One-Another Care & Mentoring
  • HOME
  • About One-Another Care
  • Receive Care
  • Training
  • Blog
  • Consultation

Your Ministry Should Outlive You

2/23/2014

3 Comments

 
Today, my pastor retired. He preached his last sermon as a Senior Pastor after 26 years serving in that role in the same church. He ended well - he is not leaving due to strife, disunity, or church discord. It is just time for him to move on to something new that God is doing in his life.

As I listened to him give us a final message this morning, I was struck by 3 things:

*It is because of this man’s ministry to my church that I came to a deeper understanding of God’s grace. He has taught me to understand and articulate a clear Gospel message. He has taught me to protect Truth. 

*It is because of this man’s impact on my life that my ministry is where it is today. He gave me a chance to offer something untried in our midst - to begin a Biblical Counseling ministry. It quickly became fruitful and even when it became its own entity separate from the church, I was always able to go to him as a ministry partner.

*It is because of this man’s legacy at my church that I see the need to keep a very loose grip on my counseling ministry. It is not “mine” - it is God’s to use as He sees fit, long beyond my years, Lord willing. Ministry should multiply. In other words, it should be able to carry on long past my lifespan. My pastor has left the church physically, but his legacy will remain there forever. Because he poured in to the lives of people there by teaching us and shepherding us, his ministry is multiplying. If we all are mindful that our ministries should multiply, too, the legacy will remain through the generations until heaven. 

We will miss our pastor. Things are changing, and we do not know who will fill our Senior Pastor position. But the Gospel remains, and God never changes. In today’s final sermon, he reminded us that we have “hope and strength in the storm.” We are going to be okay. Why? Because our pastor’s ministry has multiplied.

I’m not talking about multiplying programs. It’s about multiplying DISCIPLES.

God’s Word is clear on the concept of Ministry Multiplication. The Great Commandment (Matthew 22:3i7-40) and the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) aren’t possible unless we love God, love others, serve all, and make disciples who do the same.

What legacy are you leaving? Will it exist long past your lifespan? If it is Gospel-centered, Truth-filled, and selfless, it will. If it is self-focused, it will wither and fade and it is quite possible that no one in the next generations will know that you existed because you left nothing behind worth keeping.

What I have learned from my pastor is worth keeping. His ministry to me pours out in to my ministry to others. I hope that my ministry to others will pour out of them in to the lives that God allows in their spheres of influence.

My pastor has articulated the Great Commandment and Great Commission well in his ministry, and this is why it has….and will continue….to multiply. I hope and pray mine will do the same.

Thank you, Pastor Steve, for passing on a lasting legacy. You will be missed, and we will be okay. 

3 Comments
Carolyn
2/23/2014 02:22:26 pm

So well written, Ellen. Steve is leaving a lasting, living legacy at The Harbor. His encouragement today was wonderful. Yes, we will carry on God's ministry from our little church and it will continue to touch many people here and on the Mission fields.

Reply
Carolyn
2/23/2014 11:43:14 pm

Amen

Reply
Teri Lindberg
2/23/2014 11:56:12 pm

We moved here a year ago. We are small town people. We had a hard time finding a church. We have only gone to the Harbor 6-7 months. You are so right Pastor Steve is a teacher of the word. He explains it plain and simple. We love him and will miss him. We pray for him as he starts this new phase of his life. I had foot surgery Friday so was sad I wouldn't be there for his last service.
Thank you, Teri Lindberg

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Picture

             Ellen Castillo

    Thank you for stopping by my blog! Come back often to stay in touch with the latest updates.
    ~Ellen
    ​
       *Posts are written by Ellen Castillo, Certified Biblical Counselor, unless otherwise noted.

    Please follow me on social media:

    Archives

    January 2023
    July 2022
    March 2022
    July 2020
    June 2018
    January 2018
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    November 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    April 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    November 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    October 2012
    August 2012
    May 2012

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed


ellencastillo.com
Please use the contact form if you have any questions.


  • HOME
  • About One-Another Care
  • Receive Care
  • Training
  • Blog
  • Consultation