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Think Before You Tweet: 5 Biblical Considerations Before You Post on Social Media

February 11, 2022 / Clint Ellis / 0 Comments

Social media is here to stay. People of all walks of life use various platforms to stay connected, find out about news, or express themselves to the world. I am active on several social media services myself. As much fun as I have had at times, I have also seen that, despite the benefits, the social media world brings great potential to cause harm and damage the witness of believers to the world around us. I can’t help but shake my head before I open Twitter and ask myself what is the trumped-up, out-of-context, controversy of the day. Some people even tune in for the train wreck. The question for a believer is: how should we conduct ourselves in a social media world? I want to propose five considerations for you before you get involved in social media.

Consideration # 1: Start with a commitment to God to glorify him with your posts.

Psalm 19:14 says, “May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable to you, Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” Social media engagement is an extension of the words that we speak. Therefore, a commitment to honor God with what you say applies wholly to our online interactions. Before clicking send, post, or tweet, ask yourself if God would be pleased or disappointed in the words you are publishing for all the world to see.

Consideration # 2: Before you engage someone or in some debate on social media, discern the likely outcome of your engagement.

One of the most perplexing verses in the Bible is found in Proverbs 26:4-5, yet they are most instructive when it comes to social media involvement: “Don’t answer a fool according to his foolishness, or you will become like him yourself. Answer a fool according to his foolishness, or he’ll become wise in his own eyes.” Starting with a presupposition that the scripture does not contradict itself and recognizing that Proverbs are general principles about life suggests that both of these statements are true. A complete exposition of these verses is beyond the scope of this article. Still, these two verses have helped me discern whether I should engage in a social media debate of controversy at a basic level. Typically you know who you follow or are friends with on social media platforms. As such, it should not be tough to discern where to engage. If you know that an individual is unlikely to change or be moved by your input, resist the urge to wade into the discussion.

On the other hand, if your input is likely to be well-received, feel free to enter the exchange. Admittedly, I have discovered that a personal call or text to someone I know about something they have posted is more effective than conveying concern or understanding the heart behind a post than a simple social media engagement. Consider the type of individual you are dealing with before you engage.

Consideration # 3: Consider the state of your heart

If you are consistently drawn to social media debates, arguments , or controversies, I suggest you check your own heart. The Bible tells us in Luke6:45, “A good person produces good out of the good stored up in his heart. An evil person produces evil out of the evil in his heart for his mouth speaks from the overflow of his heart.” What flows from our fingertips onto the World Wide Web reflects what we are inside. If Christ dwells in us, we must be careful to reflect that reality in our social media presence.

Consideration # 4: Find someone to hold you accountable.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says, “Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their efforts. For if either falls, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to lift him up.” I have found it exceedingly helpful to give someone permission to speak into my life whenever I need to consider something or whenever I need correction on my thoughts and attitudes on social media platforms. For me, this is my spouse. My wife is the voice in my head that I hear as I reread a post before publishing. I’m a bit of a night owl, and she is an early riser, so as I am up late getting ready to engage on social media, I ask myself what she will say to me when she wakes up and sees my latest update. The fact that we have been married nearly 20 years helps with this inner dialogue. The longer you use an accountability partner, you can anticipate their input into your internal debate about whether you should post what you are thinking or not. I’ll admit that this consideration has kept me from writing something I would later regret.

Consideration #5: Don’t be afraid to walk away.

Matthew 5:19 says, “If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of the parts of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.” These words, taken from the Sermon on the Mount, underscore the seriousness with which Jesus views sin. If social media is causing sinful thoughts, behaviors, and attitudes, then it has no place in your life. There are two ways that one can act on this consideration. First, one can walk away from social media for a short prescribed time. I try annually to take at least a week, sometimes a month, away from my social media platforms. It is amazing how refreshing and beneficial for self-reflection and focus this time unplugged can be. The second way one can walk away from the social media world is permanently. If it consistently drags you into a world wherein you fall short of God’s mark, then perhaps you should consider walking away forever.

Final thoughts

We have a responsibility to represent our Lord with how we behave and engage others online. We would do well to remember the words of Jesus from Matthew 5:13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty? It’s no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.” Brothers and sisters, think before you tweet.

