August 20, 2026
It’s been so good to be back to work after a summer sabbatical! I’m thankful to be able to be in the pulpit again, and thus in the study again. Thank you for your prayers and encouragement for me as I’ve started back. I wish it were possible to sit down with each one of our members to hear how they’re doing, but unfortunately that’s impractical. So I’m doing the next best thing - sitting down with each one of our elders to hear about their shepherding group. Even that will take a little while, but it’s been good to catch up on how I can be praying for the sheep.
Please continue to pray for me as I get back in the groove of pastoral ministry and regular weekly preaching. With a fresh start in ministry, I’ve been thinking about some of the Scripture texts that describe the basic job description of a pastor. One is found
Ezra 7:10 - “Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the Lord and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel.”
Galatians 4:19 - “My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you—”
Colossians 1:28-29 - “We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.”
1 Thessalonians 2:8 - “Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us.”
2 Timothy 4:1-2 - “I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.”
There are many more I could add, but these sum up what I’m aiming and praying for. Please be praying that I—as well as Pastor Charles and Pastor Matheus—will be given grace from the Lord to serve Him and you as we ought.
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One of the areas in which the Lord grew me during my sabbatical was the practice of meditation on Scripture. I’ve written on my Substack about some of what I learned. Check it out when you get a chance!