From the Bishops Desk,
Last month was Pastor Appreciation month, as I reflect upon our wonderful pastors/servants of God Almighty, I can’t help but compassionately ponder their temporary unpleasant plight due to the weight of the mission and pastoral cares for the flock and of how taxing it can become.
In times of grueling tasks and never-ending problems that humanity faces, a melancholy can surface or set-in, a weariness to the soul, a gnawing aching, “o wretched man that I am” kind of feeling can overwhelm me/us, however, I find my refreshment in His Word, the anchor of my soul. His Word has a way of redirecting and repurposing me whereupon I become refined and refreshed, prepared and ready for the mission once again, and again, and again! In the gospel of John chapter 3 Jesus “must needs go through Samaria” and has a Divine appointment with the woman at the well. He is weary from the journey, as human as we are, He gets us, He understands our weariness in this journey/mission. He asks for refreshing water and engages the harvest! When His disciples return they say “Rabbi, eat something” in which Jesus replies “I have a kind of food you know nothing about”! Then Jesus makes a statement that rocks my world, redirects, refines, and refreshes my soul, “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing His work”!
WOW, do I ever love this passage! Sometimes in my serving I become distracted and off course, overcome and overwhelmed with the menial motions, and the trivial tasks. At this point I’m off mission, unhappy, exhausted, and unfulfilled but when I refocus to where my refreshment, nourishment truly comes from which is “doing the will of God”! What is the “will of God” you may ask? “That none should perish but that all would come to repentance”, it’s the harvest! I now recognize that He sent me, and I am to finish the work!
As Bishop of the great PNW PCG, I know my task/assignment/purpose/mission! Number one: to fulfill Jesus prayer in John 17 “make us one”, bring us together, be a supporting family. Number two: lead and encourage all to engage/embrace this great harvest, everyone a soul-winner. Number three: make disciples that will make disciples thus fulfilling the great commission. Number four: recruit, train, commission ministers into this great end time harvest. And finally, number five: plant churches all across the PNW, and relieve our aging pastors who are ready and desire to pass the baton!
As Thanksgiving is rapidly approaching may everyone be thankful that we have been found worthy to partner with the Master for this great cause simply because of His wonderful and bountiful supply of grace! Just one more thing…know your Parties Platform and vote Biblical values!
-Bishop Roberts
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