Pastor to Pastor: Encouragement from Philippians 1

February 4, 2022 / Clint Ellis / 0 Comments

Weary. Discouraged. Broken-hearted. Ready to throw in the towel. Burned out. Feeling like a failure. These are words I’ve heard, and in truth, felt during my ministry. American pastors are so indoctrinated in our western world instant gratification culture that despair and discouragement are tangible whenever results are delayed or unseen. The Covid pandemic did not help soothe these feelings. Congregations scattered. Some didn’t feel safe returning, while others, especially young families, disengaged and do not appear to be coming back. Churches saw mission trips and evangelistic programs derailed. For a church leader, this accentuates the feelings of failure.

How do we combat this? As cliché as it sounds, pastors must cling more closely than ever to the Word of God. We all know we should do this, but often we fail in this regard. One of the ways God has ministered to me over the last several months has been through my study of Philippians, first devotionally and then as preparation for my current sermon series. The truths contained there have been a balm for my wounded pastoral soul. The apostle Paul knew what it was like to face difficulty in his ministry. As quill hit parchment, he languished in prison, uncertain about his future. Yet the tone of this letter is both positive and joyful. In the first chapter, I discovered several truths that comforted my soul. These principles will hopefully minister to your soul as well.

Lesson # 1–God is not finished with you

This lesson applies both to your ministry and your sanctification. Countless times during my 20 years in ministry I have felt like a ministry or service was a failure, only to find that God was working below the surface beyond what the naked eye could see. Furthermore, often the Father uses difficulties and hardships to refine his ministers. This reminder came from Paul’s words in Philippians 1:6. Paul writes, “I am sure of this: that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Pastor, God’s not finished with you or your church.

Lesson #2–God wants you to love and pray for your flock more.

Your church members are His people, and you are charged to shepherd them. As the initial church reopenings started, some members returned to churches while others did not. Paul could not see the church there at Philippi because he was imprisoned, yet the depth of his love was on display for them as he wrote in Philippians 1:8, “For God is my witness how deeply I miss all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.” Verse 9 also expresses that their absence has kindled a fire of prayer from his heart for his people. Pastor, love and pray for your flock.

Lesson # 3–Rejoice as the gospel advances in other places.

Christianity is, properly understood, a team game. Yet this is often not how it is viewed. Fleshly feelings of jealousy and envy are often the results of our hearing about successes in other churches in our city or our county. We rationalize their success rather than simply celebrating the work that God is doing there. Paul’s imprisonment had caused an influx of brothers proclaiming the Gospel. The motives ran the spectrum of pure to false, yet Paul knew that what was most important was the proclamation of Christ and the advancement of the Gospel. In 1:18, he writes, “What does it matter, only that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is proclaimed and in this, I rejoice.” It doesn’t matter if the success occurs at your place or the place a mile down the road. Pastor, rejoice in gospel successes around you.

Lesson # 4–Your continued presence is intended to produce fruitful work.

We may not be able to see tangible successes in our ministries. Our church and our people may appear to be struggling immensely. Just because we may not see sanctification happening doesn’t mean it is not taking place. Paul had no way of knowing whether his imprisonment would lead to his freedom or martyrdom. Yet he knows that if he continued to live, that meant fruitful ministry ahead. In that encouraging paragraph about living and dying, Paul makes the awe-inspiring statement found in 1:22, “Now to live on in the flesh means fruitful work for me.” Pastor, be faithful where you are, knowing that as long as God keeps you serving, He will use your faithfulness and turn it into fruitfulness.

DIY Sharing Your Testimony

February 3, 2022 / Clint Ellis / 0 Comments

Materials Needed

A Notebook

A Pen

A Personal Relationship with Jesus

When it comes to sharing Jesus with people, the methods are legion. It can become quite overwhelming if one looks at it on a macro level. Fear can paralyze someone anxious that they will share something wrong. One of the easiest ways to share the gospel with someone is via sharing your testimony. This series has sought to take away some of the mystery with other spiritual disciplines, so too my goal is to make you more comfortable engaging in a conversation about your faith.

