From the Pastor

Therefore, since it is by God’s mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart. - II Corinthians 4:1

June 2009

Pastor Dave Many years ago the college I was attending announced it was building a new science facility. The ground breaking ceremony date was announced and several hundred people turned out for the event. There on the platform, next to the college president was a kindly-looking old man who, it turned out, was the benefactor of the new building. He was introduced with much fanfare and accolades for his kindness as a humanitarian.

He rose with much difficulty and hobbled to the lecturn amid wild applause. His opening line to the crowd went something like this, “Thanks for the applause, but I didn’t want to give you this building” The crowd laughed assuming this was the speaker’s attempt a humor. “No, really,” he went on. “I’m not a nice man and I don’t give my money away to just anyone and I didn’t think you deserved it.” The crowd quieted down as the man’s tone grew more ominous. And then he said, “I have always prided myself on being a hard business man who always, always got my way. But I must tell you, in your President I humbly concede that I have met my match.”

He went on to describe how the college president had appeared at his door again and again to request funding for the new building. Each time the benefactor had turned him away. Then, after many such attempts, the wealthy man had come to work early one morning to find the college president sleeping in the chairs of the waiting room where he had spent the night. After he had been told the day before that he would not get an appointment he stayed until the business man would see him. The angry, forceful, grouchy millionaire who always got his way and made people bow to his will was impressed by the tenacity of the college president. He invited him in and money was offered to build the new building soon after.

Paul, the writer to the Corinthian believers, recognized that the success or failure of the message of Jesus was not dependent on his abilities but on his faith. His job was not to be more clever, or more manipulative than the messages of society, but to be more persistent. He had a gift that was meant to be given away. The sole purpose of the gospel is that it be shared. To keep it for himself would be to give up. So, Paul reminds his readers that when the task ahead of us is daunting and the road difficult, we shall yet win the day if we do not lose heart.

Great ideas are born of hard times. One success is born of many failures. Lasting values are born of ….well, persistence and the discipline to stay persistent. You and I in this congregation are at a moment similar to the one faced by my old college president. The future seems to keep telling us to go away.

So, what do we do? We determine what we really need and we ask God to provide the people to make it happen. We come up with the ideas that will make real change happen and we ask God for the means to see them through. We do our homework on what is really needed and we pray for someone to believe enough to make it happen.

Here’s one for starters: The ministry needs an additional $25 from every family in the congregation to make our budget needs for the summer. This will help wipe out a bit of a deficit we now carry and keep us from borrowing during lean months. That is what we need. Now you know. We’re coming to you for help. Will you help? Good things will come of your gift, we promise. That is the way the kingdom works. So, consider us a persistent beggar at your door step who is unmoved by your unwillingness to help in the past. Today is another day for the gospel to be given away, to you.

Pastor Dave

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