider now Jennifer, the bride.  She is the daughter of Village Missionaries Steve and Lisa Rief.  She felt from an early age that God wanted her to be the wife of a Village Missionary.  But where was he?  In High school she patiently waited upon God.  Each year at staff conference at Cannon Beach, as I addressed the teens and challenged them to become Village Missionaries, she would be one of the teen girls that would say, “But we have to have a husband that wants to be a Village Missionary!”

Jennifer attended Ecola Bible School and still she waited.  Even at Ecola, none of the guys wanted to be a pastor.  Feeling that being a pastor’s wife was what God called her to be, she waited.  There was even a rock on the beach and Jennifer would go there, sitting on the rock, reading her Bible and praying.  Jennifer’s rock was not the rock she sat upon but the Rock of her salvation.  She cast herself upon that Rock, believing that if He had called her to that role then He would provide for her.  Would He?

Tony and Kathy Pinkham arrived at Cannon Beach in June 2008 for what would be our last staff conference for at least some time.  Travis stayed behind in Kettle Falls.  But as Kathy renewed ties with the Rief family at staff conference, and specifically Jennifer, she thought of Travis.  She mentioned Travis to Jennifer and he soon began to e-mail her.  They continued e-mailing and then met in person last September.

Now this young couple was standing in front of the congregation entering into the marriage covenant, led in the ceremony by Jennifer’s dad, Steve.  Their kiss, after Steve pronounced them husband and wife, was their first kiss.  They had waited until that time.

It was a holy moment and tears ran down my cheeks.  Holy, because it was before the body of Christ, faithfully ministered to by Village Missionaries over the years, and specifically by Jennifer’s parents, Steve and Lisa, since 1995.  Holy, because godly parents had raised them both in homes where Christ was preeminent.  Holy, because both were obeying God’s call to serve as Village Missionaries.  Holy, because both had waited upon God with trust and perseverance.  Holy, because we in the congregation powerfully glimpsed how much God cares about our individual lives, how much He cares about His church, how much He cares about marriage as the picture of His church, and yes, how much He cares about calling young couples to the great task of keeping country churches alive.

Every morning our staff at our Village Missions’ office has devotions and prayer.  Today, February 27, we read in Oswald Chamber’s devotion: “The thing that approaches the very limits of His power is the very thing we as disciples of Jesus ought to believe He will do.”  Village Missions has entered a time of believing Jesus for something that stretches our faith.

Stonecroft Ministries notified us recently that financial support for Village Missions will end effective March 31, 2009.  This will result in a loss of income to Village Missions of $40,000 per month.  The giving from Stonecroft Canada to Village Missions Canada remains unchanged at this point.

Our mission has enjoyed a “family” relationship with Stonecroft since our founding in 1948.  Helen Duff Baugh, founder of Stonecroft Ministries and Rev. Walter Duff Jr., founder of Village Missions, brother and sister, both had a deep burden for country churches and reaching country people with the Gospel.  For many years Village Missions was the project of Stonecroft Ministries, providing extensive prayer and financial support to Village Missions and to Village Missionaries.  Village Missions could never have affected so many communities and lives for Jesus Christ without the support of Stonecroft.  You can read more about the history of Village Missions at this link.

Stonecroft has decided to focus its efforts and resources on “encouraging and equipping women to impact their communities with the Gospel so that women and their families not only know Christ, but share Him with others.”  We will be praying that the Lord will bless those efforts and provide the needed resources for them to fulfill that vision.

Village Missions, as the Lord provides, will continue its calling to keep country churches alive.  The need is great.  North America, and especially rural North America, is an increasingly needy mission field.  Churches in rural areas are closing throughout our land.  Broken lives bear grim testimony to the despair of trying to live life without Jesus Christ.

The opportunities are great.  I have seen the hope of Jesus Christ brought to community after community through the ministry of Village Missions.  We send a dedicated couple to a church that asks for our help.  We provide salary and other forms of support so that our Village Missionary can devote his full energy to “Preaching the Word and loving the people.”  People come to Christ, their lives are changed, and even the community is transformed.  The people of Helix, OR learned this when Village Missions sent a dedicated couple to live in their town.

