90 Years of Pastoring in Obscurity

“Be content to live unknown for a little while and to walk your weary way through the fields of poverty or up the hills of affliction; for soon enough you will reign with Christ.” – C.H. Spurgeon

Two of the men whom I most admire are the pastors of small churches. One church averages about 75 people on a Sunday morning and the other has about half that number. And yet, both pastors are extremely gifted Bible expositors who labor in the Word throughout the week as they prepare their messages. They also love their congregations deeply and unconditionally.

Both men attended Bible college and one of them even earned a Doctor of Divinity degree. Whereas the latter pastor can simplify the most complex theological doctrine so that his congregation can grasp and apply its truth, the other pastor is quite simply the most gifted orator I have ever heard.

In a day and age where the average pastor lasts 3-5 years at a church before moving on to “greener pastures”, these two men are exceptions to the rule. One just celebrated his 40th year at his church and this year, the other pastor will mark his 50th year of continuous service. What a testimony they are to their congregations, their communities, and to the greater Body of Christ!

The world may not know these men’s names, nor will history record their great deeds, but the annals of heaven are filled with their faithful exploits. Just like the anonymous heroes in Hebrews 11:38, “the world is not worthy of them”.

However, someday these two men of God will reign and rule with Christ… and believe it or not, so will you and me. Not because we did anything great, but because we repented of our sins and placed our faith and trust in the Lord Jesus.

I expect that my two friends will be far closer to the throne of God than me, but at least we will all be in Jesus’s presence and that’s enough for me. In the meantime, they continue to inspire me each and every day as they “keep on keeping on” for the cause of Christ.

“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:12-14 (BSB)

“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” I Timothy 6:12 (NKJV)

- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President