The first thing one needs when sharing their testimony is a relationship with Jesus Christ. They must have repented of their sins and placed their faith in Jesus Christ, the son of God. I cannot share a hundred-dollar bill from my wallet with you because there is no hundred-dollar bill in my wallet at this juncture. What I mean is that one cannot share what they do not have. At this point, you must ask yourself if you know Jesus as your savior. If you are unsure, spend some time with your Bible and read through the following verses (Romans 3:10, Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, Romans 5:8, Romans 10:9-10, and Romans 10:13). Once you are confident of this, then you can begin.

Using your notebook and a pen, write these three statements at the top of your page: “My life before Christ,” “How I came to know Christ,” and “My life after Christ.” These sentences form the basis for your testimony. In the first paragraph, describe your life before Christ. You may be someone who became a believer at an early age and didn’t live a wild and wicked life before you were saved, or you may have lived a life filled with all sorts of bad choices before you met Jesus. Either of these scenarios testifies to a beautiful trophy of Grace, and you should not be ashamed of whatever category you are in.

Once you have described your life before Christ, you are ready to move to the second paragraph. Here you will explain how you came to know Christ. For me, it was flipping through a list of verses in my Bible and being convicted that I was lost and in need of a Savior. Someone may have heard the gospel from a pastor or teacher, or perhaps a friend from college. Describe it in as much detail as you can.

Finally, you are ready to share how your life has changed since you met Jesus. Perhaps you have a desire to read your Bible, or maybe God delivered you from a desire to engage in a particular sin. Either way, if you are in Christ, you are a new Creation, and your story is worthy to be shared.

Once these three paragraphs are written, practice sharing your story in the mirror. I know you may feel silly, but it does help if you practice. I have a close friend who is one of the best evangelists I know, and he taught himself to share the gospel by standing in the bathroom and practicing repeatedly.

You may be wondering how to find opportunities. I would invite you to pray a prayer I once heard an evangelist share at a denominational evangelism rally: Dear Lord, put someone in my life who needs to hear the gospel, open my eyes to see the opportunities, and give me boldness to take them. If you pray these words with faith, God will honor your desire to share your faith.

DIY Prayer Journal

February 2, 2022 / Clint Ellis / 0 Comments

A Pen

A Bible

A Notebook

A Consistent Time of Prayer

Prayer is one of the easiest personal disciplines to do, but many would consider it one of the hardest to maintain. It is simple in that it can take place anywhere, at any time, yet people treat it as if it were an ancient stone containing a foreign language that they have to decipher. Prayer is simply a conversation with God. It’s incredible to consider. The sovereign God of the universe, the One who spoke the world into existence out of nothing, is always willing to take your call. You’ll never get his voicemail or hear a busy signal. In fact, Jeremiah 33:3 says, “Call unto me, and I will show you great and unsearchable things that you do not know.”

I am convinced that one of the reasons we fail to pray is because we fail to recognize or remember when God has answered our prayers. Therefore, I would like to introduce you to the concept of a prayer journal. You can keep this notebook with your Bible, where you can keep track of God’s answers to your petitions. If organized simply, the journal can serve as a prompt when you don’t know what to pray about, as well as a springboard to prayers of gratitude for what God has done in your life and in the lives of those around you.

The first step in your prayer journal journey is to divide the first four pages into eight sections. These sections will correspond with the seven days of the week, with the final section coinciding with the year. (These section heads are not original to me. I have used them for as long as I can remember, and I do not know where they originated.). Label the first section this way: “Monday—Missionaries.” Underneath the heading, write out the words to Matthew 9:36-38. Below that heading, make a list of missionaries you either know or who are sent via your church or denomination. These can be international missionaries or domestic missionaries/church planters.

Once you have finished section 1, label section 2 as “Tuesday—Tasks.” Underneath this section heading, write Colossians 3:17. On this page make a list of significant tasks you need to accomplish for the upcoming week, month or year.

The third section should be labeled “Wednesday—Workers.” Write the words of Philippians 3:10. In this section, write the names of your pastor, your church’s ministerial staff, support staff, and your Sunday school or small group leaders.

The fourth category is “Thursday—Government Officials.” (I realized that my nice alliterative headings break down here, but I am hard-pressed to think of a category that works besides the one I used.) Underneath the title, write the words to 1 Timothy 2:1-2. In this section, write the names of the elected officials in your city, state, and federal levels. Pray that God would raise godly men and women to serve, that He would give them fortitude and courage to serve while living according to the principles that align with the Bible.