Years ago Hudson Taylor said, “God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s supply.”  I truly believe that God will supply the needs for the important ministry of Village Missions.

Does God have more for Village Missions to do?  Is serving with Village Missions or giving to Village Missions worthwhile in light of the many opportunities for service and giving that exist in today’s world?  What possible reasons are there to continue the incredibly and increasingly difficult struggle of keeping country churches alive?

Here are two more reasons why Village Missions should continue despite its current adversity.

Reason Six: It is important for Village Missions to continue because our approach to ministry is Biblical.

Sixty years ago, our founder, Rev. Walter Duff, Jr., described what he wanted missionaries to do in a succinct phrase: “Preach the Word and love the people.”  This phrase still captures our ministry today and is resoundingly Biblical.

Paul reflects on his ministry with the Thessalonians in 1 Thessalonians 2:1-13.  Called by God, they “had the boldness in our God to speak to you the gospel of God amid much opposition” (1 Thessalonians 2:2).  Several verses in this passage speak to the importance of the proclamation of the Gospel message (vss. 2-5, 9, 11, 13).  Paul “preached the Word” because he knew it to be (in contrast to the relativistic emergents of today) “. . . what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe (1 Thessalonians 2:13).  We believe that God transforms people as His Holy Spirit applies the preaching and teaching of the Word of God.

Yet Paul knew that his life had to be united with his message and that his love for the Thessalonians would and did give credibility to his message.  Paul’s love extended much beyond mere sentimentality but showed itself in a life devoted to ministering to them.  Rugged, doctrinally correct, intellectually astute Paul loved them “as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children (1 Thessalonians 2:7).  Paul says that he was willing to “to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us” (1 Thessalonians 2:8).

Paul’s “loving the people” showed itself in other ways as well.  He worked incredibly hard, “working night and day” (1 Thessalonians 2:9) to bring them the Gospel.  He lived a life of complete integrity before them, not wishing to harm anyone by providing a poor example of following Christ (1 Thessalonians 2:10).  He loved them enough to not wish to build his own following, or to enrich himself but rather to exhort them constantly to “. . . walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory” (1 Thessalonians 2:12, see also 1 Thessalonians 2:4-6).

So, for sixty years we have looked for missionary pastors, godly shepherds who would truly love people.  We have looked for men and women who wish to be involved in the lives of the people and the communities they serve.  Finding the balance in the time required to both effectively preach and love people will always be a challenge but our approach to ministry comes right out of the Bible.

Reason Seven: It is important for Village Missions to continue because of the quality of people who serve with us.

As a Village Missionary, I only knew the missionaries serving in my district.  Since becoming director, I have had the privilege of meeting all our Village Missionaries that serve in the United States and Canada, our office staff, and several retired Village Missionaries.  The quality of the men and women who serve or have served with Village Missions continually impresses me and I thank God for the privilege of serving such a quality group of people.  They are choice servants of God.

Other people notice this as well.  At one of our annual staff conferences in Estes Park, CO, we share the conference facilities with several groups.  One such group was a gathering of internists.  Our Navajo consultant, Nelson Betoney, befriended one of the couples, an internist from Illinois.  They attended one of our evening sessions and we met.  Later Susan e-mailed me, “We were blessed to share the dining hall with your group and to hear the praises of God so naturally shared around a dinner table.  Hopefully other physicians’ families were attentive to your witness for Christ!”

I realize that Village Missions is not the only organization that has quality people.  Countless missionaries, Christian workers, and pastors serve the Lord faithfully and well.  We tend to forget this when we are exposed to the Christian celebrity who seems to be more interested in building his own empire than in building the Kingdom of God.  I am just always personally struck by the quality of the missionaries who serve with us.

This stands to reason.  God has called our Village Missionaries to serve in out-of-the way places where little opportunity for reward or recognition exists.  They are willing to go to often isolated and tough places.  Dr. John Koessler, head of the pastoral department at Moody Bible Institute and co-author with Ron Klassen of No Little Places, once referred to Village Missionaries as the “Green Berets” of rural ministry.  Not all our missionaries serve in isolated or small places but most once did and all were willing to do so.

Remarkable results have occurred over the sixty years that Village Missions has served the Lord.  I can’t help but believe that God has gathered this small band of faithful men and women to continue to do remarkable and unexpected exploits in the spiritually darkening countries of the United States and Canada.

