Volume 49 Number 9 September 2007
In Kirksville, Missouri, where I serve as an elder we have around 12 preachers. Our 4 elders and 3 deacons speak regularly and are assisted by a company of 5 or so older members and younger men who occasionally preach. Invitations, extended at evening services and talks at the Lord’s table also provide valuable experiences and training. So you see we love preachers!
Without hesitation I tell folks in our community that we have 4 pastors, a total of 12 preachers, and are training more. We have been charged to commit the gospel to able men
(2 Timothy 2:2) and to help Christians mature to be able to teach (Hebrews 5:12).I actually feel sorry for congregations with only one preacher. A tremendous burden is placed on that one man. A more biblically grounded approach is to involve every member in some type of ministry. We are all ministers and priests! Members are happier when involved. For our brothers in the church, opportunities should exist for them to preach the word and edify the body.
Having been that one man preaching for one congregation, I know firsthand the difficulty of “filling those shoes.” Then I am reminded of Jesus’ ministry, and I know I am unworthy of even
“unlatching his shoes (Mark 1:7).” Where was Jesus’ pulpit? My friend Alvin Jennings, examined the gospel of Mark, and concluded that Jesus’ pulpit was by the seaside with fisherman (1:16-20), in the synagogue (1:21-29), in his home (2:1-3), beside the tax office (2:13), at dinner in a sinner’s house (2:15- 17), on a short walk in the country (2:23-28), sitting in a boat (4:1-33), alone with close friends (4:34), with friends in the mountains (9:2-13), with children in a house (9:33-37), with children in the way (10:1-16), by a tree near the road (11:20-26), debating with religious leaders (12:28-34), eating supper with the twelve (14:12-26), and parting from friends (16:15-16). Then it dawned on me, Jesus hasn’t asked us to invite folks to come to church, he asked us to go teach. We need our most talented on the frontlines and in helping congregations without leaders to develop them. We need our shepherds (elders) to feed the sheep and to resist the temptation of putting a congregation on life-support by employing one man to do everything for them! Christians are those that should come to be the church, the assembled.In my conversations with some full-time preachers, unfamiliar with mutual edification, I know that many would love to be freed from administrative duties and other encumbrances. In my conversations with elders, unfamiliar with mutual ministry, I know that many would love to see their members become more active. We would also love to converse with you. Yes, we love preachers. We need more of them!
An Extra Note from Barry Poyner:
This special issue of THE GOSPEL MESSAGE is being sent to churches of Christ across the nation with memberships of 100 and fewer. The congregation in Kirksville helped make this special issue possible, and we invite you to our Summer Meeting of 2008, July 20-30. The theme is “Jesus Is in the Neighborhood.” This is an opportunity for members to learn personal work methods. This is also an opportunity for preachers who want to dedicate themselves to the work of an evangelist to receive training and biblical education. Moreover, the meeting will help current evangelists to retool and improve their interpersonal skills and outreach methods. In short, all would benefit. Our hope is that a dedicated team of harvesters, composed of both evangelists and members, will emerge and become a great migratory force! We know that not everyone will respond to the gospel, but we know every interaction gives glory to God! We will leave a friend everywhere we go, but we will also learn how gracefully to remove the dust from our feet (Matthew 10:14).