Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 2 June 2005 — Page 42
Page 42 • The Muncie Times • June 2, 2005
LOCAL CHURCHES
Holy Ghost Temple Church of God in Christ 1518 E. 17th St.
Sunday School • 10:00 a.m. Sunday Morning Worship • 11:30 a.m. Tuesday Bible Study • 7:00 p.m. Wednesday Prayer • 6:00 p.m. Friday Worship • 7:30 p.m.
Phone: 282-9158
Pastor Jerry D. Bumpus
The Spiritual Israel Church And It’s Army 915 E. Memorial Dr. Muncie, IN Sunday School • 9:30 a.m. Sunday Morning Worship *11:00 a.m. Tuesday Bible Study • 7:00 p.m. Church: 288-3264 Home: 260-745-5353 Ex. 4:22 Israel is my son even my first bom
Rev. JR Carswell
Fig Tree Ministries
219 W. Main
Muncie, IN
Sunday Morning Worship • 10:00 a.m.
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Monday *7:00 p.m.
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Wednesday Prayer *7:00 p.m.
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Phone: 281-1636
Home: 759-7872
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pastor kaymorehouse@hotmail
Pastor Kay Morehouse
The New Testament Christian Ministries 6207 W. Taylor Rd. at Hoffer Sunday Bible Study • 10:00 a.m. Sunday Morning Worship *11:00 a.m. Tuesday Bible Study • 7:00 p.m. Friday Prayer Service *7:00 p.m.
Phone: 282-7666
My Father’s House Apostlic Church 1208 E. Centennial Ave. Sunday School • 10:00 a.m. Sunday Morning Service • 11:30 a.m. Tuesday Prayer *7:00 p.m. Thursday Bible Study *7:00 p.m.
Phone: 287-9221 • Home: 282-3224
Power of Pure Unity and
Reconciliation
1304 1/2 Broadway
An Apostolic Prophetic Ministry
Commissioned to go beyond the
Veil
Services Held
Sunday 10:00 a.m.
Sunday Evening 6:00 p.m.
Phone: 214-1065
New Kingdom Builders 920 E. 1st
Sunday School • 10:00 a.m. Sunday Morning Worship • 11:30 a.m. Tuesday Bible Study • 6:30 p.m. Friday Praise and Worship • 6:30 p.m.
Phone: 286-0825 Home: 288-5205
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Unitarian Universalist Church 4800 W. Bradford Dr. (off Morrison Rd.) Sunday Services • 10:45 a.m. Adult discussion • 9:30 Monthly Sunday young adult lunches Write us at uuchurch.hotmail.com Phone us at 765-288-9561 Look us up at http.Z/uuchurch.uwctl.org/
May God Bless Our Troops and keep them safe!
continued from page 39 Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel” (1 Cor. 9:14). Bud Robinson said: “Ministers receive less for their services to mankind than any other man of profession in the world.” Yet they serve in matters pertaining to the eternal welfare of souls. Why should a person think and ponder over a five dollar bill for days afterward, when he gave it to some minister, or perhaps his own pastor? Many are the slurs and jeers that befall the lot of a preacher, yet some think he should never feel blue. He is expected to be satisfied with whatever is given him, no matter how hard he has labored. If someone mentions raising his salary or a special offering, I can almost hear a good (for nothing) brother saying, “Well, he
shouldn’t be in need very bad, for I gave him five dollars one time (about three months ago, perhaps.)” The Pastor is Worthy of Honor It will be well for every church to remember what Paul has said in 1 Timothy 5:17, “Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine.” It hardly ever gives a pastor the “big head” for some members of his flock to pay him a compliment. I think he is deserving of such. People will pay dearly for the services of a lawyer and never think of it, even if he loses the case. How should they regard the services of their pastor? He is called of god to “watch for the souls of his flock, as they that must give an account”
(Hebrews 13:17). He stands as a watchman on the wall, and has the case of many souls’ eternal salvation on his heart. He stands as he who speaks the greatest message to all the world, the message of the gospel. He is the one who brings the good news to those in the paths of sin. “How shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14). Is his service worthy of due consideration? Should he be criticized, or his family, when they try to do their best? Some even glory in the slander of the minister. Some will never mention a good deed of a pastor, but seem delighted to speak of his mistakes and failures. An accusation once turned loose on a minister goes with such rapidity that it is impossible to stop. It appears that the evil mind
feasts upon the tainted reports of another, and more especially that of a preacher. The Apostle Paul must have known a few things when he wrote, in 1 Timothy 5:19, “Against an elder (pastor) receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.” It is not yet possible for a pastor and his family to live and serve in this world, and board and room in heaven. Does the pastor’s home receive due consideration? Have you considered him and his family as human beings the same as yourself? Have you failed to go to step or two out of the way to show an act of appreciation? Dear sister, have you ever thought that a little love token handed by you to the minister’s wife would cause a world of cheer in that poor laboring soul? Have you been guilty of offering criti-
cism when the pastor’s wife appeared in a new dress? Let me add this: A discouraged pastor and family is indeed a subject of pity and sympathy. If anything in the world, to my mind, would make the angels bow their heads and weep, it would be to look down and see a poor preacher, a victim of some scandal-monger’s vile lips, with all he possesses in the world-his reputation and influence-at stake, and him discouraged. Of all the great men and women in the world, they are those who have hazarded their lives for this gospel of the New Testament. It is the most unpopular profession that one can choose, yet for the sake of souls for whom Jesus died, your pastor and the members of his family have answered that call to the ministry by saying: “Here am I, send me.”