Lord willing, in the next blog or so, I’ll finish up with the final three reasons.

In Ephesians 6:18-20 Paul closes his commands to stand firm and to put on the armor of God with a call to prayer.  Much of what Paul includes in this call to prayer is surprising.  It is causing me to rethink some of my ideas about prayer, especially as it relates to ministry.

We, first, would not expect Paul to call on us to pray as the way to advance in the spiritual battle.  Prayer is important, of course.  We would expect, however, for Paul to write something more about using the shield of faith or the sword of the Spirit.  Instead, clothed with the full armor of God, we engage the battle by prayer.  We often engage in activities other than prayer but for Paul, prayer is the activity.

We also do not expect Paul to have such a concern about praying for others.  We must “be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints.”  We might expect Paul to command us to pray for ourselves, especially given that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood” (v. 12).  Although he does not rule out prayer for ourselves in the spiritual battle, the main thrust of our praying must be for our fellow soldiers who are also engaged in the battle.  As much as the spiritual armor is individually applied, we never fight the battle alone.  We stand in the evil day only as our brothers and sisters in the faith stand and they stand through our prayers.

Paul is not finished challenging our expectations.  If I were in jail as Paul was, I would pray that God might secure my release.  I would want my freedom most of all.  Also on the top of my prayer list would be safety and comfort while I was in jail.  I would want the guard I was chained to be extremely generous and kind.  “Please, Lord, if you would, provide adequate meals and a warm bed.  Oh-and help me to be strong spiritually in this ordeal!”

Instead, Paul asks that when he proclaims the mystery of the Gospel (not if), that he would have the words to speak (utterance) and that he would do so boldly (used in verses 19 and 20).  His priority, even in chains, is to proclaim the Gospel and to do so without intimidation.  He had prayed for the Ephesians that they would understand and appropriate the Gospel.  See Ephesians 1:15-23 and Ephesians 3:14-19.  As one who has understood and appropriated the Gospel, he asks them to pray that he might make its wonders known without fear.

Why would Paul make such a request for speech rather than for release?  I think it is because he knows that he is an ambassador of the King of Kings.  An ambassador must represent his king in the way the king sees fit.  Paul’s king, Jesus, told him to proclaim the Gospel (Mat 28:18-20; Acts 9:1-19).  Commitment to his job description as ambassador requires him to proclaim the Gospel.  Prayer from others on his behalf will enable him to do so with clarity and conviction.

Are we ambassadors?  2 Corinthians 5:17-21 indicates we are.  Will we be so convinced of our ambassadorship that our main prayer request will be courage and clarity in proclaiming the Gospel?

Aaron Knapp, a student at Moody Bible Institute and a summer intern on our fields in Watersmeet and Bruce Crossing, MI first made me aware of D.A. Carson’s book about his father, titled “Memoirs of an Ordinary Pastor.”  He provided a link to “Thoughts, Unleashed!“  Here are some of the quotes from the book on that web page that caused me to buy it and start reading it:

Some pastors, mightily endowed by God, are a remarkable gift to the church.  They love their people, they handle Scripture well, they see many conversions, their ministries span generations, they understand their culture yet refuse to be domesticated by it, they are theologically robust and personally disciplined.  … Most of us, however, serve in more modest patches.  Most pastors will not regularly preach to thousands, let alone tens of thousands.  They will not write influential books, they will not supervise large staffs, and they will never see more than modest growth.  They will plug away at their care for the aged, at their visitation, at their counseling, at their Bible studies and preaching.  Some will work with so little support that they will prepare their own bulletins.  They cannot possibly discern whether the constraints of their own sphere of service owe more to the specific challenges of the local situation or to their own shortcomings.  Once in a while they will cast a wistful eye on “successful” ministries.  Many of them will attend the conferences sponsored by the revered masters, and come away with a slightly discordant combination of, on the one hand, gratitude and encouragement, and, on the other, jealousy, feelings of inadequacy, and guilt.

Most of us-let us be frank-are ordinary pastors.

Dad was one of them.  This little book is a modest attempt to let the voice and ministry of one ordinary pastor be heard, for such servants have much to teach us.