In the fifth division, write Friday—Friends and Family. Under this section, pray for those who are closest to you. Pray for their faith, health, and other pressing needs in their lives of which you are aware.

Label the sixth box with the heading “Saturday—The Lost.” The scripture that I encourage you to write underneath this title is Luke 19:10. A disclaimer here: this should not be the only day that you pray for those who are lost and need to know Jesus as Savior; nevertheless, it is essential to focus your prayer for them on this particular day.

The seventh section of the journal should be labeled “Sunday—Services.” A verse to coincide with this section is Hebrews 10:24-25. Commit to praying for the worship services at your church and those happening at other churches around you.

In the eighth section, make a list of specific long-term prayer needs for the upcoming year. In the pages that follow these divisions, take the opportunity to jot down what you are praying for when you pray. Write the date beside them. For example, if a neighbor is interviewing for a new job, you can pray that God would provide for that. Then once you hear from them, you can go back and write the date God answered it and how He answered it. These pages will serve as a reminder of God’s faithfulness to hear our prayers. When you look over these answers, it will spur you to continue to seek the Lord’s face. Lastly, I would encourage you to share how God is answering you. I’m certainly always ready to hear your report!

DIY Scripture Memory

January 26, 2022 / Clint Ellis / 0 Comments

Materials:

A Bible
Index Cards
Pen or Pencil
A Plan
3×5 Recipe Box or Binder Rings
7 Tab dividers

The Process

Gather the materials you need. First, select a good Bible translation. My personal preference is the Christian Standard Bible. I have found it to be a great blend of readability and accuracy. Whatever version you choose, make sure it is a version that is easy for you to read and comprehend. Next, you will need a plan for choosing your memory verses. These can come from a plethora of places. You will find them in most Sunday School materials, a devotional, a list like the one our church is currently using, or from your personal Bible reading. Once you have your plan in place, you will need a strategy to retain the verses you are memorizing. Here the 3×5 recipe box and tabs or binder rings will serve you well.

On the day you begin, write the verse or verses you have selected on your index card. Be careful to copy it word for word, paying particular attention to punctuation. Recite the verse several times out loud. On day two, review the passage again, this time striving to repeat as much as you can from memory before consulting the index cards. For the following week, review the verse daily. I try to say it out loud, which appeals to both my sense of hearing and sight when I check myself. I encourage you to enlist a partner to help you. This partner might try to memorize the verse as well, or they might be someone who will hold your index card and check the accuracy of your memory. You may also practice writing out on another sheet of paper from memory. However you review, try to make it fun.

Once you have memorized the verse for the week, you need a strategy for retaining it. A helpful procedure involves making a chart with seven columns, one for each day of the week. Once you memorize a verse, assign it to a particular day. For example, if I have memorized Psalm 119:11, once that week is complete, I assign it to Monday. On Monday, I will select a new verse, let’s say John 3:16-17. I will work on memorizing the new verse while reviewing Monday’s review list that contains Psalm 119:11. After week two, assign John 3:16-17 to Tuesday and select a new verse of the week, let’s say Romans 3:10. On Monday, review the verses for that day and the new verse. On Tuesday, one will review Tuesday’s verse along with the verse of the week. Continue this until you have memorized seven verses and start the process over. The logic for this review process is that your verses stored up in your heart can be retained without having to review all of them on the same day. This is not difficult at first but will be more difficult as more verses accumulate. This is where the index card box or the binder clips can be helpful. For the rings, attach the Monday verses to the Monday ring and follow suit with the subsequent days. The index card box with seven tab dividers, one for each day of the week, is an excellent tool as well.

That’s it. It’s just that simple. Let me conclude by encouraging you not to allow self-doubt or discouragement to prevent you from being able to treasure God’s Word in your heart. And remember, with God, “all things are possible” Matthew 19:26.

