Rob Prince's Blog, page 3

Good News About the Good News This Christmas

Ready for some good news this Christmas?  According to Leonard Sweet, a renowned missiologist, there are more Christians in China than there are people in the United States. The largest officially atheist country is (because so many people are coming to Christ) soon becoming the largest Christian nation!  

Let that sink in. 

There will be more people celebrating Christmas in China than in the United States. I’m not sure that they will all have Christmas trees. They might not all go out caroling in their neighborhood. They might not be able to express their faith as openly as you and I, but God is on the move in China. Praise the Lord!

It’s not just China. Africa is booming with those turning to Christ too. At the turn of the 20th century, there were about 10 million Christians on the continent of Africa,. Today, there are 734 million followers of Jesus in Africa.Simultaneously, atheism, which peaked around 1970 with 165 million adherents on the planet, is on the decline. Their numbers are falling from 147 million in 2020 to 146 million in 2024.* Praise the Lord, again!

In some of the most troubled hot spots in the world, with wars, famines and displaced people groups, God is still working. People are still responding to the Gospel. In spite of danger and difficulties, people are coming to Jesus! 

Sometimes we look around at empty churches in the United States and think that is the way it is around the world. Not so! God is working. We in the United State simply need to get on board with the rest of the world. Stop fighting about our differences and start focusing on the Difference Maker. All across our spinning globe, people in different languages and from different tribes and traditions will celebrates the birth of our Lord this week. In fact, more people are claiming Christ than ever before in the history of the world!

There are plenty of troubling statistics concerning death and destruction. There are plenty of things over which to grieve. Turn on the evening news, and you might only hear bad news. But there is good news about the Good News! As we gather this Christmas and sing “O come All Ye Faithful” rejoice in the good news that there are more faithful people coming to Jesus than ever before! There is Joy in the world. The Savior is still coming and changing lives!!

*According to the Study of Global Christianity of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

Pastor, the New Year is in Sight… you can make it!

Christmas season is in full swing. It’s the busy season for retailers– and pastors too. There’s parties, programs, gift exchanges, benevolence requests, of course, sermons to write and everything else that goes into the season. Then it gets busier. Toss in a sick child, a funeral, a broken down car, a troubled teenager, a disgruntled member, a financial crisis either at home or at the church (you know, the everyday life of a pastor) and it gets even more complicated. It was 17 years ago this week (December 20, 2007), while reading a letter from a disgruntled member during a financial crisis that my brain hemorrhage occurred. I’m convinced (and my neurologists concur) that the reason for the aneurism was (in part) due to the stressful season. 

Stress is an ever present “friend” for pastors. Besides the burden of carrying the parishioners’ troubles and sicknesses and the pastor’s own family circumstances, there are all the church financial and building issues. Pastors get anonymous letters and a few signed by disgruntled members over any number of topics. Top that off with pastors enduring the lies, rumors, and troublemakers’ shenanigans. Social media has made the stress level of pastors’ lives rise to new heights. All of these stressors are compounded at Christmas time. 

Pastors, if your worship attendance numbers, offering total or sermon wasn’t great this past Sunday. It’s OK. To, in part, quote the late great, Tony Campolo, “It’s Monday, but another Sunday is a comin’.”  In other words, you get another chance this week for all those things to improve. If you received an unwanted email about this or that (I received one over the weekend), take a deep breath, count to ten and give that person over to Jesus (I’m still working on that one, to be honest). If you’ve got to take a break, take it. If you need to hand off some duty to someone in the congregation, do it. If you need to simply settle it for a long winter’s nap, sleep away. 

Pastors, during the hectic Christmas season make sure you take care of yourself. The Kingdom needs you healthy and well. Your church needs you healthy and well. Your family (and you) need you well too. So stop listening to the naysayers, go for a walk and enjoy the crisp winter air. We’re in the homestretch toward Christmas. You can make it! Take care of yourself, drink a cup of hot chocolate (or eggnog) and enjoy the season once more.

Merry Christmas! The lights of the New Year are in sight, you’ve almost made it.

Stop Counting Worship Attendance!

