A friend suggested I read
this article today and I am glad he did. Even though I have only completed ten years of ministry I can "amen" most everything that Brian Croft wrote as he reflected on twenty. By the grace of God (1 Cor. 15:10) some of these lessons have been consistently fleshed out in my life, and/or in the life of First Baptist. However, some of the lessons Pastor Croft has learned are still a ‘work in progress’ in my heart/ministry and/or in the lives of our leadership/congregation. No pastor and no local church is perfect. I am convinced that the foundation, direction, and the philosophy of ministry at FBC is biblical. We are moving in the right direction and we are growing spiritually in the Lord. In view of this we must keep pressing on toward the goal of the upward calling. Providentially, God has provided in
supernatural ways to keep this local church
afloat financially during dry seasons and difficult times. Let us keep our eyes on
the Author and Perfecter of our faith!
The following lessons were most encouraging:
1. God’s Word Is Sufficient to Build Christ’s Church
On my first Sunday as senior pastor, I sat alone in the sanctuary wondering if the doors would be open in a year. I realized all my cleverness and worldly wisdom couldn’t stop the decline. But I knew God, by his Spirit and through his Word, was sufficient to build and revitalize his church. Over a decade later, I’ve watched him do this very thing.