Here is another one:

Tom Carson never rose very far in denominational structures, but hundreds of people … testify how much he loved them.  He never wrote a book, but he loved the Book.  He was never wealthy or powerful, but he kept growing as a Christian: yesterday’s grace was never enough.  He was not a far-sighted visionary, but he looked forward to eternity.  He was not a gifted administrator, but there is no text that says, “By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you are good administrators.” 

Are there such ordinary pastors today?  Faithful men and their wives who love the Book and love the flock?  Who serve without desire for recognition or reward other than from the Savior they serve?  Who “plug away at their care for the aged, at their visitation, at their counseling, at their Bible studies and preaching?”

Many such faithful “ordinary” pastors exist in this country.  I am thoroughly blessed to serve just such a company of men and women.  Dr. John Koessler, head of the pastoral department at Moody Bible Institute, called them the “Green Berets” of home missions, going to the most challenging of settings.  They are Village Missionaries, serving in the country communities of the United States and Canada.

One such couple, a young couple, is Phil and Valorie Rownd, who have served in Pickstown, SD for seven years.  Read what Phil and Valorie wrote on their seventh anniversary in Pickstown:

Why God Kept Us in Pickstown for Seven Years

On February 18, we completed our seventh year shepherding this little South Dakota town.  I humbly admit that we don’t have a whole lot to show for our work.  Most of the people we have led to Christ have gone to be with Him in Heaven, or else they’ve moved to another community.  Seven years ago, there were 22 of us.  Today there are 42.  We haven’t even doubled.  After seven years, I expected more, and I have asked God about that.  But the Lord has been more faithful than we realize.  He has been faithful to the small number of folks who have lived here since the dam was built fifty plus years ago.  There aren’t many of them, but their heavenly Father loves them and He has given them a church and a pastor.  Then there are all those other 150 people who occupy the houses around here.  Pickstown really isn’t a tight-knit community like some small towns.  Most people come here for a while and then they die or their work takes them down the road.  Either way, most folks don’t stay here for more than 5 years or so.  Pickstown is just a brief stop on the greater course of their life.  But in God’s great wisdom and love for sinners, He makes sure this is a stop that counts.  He gives them an opportunity to believe the gospel and be built up in the faith before they leave Pickstown, either for Heaven, or for some other community where lost people need to hear about the Savior.  I am humbled by the phone calls and letters from former Pickstowners who have moved to other South Dakota villages, across our nation, and even to the other side of the world-and God is using them to lead lost people to Jesus!  WHO BUT GOD can measure the impact of your prayers for this town?

Listen also to what they have to say on this video.

Please pray for Phil and Valorie that they might continue to persevere faithfully.  Halfway through Carson’s book, I am learning that his dad battled with discouragement and despair.  Pray that our couples would know just how much God appreciates their faithfulness and they would be encouraged.  After all, Jesus went to a little place!  Pray that God would call many more couples like the Rownds to go to places no one else will go.

Dr. Al Mohler has written an excellent blog titled “Has God Called You?  Discerning the Call to Preach.”  I commend it to anyone who might be wondering whether God is calling you to be a pastor.  I would place more emphasis on the shepherding aspect of pastoral ministry (see my previous blog post), but overall Dr. Mohler is on target.

His article caused me to reflect on how I responded to the call to ministry.  I fought it!  Although I had presented myself to God as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2) and should have responded willingly, I did not want to leave our comfortable surroundings.

Carole and I moved from Maine to a remote location in northern Idaho shortly after we were married.  We began attending a little country church in Fernwood, a church served by Village Missionaries Ray and Martha Bell.  I had been a believer for about a year when we began attending and didn’t even know the difference between the Old and New Testament.

No better place for discipleship and mentoring exists than a small country church with a dedicated pastor and his wife.  The Bells and others in the church mentored me.  As I grew, Pastor Ray provided various opportunities to minister.  I taught several Bible studies in our home and taught the adult Sunday School class.  I helped Pastor Ray with various evangelistic campaigns in which we saw many come to Christ.  Probably most challenging and helpful, Pastor Ray gave me several opportunities to preach.

Gradually, a growing discontent with my work (Idaho Highway Department and horseshoeing) combined with a growing passion to preach and to minister to people.  People in the church began to recognize that God was calling me into the ministry.  Pastor Ray encouraged this direction without in any way pushing me.