DIY Quiet Time

January 20, 2022 / Clint Ellis / 0 Comments

Materials Needed

1. A Bible
2. A Pen/Pencil
3. A Notebook
4. A Time
5. A Place
6. A Plan
7. A Prescribed amount of time

Most Christians who attend a Bible preaching church have heard the pastor say that it is vital for an individual to have a quiet time. This mandate can be intimidating. A member might think, “I don’t know where to begin” This DIY guide hopes to demystify the process. The goal is to give you a basic starting point. Much as with woodworking, an experienced carpenter can take the simplest of plans and expand them using their skill. So too, with this quiet time guide. It outlines a process that can be modified to one’s experience and liking.
The ultimate goal of a quiet time is to grow in Christlikeness via intake of the Word of God. Thus there are certain things needed for this process. First of all, you will need a Bible. I recommend selecting a translation that is easy to read. I use the Christian Standard Bible. I find it to be the perfect blend of readability and accuracy. Use a notebook to write down the insights gleaned from the text. Once you have those items, select a place and a time. Consistency is the key. Some suggest that you must have a quiet time in the morning. Indeed, this is a helpful way to start the morning, but I also understand that mornings are not easy for everyone. My advice is to pay attention to your natural rhythms. If you are more focused and can concentrate better on what God is saying to you in the afternoons or late at night, by all means, use that time for your quiet time. The key is consistency. Make it an appointment, and do not allow anything to keep you from it. Trust me–the devil will try to interrupt it. Block off a certain amount of time. Start simple. For some, 15 minutes might be all you can spare. Others might want to carve out half an hour or a full hour. Make it manageable.

Components of a Quiet Time
The method of having a quiet time that I am advocating here consists of three components: Prayer, Scripture Reading, and Scripture Memory. Now I know that some of you slammed on the brakes whenever I said scripture memory. I know many of you wrongly believe that you cannot memorize scripture. We will have an article later in this series on that. File your objections away until then. For the purpose of this article, we will only be dealing with the actual scripture reading portion of the Quiet Time. By the way, this method is not original to me. I heard a prominent pastor talking about this as his go-to method of his devotional life when I was rethinking how to best reboot my devotional life, and this method has worked wonders for me.

The Process
Once you have selected a place and time and gathered your materials, you are ready to begin. The starting line for any quiet time is prayer. I typically start my quiet time with a prayer that quotes a scripture verse like Psalm 119:18. In the CSB, this verse reads, “Open my eyes so that I may contemplate wondrous things from your instruction.” This prayer acknowledges that you know God’s Word holds something of value for you today and asks God to help you see it.
Here is where a good plan comes in. You may have a Bible reading plan that your church has encouraged you to participate in. This past year our church read the New Testament together. This year I have encouraged them to select the plan that works best for them. My reading of scripture this year will be guided by the McCheyne Bible Reading Plan. You may also choose to study a particular book or section of scripture, such as the 23rd Psalm or the book of Philippians. No matter which plan you prefer, I recommend having one because it adds two benefits to having a daily quiet time. First, it provides accountability. Whether a paper copy or a YouVersion checklist, the list helps you stay on track. Second, it takes away the potential time wasted of asking yourself the question, “I wonder what I should read today?”
The next step is to start reading. Read until you come to a place where a verse or section stands out. At that point, write that verse or verses down in the notebook. I would encourage you to write them verbatim. Next, ask yourself what the passage means. You are after the Biblical truth. Prayer and study notes can help you discern this. Pay attention to the context. Once you have figured out the meaning of the passage, you must ask how I need to respond to this truth. Write your response next to the heading application. Finally, write out a prayer asking God to help you apply that truth to your life.
That’s all there is to the scripture reading portion of your Quiet Time.

DIY Spiritual Life

January 19, 2022 / Clint Ellis / 0 Comments

I have served as a pastor for fifteen years in three churches. My exploits in home improvement, gardening, auto maintenance, and other Do-It-Yourself projects have become legendary. No, I’m not the next Tim “The Toolman” Taylor or Handy Manny. Most of the time, when I try to fix something, it ends up in a worse condition than it was, to begin with. In each ministerial stop, God has been gracious to my family in providing church members who were exceedingly benevolent and helpful with tasks. I am in awe of their skills and indebted to them for using them on my behalf. The ones I remember most fondly were the ones who took the time to demonstrate that I could do some of the small things and showed me how to do it. While thanking God for those men and women this week, the thought occurred to me that the role that those individuals played in my life is precisely the role that, as a pastor, I am supposed to play in the lives of others. Consider the apostle Paul’s statement of the role of a pastor in Ephesians 4:11-12:

And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, equipping the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ.

