| "Gleanings From My Readings" |
GLEANINGS
We Are Still Going Strong!
by Dr. Glenn Mathews
Of course, you understand that our “strong” is
not as it was in years past. Age does affect our
stamina. But, by the grace of God we are still
being “road warriors” in the work of our Lord.
An itinerant ministry, such as we have had
by Dr. Glenn Mathews
Of course, you understand that our “strong” is
not as it was in years past. Age does affect our
stamina. But, by the grace of God we are still
being “road warriors” in the work of our Lord.
An itinerant ministry, such as we have had
since 1976, is unlike other areas of Christian ministry. Pastors
and missionaries retire from their places of service. After that,
they may serve as interim pastors, occasional guest speakers and
be a blessing to God’s people. Evangelists, however, do not retire
voluntarily. An evangelist retires usually because his health has
failed or because pastors no longer invite him to come for
meetings. At this time, our health is not an issue. Our health
remains good. In our mid 70’s, we are still going strong. Thank
God for what he has given us and for what he has spared us from
encountering.
Why would pastors stop calling an evangelist for meetings?
Several reasons come to mind. A partial listing would include the
following:
Churches are scheduling many different kinds of meetings instead
of revivals. A generation ago, most churches held at least two
revivals a year and each was scheduled for a minimum of two
weeks. Now, workshops, seminars, retreats are more popular
than a series of services focused on revival and evangelism. I
have often heard pastors say that their people are too busy in the
evenings to schedule a series of meetings. These other types of
meetings, however, are on weeknights. So, that reasoning is
flawed.
Many pastors for whom an evangelist may have conducted
meetings are now retired or already in heaven. With one
exception, I am now older than every pastor that I have preached
for in the past two years! The younger pastors do not know the
older evangelist, and he contacts one of his peers to conduct a
meeting for him. That is understandable and to be expected.
Also, pastors often exchange pulpits for meetings. It works this
way: “You come preach for me this year, and next year I will
come and preach for you." Such may mean that the evangelist has
lost two meetings and the pastors have merely traded honorariums.
The change in the style of worship that is occurring is also a
factor. Over 60 years ago a wise writer stated, “It is difficult to
draw a crowd when the only attraction is the Word of God.” The
user-friendly, feel good focus of today does not usually welcome
the “line upon line, precept upon precept” preaching that has
characterized the preaching done by evangelists. It is my ob-
servations that churches that emphasize the “come as you are”
philosophy, generally see the people leave that same way they
came.
It is sad to say, but the ministry and life style of a few evangelists
has hurt some pastors and churches. Instead of being a help to
the church, he has caused problems by focusing on his pet peeves
and preferences. Would to God that this were not so, but it is.
The evangelist is a gift (Eph. 4:11-12) given to the church to assist
in equipping the church to do the work of ministering. A few
evangelists have shot themselves in the foot by putting their foot
in their mouth! I can remember hearing my Dad pray, “Lord, if I
can’t help them, don’t let me hurt them!” That is good advice
for any minister, especially for the evangelist.
The evangelist may have hurt himself by not continuing to study,
prepare fresh messages and minister to the needs of the people. If
a pastor fails to present fresh sermons, he is probably going to be
looking for another church assignment. The same can be said of
the evangelist who attempts to preach the same few sermons
again and again and yet expect to be asked back to the same
places for additional meetings. In effect, he will have become
unemployed because he has become unemployable.
What is the purpose of all this discourse? It is certainly not sour
grapes. We have been blessed to average almost 40 weeks a year
in meetings and missions for the past 33 years. Rather, this is a
brief comment on some changes that are taking place in the
church in America as they affect the ministry of evangelism.
Perhaps later columns will address the subject more fully.
As for us, we continue to praise God for the opportunity to serve
Him by serving others thought the ministry that He has entrusted
to us. Good friends, Dave, Duane and Neil (the original Couriers)
have written a book about their lives and ministry. They called it
Our Final Quarter. We now find ourselves in that final quarter.
