I know a man. He studied to become a pastor. More than 35 years ago he became the shepherd of a local church in a small, midwestern town. The church was not at all large but began to grow under his leadership. He preached from God’s Word each week. He took the time to give wise counsel to his flock. The church continued to grow. Other churches offered him opportunities in bigger cities with bigger congregations. But he stayed put.
Over time, as the pastor spent time in his study pouring over God’s Word he began to adjust some of his convictions. He did not depart from historical orthodoxy but he did come to hold positions that often keep churches divided. He taught on some of these doctrines. Here and there a few members of the flock sought different grazing grounds. But he stayed put.
The pastor was invited to regular prayer meetings with other pastors in the community. These meetings were not thinly veiled networking events. They weren’t designed to grow any particular pastor’s power, nor to spread a particular message. The men prayed that God would reveal to them how they might better serve Him. They committed to a level of openness that led to moments of weeping and release. The pastor found the meetings invigorating, life-changing even. They did not, however, change his calling. He stayed put.
The pastor buried his wife and co-laborer in the Lord when she was called home. He stayed put. The church began to show its age, both inside and out. The man continued to preach God’s Word. And he stayed put. His children grew up, married, had families of their own. Many of them began to worship elsewhere, other churches in the area that faithfully preached God’s Word. The pastor stayed put.
After more than 30 years in the pulpit the church, it, along with the rest of the world, entered into the COVID era. The church set up sufficient technology that those who wanted to stay home could still worship “with” the congregation. The church continued as well to meet in person. The pastor didn’t make a fuss, sought as much as possible to stay within the law. He never was arrested, charged, nor covered by national media. What he did was he preached the gospel. And he stayed put.
When other churches returned to meeting in person, a number of those who had been worshipping at the church online did not return. It would not be long before the sanctuary started to look mostly empty. Numbers dropped. Giving dropped. Optimism in the congregation dropped. The man stayed put. Last Sunday I was privileged once again to listen to him preach. He reminded us that we are sinners in ourselves. He reminded us that we are not in ourselves. He reminded us that Jesus died for us. He reminded us that our heavenly Father loves us. He fed us with the Word, with bread and with wine. Next Sunday he will be there again. Because he stays put. I know a man who knows the Man. I love them both.