THREE PASTORS OF ONE CHURCH
BY THE REV. JOHN SNAPE
I know three ministers; they have successively the pastors of one church, a strong of more than a thousand members.
The platform of the first could have Been expressed m these words – “Here I am,
Let me do all I can for you.” And they let him He was big-bodied, big hearted, sympathetic, enthusiastic, industrious – and he worked for them. He was the “bond-slave” of his congregation.
The platform of the second man could have been expressed m these words: “Here am I. Do all you can for me.” And, strange to say, they did. They praised him, bragged about trim, sent him to Europe, end reed with unrestrained delight the reports about him self and his work which he regularly sent to the papers. He was the private chaplain of his congregation.
The third man came and said: “Here is Jesus Christ – do all you can for him.” And, strange to say, they did. Immediately their vision was enlarged, their evangelistic activities stirred, their gifts to missions doubted, their ideals changed. He made that congregation over. He was an ambassador of God. All three of these ministers succeeded, but only one of them had the true ideal of success.
This article was found in a book written in 1913, 85 years ago.
THE ABOVE MATERIAL WAS PUBLISHED BY THE INDIANA TRUMPET, MAY 1998. THIS MATERIAL IS COPYRIGHTED AND MAY BE USED FOR STUDY & RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY.