"When I first started at Grace to You in 1996, my supervisor in the counseling department was Doug McMasters, a very fine pastor and theologian in his own right. Doug is now serving as the pastor of New Hyde Park Baptist Church.
Early in our friendship, Doug told me a story. He was a young and somewhat isolated missionary in England when John MacArthur came to that country for a time of ministry.
Doug’s time was not without difficulty there. Men around him in ministry did not live up to the faithfulness that their position should have required.
John spent much time with Doug on that trip, encouraging him and giving counsel to him—even though Doug didn’t have much to offer in return to a man of John’s stature.
No matter. For John, the exchange was not about what he could get. It was about what he could give.
When the time came for them to part, John spoke some final words of encouragement to his younger friend in ministry. John extended his hand and Doug shook it.
“I love you, brother,” John said.
A strange crinkling sound occurred in the handshake as something passed from John’s hand to Doug’s.
John disappeared into the crowd.
Doug unfolded the paper in his hands.
Money. Lots of it.
300 British pounds (about US $600 at the time) to be exact.
A gift from John MacArthur, who understood that money doesn’t come easily to a missionary on the field, and who loved enough to give generously from his own resources (not needing a receipt for tax purposes, mind you) to help a brother who had nothing to offer him in return."
Early in our friendship, Doug told me a story. He was a young and somewhat isolated missionary in England when John MacArthur came to that country for a time of ministry.
Doug’s time was not without difficulty there. Men around him in ministry did not live up to the faithfulness that their position should have required.
John spent much time with Doug on that trip, encouraging him and giving counsel to him—even though Doug didn’t have much to offer in return to a man of John’s stature.
No matter. For John, the exchange was not about what he could get. It was about what he could give.
When the time came for them to part, John spoke some final words of encouragement to his younger friend in ministry. John extended his hand and Doug shook it.
“I love you, brother,” John said.
A strange crinkling sound occurred in the handshake as something passed from John’s hand to Doug’s.
John disappeared into the crowd.
Doug unfolded the paper in his hands.
Money. Lots of it.
300 British pounds (about US $600 at the time) to be exact.
A gift from John MacArthur, who understood that money doesn’t come easily to a missionary on the field, and who loved enough to give generously from his own resources (not needing a receipt for tax purposes, mind you) to help a brother who had nothing to offer him in return."