Please keep us in your prayers. Pray that God will continue to
open the right doors, provide us with safety as we travel, continue
our good health and give His power on our lives and ministry. gm
and missionaries retire from their places of service. After that,
they may serve as interim pastors, occasional guest speakers and
be a blessing to God’s people. Evangelists, however, do not retire
voluntarily. An evangelist retires usually because his health has
failed or because pastors no longer invite him to come for
meetings. At this time, our health is not an issue. Our health
remains good. In our mid 70’s, we are still going strong. Thank
God for what he has given us and for what he has spared us from
encountering.
Why would pastors stop calling an evangelist for meetings?
Several reasons come to mind. A partial listing would include the
following:
Churches are scheduling many different kinds of meetings instead
of revivals. A generation ago, most churches held at least two
revivals a year and each was scheduled for a minimum of two
weeks. Now, workshops, seminars, retreats are more popular
than a series of services focused on revival and evangelism. I
have often heard pastors say that their people are too busy in the
evenings to schedule a series of meetings. These other types of
meetings, however, are on weeknights. So, that reasoning is
flawed.
Many pastors for whom an evangelist may have conducted
meetings are now retired or already in heaven. With one
exception, I am now older than every pastor that I have preached
for in the past two years! The younger pastors do not know the
older evangelist, and he contacts one of his peers to conduct a
meeting for him. That is understandable and to be expected.
Also, pastors often exchange pulpits for meetings. It works this
way: “You come preach for me this year, and next year I will
come and preach for you." Such may mean that the evangelist has
lost two meetings and the pastors have merely traded honorariums.
The change in the style of worship that is occurring is also a
factor. Over 60 years ago a wise writer stated, “It is difficult to
draw a crowd when the only attraction is the Word of God.” The
user-friendly, feel good focus of today does not usually welcome
the “line upon line, precept upon precept” preaching that has
characterized the preaching done by evangelists. It is my ob-
servations that churches that emphasize the “come as you are”
philosophy, generally see the people leave that same way they
came.
It is sad to say, but the ministry and life style of a few evangelists
has hurt some pastors and churches. Instead of being a help to
the church, he has caused problems by focusing on his pet peeves
and preferences. Would to God that this were not so, but it is.
The evangelist is a gift (Eph. 4:11-12) given to the church to assist
in equipping the church to do the work of ministering. A few
evangelists have shot themselves in the foot by putting their foot
in their mouth! I can remember hearing my Dad pray, “Lord, if I
can’t help them, don’t let me hurt them!” That is good advice
for any minister, especially for the evangelist.
The evangelist may have hurt himself by not continuing to study,
prepare fresh messages and minister to the needs of the people. If
a pastor fails to present fresh sermons, he is probably going to be
looking for another church assignment. The same can be said of
the evangelist who attempts to preach the same few sermons
again and again and yet expect to be asked back to the same
places for additional meetings. In effect, he will have become
unemployed because he has become unemployable.
What is the purpose of all this discourse? It is certainly not sour
grapes. We have been blessed to average almost 40 weeks a year
in meetings and missions for the past 33 years. Rather, this is a
brief comment on some changes that are taking place in the
church in America as they affect the ministry of evangelism.
Perhaps later columns will address the subject more fully.
As for us, we continue to praise God for the opportunity to serve
Him by serving others thought the ministry that He has entrusted
to us. Good friends, Dave, Duane and Neil (the original Couriers)
have written a book about their lives and ministry. They called it
Our Final Quarter. We now find ourselves in that final quarter.
Please keep us in your prayers. Pray that God will continue to
open the right doors, provide us with safety as we travel, continue
our good health and give His power on our lives and ministry. gm
| MENU |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| PO Box 145 ~ Charleston, WV 25321 ~ (910) 948-4307 ~ glennandfleta@juno.com |