But it was so hard to leave!  By that time, we owned ten acres of land and enjoyed our life.  Although I was bored working for the Highway Department, it was one of the few year-round and full-time jobs in the area and it worked well with my horseshoeing.  God had to get my attention.

To make a long story short, a draft horse trampled me!  Just pulling his shoes for winter, he spooked when some snow slid off the roof and I fell underneath him.  This near death experience in which I was laid up for about a month was enough to cause me to decide to apply to some Bible colleges.  I wanted my life to count for something.

However, it was only a decision and as spring came nearer and thoughts of planting the garden grew, I postponed implementing the decision.  I am sure many others respond more quickly and easier to God, but not me-at least then.  After only one month back to work after my injury, I slipped and fell in a “freak” accident.  I broke my leg so badly that it required an operation to repair the damage.  This led me to finally apply to Moody Bible Institute.  I was accepted, we sold our home, and in July 1980, seven years after we arrived in Idaho, off we went to Chicago to begin preparation for the ministry.  I have only a very few times (in times of great weakness and struggle) regretted the answering of God’s call to be a pastor.

I have observed two things now in my role as Executive Director and I would like to solicit your comments and observations:

First, I have observed that fewer churches seem to be teaching the call of God into pastoral ministry.  Perhaps in an effort to teach that we are all called to ministry, the idea of a call to pastoral ministry or to full-time ministry appears to have been neglected.  Do you think this is true?  If you are a pastor, do you teach a call to pastoral ministry?

Second, I have observed that some young people appear almost frightened to enter pastoral ministry.  Although a healthy caution is wise, this seems more than that-more of a fear.  Such ones are willing to be youth pastors or on staff in a large church but they seem overwhelmed by the idea of being the pastor of a small church.  We have seen several young guys do quite well in Village Missions (I trust that our support structure helps) but several others seem reluctant to serve although they sense God’s call.  Is this observation correct and, if so, why?

Looking forward to hearing from you.

 In some ways, the transliteration of the word “pastor” from the Latin has been unfortunate.  It gives freedom to some to define the role of “pastor” as something other than a “shepherd”-the meaning of the Greek term translated in English as “pastor.”

For some, then, the modern role of the pastor must be “C.E.O.”  He is the “mover and shaker” leading his congregation in vision casting and mission and pity the poor parishioner who gets in his way!  For others, the role of the pastor must be “Professional.”  His ministry is all about professional development, professional conduct, and professional distance from those whom he leads.  For still others, the role of the pastor must be “Preacher.”  His virtually only duty is to deeply study and proclaim the Word of God, appearing from the confines of his study Sunday morning and a scant few other times to announce the gems from God’s Word he has gleaned.

Based on his strong commitment to the Word of God and to preaching, you might expect Dr. John MacArthur to be in the camp of the “Preacher.”  Thankfully, he is not!  He is in the camp of the pastor as shepherd, as he writes recently in his blog dated January 25, titled “More Than Just a Preacher.”  Just think about his title– “More Than Just a Preacher!”  I commend this article to all pastors who wish to fulfill their God-given role.

MacArthur delineates the five central functions of a true pastor or shepherd.  A shepherd is a rescuer, a feeder, a leader, a protector, and a comforter.  According to MacArthur,

Church leaders are undershepherds who guard the flock under the Chief Shepherd’s watchful eye (Acts 20:28).  Theirs is a full-time responsibility because they minister to people who, like sheep, often are vulnerable, defenseless, undiscerning, and prone to stray.

Those who are faithful to this enormous task will receive a rich reward from the Chief Shepherd Himself.

In my experience as a pastor, we must keep all five functions in balance.  For example, we can easily give all our attention to feeding.  Quickly, however, we then lose passion and zeal as we lose personal sight of the desperate needs of God’s sheep.  If the shepherd gives attention to all, all functions work together to deepen wonderfully the ministry of the shepherd.  A shepherd giving attention to all functions will soon realize his absolute dependence upon the Chief Shepherd.

Village Missions is looking for men who know their calling is to be a shepherd of the flock.  We are actively working on ways to encourage them and support them in their role.