One of the most important aspects of my job is to “equip the saints” for “the works of ministry.” This mandate entails teaching them how to pursue a deeper spiritual life. The next few posts will be a series of DIY Spiritual Life posts with that task in mind. Here’s a list of what is to come:

Stay Tuned:

Hide God’s Word Where You Can Find it in 2022

January 5, 2022 / Clint Ellis / 0 Comments

One of my favorite authors is Don Whitney. He has written extensively on personal and interpersonal spiritual disciplines. Recently, he penned ten questions to focus your spiritual preparation for a new year. This was his second such article. (They can be found here and here.) One of the questions struck me: What spiritual discipline would you most like to grow in this year? This answer was an easy one. Last year, my optometrist discovered some potential issues with my eyes. The condition is treatable, but it could lead to eventual blindness if left untreated. The diagnosis left me with a haunting refrain in my head: If I were no longer able to see, or if someone suddenly took access to God’s Word away from me, would my knowledge of the scripture sustain me? My discomfort and inability to answer that question with an unequivocal “yes” lead me to an easy answer to Whitney’s query. The one spiritual discipline where I want to see the most growth in 2022 is Scripture memory.

Since a road trip is more fun with friends, I want to invite you all to join me on this journey. Now, I know that you may have objections or protests about your ability, or lack thereof, to memorize verses, so I hope to share some articles to encourage you along the way over the next few days. Nevertheless, here is my proposal for us to memorize scripture together. Step one, pray about the commitment you are making. Second, enlist a friend to check your work and hold you accountable. It works better if they are participating too, but it isn’t necessary as long as they work with you to help make sure you have the verse memorized. The third step is to select a plan. To complete a verse, simply arrange a time with your partner and repeat it to them from memory in your translation of choice. I have attached to this article three lists for varying levels of challenge. Club 12 is a plan to memorize one Bible verse a month throughout the year. This path will allow you to take your time working on a verse without the pressure of another coming the following week. Group two is Club 26. This list enables a participant to memorize one verse every two weeks. Finally, Club 52 maps out a new memory verse every week.

I know this can be a scary goal, but I want to encourage you to give it a try. Every verse you hide in your heart this year, be it 1 or 52, will be one that no one can ever take away from you. Will you join me this year? I have attached a PDF of each plan, complete with a place for your signature once you complete it and one for your accountability partner.

Club-12-3 Download

Club-26-2 Download

Club-52-2 Download

Well Done, Good and Faithful Servant

July 1, 2020 / Clint Ellis / 0 Comments

Today I learned that one of my dearly loved mentors in the ministry went home to be with Jesus on Monday. W.O. Sanders was a part of spiritual journey for as long as I can remember. He baptized me when I was nine years old. Later, when I was called to ministry, he would invite me to preach at every church that he served in. Those experiences were shaping and formative for a youngster called to ministry.

When I turned 21, I took my first ministry position. It didn’t go well. My first Sunday was the pastor’s last Sunday. In the four months I lasted, I made every mistake in the book. I resigned in defeat on a Wednesday, and that Sunday morning, I went home to my church. It was Homecoming. W.O. Sanders was the guest preacher that morning. He saw me as soon as he arrived and came over to find out why I wasn’t at the church where I was on staff. I explained what happened, and before he left, he booked me to preach where he was interim two weeks later. I graciously accepted, but I knew that I didn’t want to do anything ministry-related so soon, possibly ever. The thing is, W.O. was a hard man to say no too.

I went to the church two weeks later and shared my testimony. It felt good, but I was still licking my wounds. I didn’t know if I’d ever be able to get back in the ministry saddle again. W.O. had other plans. On Wednesday of that week, there was a knock on my apartment door. Brother Sanders came in and sat down. I’ll never forget that conversation. He said, “Clint, I want you to pray about something.” “What’s that, Brother Sanders?” He said, “I want you to pray about coming to the church and being my Associate Pastor/Youth Minister.” I told him that I was hurt, that I didn’t want to be in ministry again, and that I just needed a break. He didn’t say much, but as he rose to leave, he said, “You just pray about it.”

