The Trench Work of Pastoral Ministry - Practical Shepherding
By Let me add a word of recommendation to Mike's post below introducing you to Brian Croft's new blog, Practical Shepherding
Last week, Brian Croft and his father, Dr. Bill Croft, greatly blessed the interns and some of the staff at Clifton Baptist Church when they came and talked to us about pastoral visitation. Brian's final words to our group are still ringing in my head. He rightly reminded us that God's word is central to the pastor's ministry, and preaching is very important. But the danger in many of our churches is the idolization of the preacher at the expense of the trench work of ministry. God’s word needs to be central, but the centrality of the word plays out not just in preaching, but in reading scripture to the sick person in the hospital (and their families!), visiting shut-ins and praying with them, etc. Brian rightly encouraged us to remember the trenches of ministry and preach God’s word here. And if we're doing the trench work faithfully, it will culminate in our teaching, preaching, application - in short, our whole ministry. Brian knew the vanity of my own heart, and the attraction to be sucked into the perceived areas of glamour. May God give us grace and humility to find joy here in the trenches. Read his books, his blog, and enjoy the trench work!
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Very good article. I am dealing with some of these issues
as well..
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want enjoyment, for the reason that this this site conations really nice funny material too.
It's strange to see just how many sites there are on this topic I don't know if I'm ever going to have to be back here, but it is great to know I stumbled upon the one that has some practical stuff if this should come up for me again.
Apostle Klibbe ordinated apstole Campell,and apstole Ninow,Apostle Ninow ordinated Apostle Hlatswayo and Apostle Hlatswayo did not appoint any Apostle,instead he passed on without appointing any apstole then Overseer Ndlovu appointed himself as the Apostle because he was the first to realise that Apostle Hlatswayo passed on,He wrote the letter and left it under the pillow in hospital then he left the scene,those who came latter in Hospital they realised that the Apostle Hlatswayo passed on and the found the letter under the pillow to ndicate that Apostle Hlatswayo appoint Overseer Ndlovu.Everybody believes that letter,then the holy spirit indicated that Overseer Ndlovu is not apstole but Overseer Zondi was the Apostle because of such tension the small group left Old Apostlic Church because they believed on the Holy Spirit at the time.The Apostle Zondi Appointed Apostle Mkhize later Apostle Mkhize appointed Apostle Nguna and letter Apostle Nguna Appointed Chief Apostle Dlamini. I hope this will clarify your confusion.
Belief is both light and strength. Yes, one who acquires true belief may challenge the whole universe and be saved from the pressure of events in accordance with the strength of his belief. Saying, “I place my trust in God,” he travels through the mountainous waves of events in the ship of life in complete safety. He entrusts all his burdens to the hand of power of the Absolutely Powerful One, voyages through the world in ease, then takes his rest in the Intermediate Realm. Later he may fly up to Paradise in order to enter eternal happiness. Otherwise, if he does not rely on God, rather than flying, the burdens of the world will drag him down to the lowest of the low. That is to say, belief necessitates affirmation of Divine unity, affirmation of Divine unity necessitates submission to God, submission to God necessitates reliance on God, and reliance on God necessarily leads to happiness in this world and the next. But do not misunderstand this, reliance on God is not to reject causes altogether; it is rather to know that causes are a veil to the hand of power and have recourse to them. Knowing that attempting causes is a sort of active prayer, it is to seek the effects only from Almighty God, recognize that the results are from Him alone, and to be thankful to Him.
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