Enjoying the Journey

An Encouragement For Assistant Pastors

It was my privilege to serve as an assistant to a wonderful pastor for many years. Eighteen years were spent helping someone else fulfill the work God had put in his heart to do. Yet the great truth is that I was also fulfilling the work God had put in my heart to do! An older, mature pastor was speaking for us many years ago. I was privileged to be his host. As we sat at dinner one evening he leaned across the table and said, “Scott, in church work people talk about men serving as a ‘second man.’ There is no such thing. In God’s plan there is a first place for every man. The man who serves as…

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The Most Important Characteristic of A Staff Member

For nearly two decades I had the joy of serving on the staff of a wonderful church and college. After the first few years I had the responsibility of not only being a staff member but also having staff who answered to me. I told someone recently that I learned more about serving on a staff after having the opportunity of supervising others! I truly tried to be a help to the man I served under but I am sure in my youth I made a host of mistakes. Thank God for patient leaders! Now, as an evangelist, I have the privilege of spending time with staff members in many churches. Just last week I enjoyed a lunch meeting with…

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Don’t Lose Your Joy!

This world is full of joy stealers.  Behind them all is a miserable devil whose only delight is to “steal, kill, and destroy.”  It is a rare and refreshing thing to meet someone whose mission is to bring the joy of Jesus into other lives.  Paul was such a man.  In one of the most difficult letters he ever wrote we read these touching words: “Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand” (2 Corinthians 1:24). Joy is rooted in personal faith in God.  Each of us must believe the Lord for ourselves and in so doing discover the joy that only He can bring.  Yet in the…

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