Well, if I’m honest, I didn’t pray about it. I was so hurt, I didn’t want any part of ministry anymore. Brother Sanders wasn’t having it. The following Monday, less than a week later, there was another knock on my door. I opened to find him standing there again. He came in, took a seat on the sofa, and said, “We voted on you last night. You can start when you want.”

I must have sat in stunned silence for a while. He just smiled, told me what time church started that Wednesday and excused himself. I began my ministry there that Wednesday night! For the next two years, I watched this Godly man, lead a church, love his wife faithfully, and gently guide me as I grew in my faith and my ministry proficiency. When he went to that church, it had never had pastoral tenure of more than two years. He stayed as “interim” for three years. He led them to renovate the sanctuary, two building projects, and revamped the exterior landscaping all without any strife. He loved and led in such a way to prepare them for the next steps as a church. After we left, they called a Godly pastor who has remained there for 17 years. It might not have been possible without God using W.O. Sanders there during his time. In my time there, God used Brother Sanders and the church to restore my love for people and my heart for ministry. He “retired” 6 months before I left for seminary, but as he was leaving, he instructed the church to keep letting me preach and pay me what they were paying him, because it would help me when I left for school. I might not be where I am today without him. I am forever indebted and grateful for his stubbornness and belief in what God wanted to do through me.

Shortly after I came to Fellowship, I received a call from a Goshen, AL number. It was W.O. He, then 94, said, “Clint, I am going to call your dad one day, and he’s going to come pick me up and bring me to Tallahassee to preach in your church.” What did I say? I said, “Just let me know when you are coming. ” We never were able to work it out. I wish now that we had. I will miss him.

On Monday, he closed his eyes in death, and opened them upon his Savior. He was reunited with his bride, and he heard, “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the rest prepared for you before the foundation of the world.” I thank God for W.O. Sanders, and I can’t wait to see him again.

Pastors Need Each Other

May 9, 2020 / Clint Ellis / 0 Comments

Last night I was stunned to learn of the tragic death of a pastor. I did not personally know him, but a few of my friends did. I grieve for his wife and his kids. I may not know what personal demons he was battled, but I do know the deadly danger of isolation that many ministers and their families face. No one can relate to ministers quite like other ministers do. Therefore, we must understand that we need each other. We have to be intentional about loving and ministering to one another. Here are three ways we can fulfill this needed task.

Commit to Pray for Other Ministers

Few things are as impactful to me as hearing from a ministry friend who was thinking of and praying for me. Discipline yourself to do this for others. Set aside one day a week to pray for your ministry friends. For example, designate Wednesday as” Workers in the Kingdom” Wednesday. For a portion of your prayer time, pray specifically for other pastors. Colossians 1:9-14 provides an excellent template. Praying different Psalms over others is helpful as well.

Contact Other Ministers

It is easy to get wrapped up in the busyness of ministry and lose contact with other co-laborers. Tonight on hearing the news, my first instinct was to grab the phone and reach out to others whom I care about. I wanted them to know someone cares and they were not alone. Take a few moments each week to call or text a friend in the ministry. You may be the lifeline they need at the moment they need it the most. You may not be in the same zip code but you are definitely in the same kingdom.

Connect With Other Ministers

Prayer and contact are helpful, but we must also be intentional about connecting with other ministers near us. A pastor who sees other churches and pastors as threats or rivals is sorely myopic and missing the point of the Great Commission. We have a king to serve and His kingdom to build, and therefore we need one another. Some of the most encouraging moments for me are coffee and lunch meetings at local establishments with my brothers. In those moments you are afforded the privilege of just being yourself and not having to be the pastor. We can let down our guard and be with one another. These conversations can be about life, sports, family, or other interests but what it creates is connections that help strengthen one another.

Brothers, we need each other. Pray. Contact. Connect.

If you are a pastor needing help and feel you have no one, please call 1-844-Pastor1. It is a free, confidential helpline for pastors provided by Focus on the Family and the North American Mission Board.

Commit to Pray for Other Ministers

Contact Other Ministers

Connect With Other Ministers

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