Needed Encouragement

Matthew sent this for me to share with our CPN.

An essay called "A Word of Encouragement for Dejected Pastors" is a much needed shot in the arm for many of us planters. After describing how Puritan pastors in England were kicked out of their ministries when the King enforced a new episcopacy and how these kicked out pastors were the only ones willing to serve the ailing population when the Black Plague was killing thousands and the king and his newly installed pastors fled the scene. Many of these Puritan pastors died of the plague themselves and when the plague passed and the king and his pastors returned, the Puritans were not thanked, but kicked aside once again.

You need to read the story yourself.

And be encouraged as the author seeks to apply the lessons of that story for church planters. He describes how the going is tough and concludes:


But brothers, before we become dejected, let us look to the example of those faithful Puritan ministers who ministered to the victims of the plague and be reminded of several things:

1) Our burdens are much lighter than theirs: Unless you are currently ministering in a front-line church in the Sudan, your worst struggles in the ministry are nothing compared to the things that those Puritan ministers endured on a daily basis. Death and terrible misery and disease were a regular part of their daily ministry. They performed those ministries with only the most meager resources. They were enabled to do so because although they were weak, they served an almighty God and learned first-hand the truth of 2 Corinthians 12:9-10:
“And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
Therefore let us remember that we serve the same God who equipped and strengthened them for the battle, and take heart especially given that the burdens we bear are much lighter.

2) Compassion for the Lord’s Sheep compels us to labor: If we love Christ’s sheep and truly desire to save men from an eternity in hell, how can we fail to minister to them with all our hearts no matter the difficult the task? Those Puritans ministered not only because they knew it was what their Lord would do, their changed hearts could not bear the thought of men going from misery to damnation without the benefit of being able to hear the gospel. Countless men and women in our own time are living miserable lives under the sentence of eternal death, and we hold the only key that will release them from their prison. Can we bear not to use it, especially when we know that doing so is so much easier for us?

3) Christ’s shepherds do not labor for the thanks and rewards of men: Christ promised his disciples that “In the world you will have tribulation” and it has ever been the case. In fact, with only a few exceptions, the more faithful the minister, the more he is hated by the world and the worldlings in the church. Remember that the world will only approve of you to the degree that you are “of the world” (John 15:19) and that the world only truly loves its own. Consider well that all the Apostles were imprisoned and all save one were eventually put to death, and that every faithful minister following them has had to walk a hard road in this world. Edwards was ejected by his own congregation, Calvin was forced out of Geneva, Knox had to row as a French galley slave and never owned his own house. But they were not laboring for the commendation of men, nor were they laying up their treasures here on earth, their hearts and treasures were in heaven and the only words of commendation they thought worth seeking were these: “Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.”

Brothers, take heart and follow their example! May you someday all hear those same words of commendation. The Lord bless you in your labors and be your strength when you are weak.