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I Timothy 4:6-8 – If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. 7 But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. 8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

I am concerned for the ministry of Independence Baptist Church, not only while I am here as your pastor, but also after I am gone. I want to so preach and so establish you in the ministry of God that you will remain stedfast for God all the days of your life, even after I am gone.

Eccl 2:18-20 – I know this passage is speaking about money, but the principle spoken of here applies to the ministry of Christ that I am attempting to do.

I want to be faithful for my children’s sake. I have seen the pastor’s family destroyed after he left the ministry through death (honorable death), not being run off, or disgraced. The pastor was such a strong influence the church members, nor his family did not know how to operate and be faithful to God when he was gone.

I want to be faithful for the members of this church’s sake. I see the innocence and trust in your eyes as you look at me as your pastor, trusting me to look out for your welfare, not only physical but also spiritual. You want right doctrines preached to you the right way, with the right motive, with the right end in mind.

I want to be faithful for the young people of this church – those not saved yet – for their sake. They trust me to be their pastor and to be kind to them, and to teach them correctly.

I want to be faithful for my wife’s sake. She has faithfully followed me all these years, never complaining, helping me raise our children and be a help and blessing to our grandchildren.

There are many strong churches today that are lead by strong pastors, and I suppose that is good, but what will happen to those churches when the pastor dies, or if God calls him to another church?

An example of a very strong pastor I know – I have seen one church led by a very strong pastor split five different ways after the man left that church to pastor another church.

An example of a pastor who died while pastoring – I have seen a church struggle for stability when their pastor died suddenly. It took them many years and the pastor’s family has struggled with unfaithfulness to church services, and moral problems in their lives.

An example of a pastor I did not know, but have seen some of the results of his labors – He was very faithful to his church and to everything God wanted him to be – at the church for nearly 40 years, but when he died, the church nearly fell apart. Confusion and trouble arose from every quarter. As one pastor put it, he said it was like walking into a dust cloud of trouble. It was all the pastor could do to go to services and preach, and fall exhausted into a chair after services.

A present very strong pastor almost everybody looks up to – What will the church he pastors do when he must retire or if the Lord calls him home? I know God will provide, but it is not wrong to think about providing for ourselves, and trusting God to move upon us in the correct way so the church will continue. After all, we are dispensable, the church is indispensable.

I have seen missionaries and pastors run off with a woman other than their wife, destroying their family and the entire mission work and church they supposedly loved.

I Timothy 4:10-16 – The pastor must be faithful to continue preaching the true doctrines, and keeping himself pure from this world.