Worship Attendance numbers have caused more pastoral anxiety (and more false pride) than any other number listed on the Nazarene Annual Pastor’s Report (APR). Those numbers don’t reflect the what’s really happening or not happening within a church. Church growth (or lack of growth) does not necessarily reflect the health of a church. Too many good pastors have been defeated because a group got miffed at what the faithful pastor said or didn’t say and stormed off to the Baptists down the street. Attendance fell and so did the pastor’s confidence. Others were puffed up when the Baptist church in town split and half their crowd hopped over to the Nazarene church. There is a solution to this less-than-holy enticement. Stop counting. Stop asking how many were in church last Sunday. Just stop.

All those experiencing modest growth and the church growth prodigies in the crowd are having a heart attack: “We have to count people because people count.” Thank you Elmer Towns (Don’t know Elmer? Google him). No, we don’t have to count people. Who says? And we don’t have to focus on numerical realities because there is a book in the Bible called Numbers (I heard that lame argument back in the day too). Just stop counting.

In most cases, in USA/Canada anyway, the numbers are useless. Here are the facts:

Fact 1: Most churches are declining or have flatlined in USA/Canada. 
Fact 2: Most growth occurring is transfer growth (sheep changing pastures, not lost sheep coming home).
Fact 3: On-line attendance is the most inaccurate number of all.
Fact 4: Combining on-line and in-person attendance is a deceptively inaccurate grand total. It’s inclusion on the APR is for bragging rights only and no other reason.

All this to say, why count worship attendance numbers?

If anyone knew the fickleness of numbers, it was Jesus. He fed 5,000 on one occasion and 4,000 on another (someone was counting), but how many of those folks were there when he really needed them? A few women and the teenager John were the only friendly faces on Golgotha. Even after He was raised from the dead and lots of people saw Him, only 120 showed up for the prayer meeting until Pentecost. Not exactly earth shattering numbers (yeah, yeah, I know someone counted the 120 people and someone counted the 3,000 who were “added to their number” on Pentecost too. Blah, blah, blah…does it really matter what those numbers were?). 

Can’t we count the things that Jesus said were important (see the Great Commission if you need a lesson on what’s important). Count Baptisms. Count Disciples-in-training. Count those engaged in ministry. Like the nameless mathematician in the disciples’ circle (probably Matthew the tax collector), count the number of people fed. In other words, count community impact? Count those numbers, not how many butts are in seats or clicks made on Facebook live. 

The church growth movement (and it’s prioritizing noses and nickels) is in part to blame for the declining mess we are currently in. We were counting people, but didn’t care for them. We were counting nickels, but not nurturing neighbors. Let’s stop caring about who has more people in a pew and start caring more for the hurting people not in our pews. Let’s start calculating ways to show Jesus’ love to the “never attenders” and “down-in-outers,” instead of building brownie points with power brokers in a denominational office.   

Stop counting worship attendance and start serving!

This Pastor’s Wife is “Worth Far More Than Diamonds”

By my calculation, tonight’s Board and Pastors’ Christmas Dinner will be the 34th such affair for Karla’s culinary expertise. We started in Bad Axe, when Karla cooked a meal for the church board and the entire pastoral staff (me, myself and I). She has carried on the Christmas tradition at each church. The board and staff for years was small enough to have the meal in our home. As the churches grew, so did the size of the gathering. Now, the event is held in the church foyer (Karla didn’t want a “funeral dinner feel” to the meal, and Central Church’s foyer with big Christmas trees and a high ceiling makes for a lovely setting). Tonight, there will be 50 or so folks for dinner. 

Karla plans and searches for the perfect recipes all year long. She keeps notes on what folks ate and what they didn’t eat (Note to self: No Liver and onions. C’mon, she has never served liver and onions). She thinks and rethinks how to make a meal that even Goldilocks would say,  “everything is just right.” This year’s main entre is ham. There will be a potato dish that she first tried out on our home group (aka “the guinea pigs”). There will be veggies and salads and I don’t know how many deserts. All homemade. All prepared to perfection.

It can be a dangerous effort too. A few years back, she was taking the glazed carrots out of the convection oven, but the food tins proved to be too heavy. As the carrots dropped all over the floor into a sugary, sticky mess, she slightly tore her rotator cuff. She might not have given” life and limb” for this meal, but she has given a “limb.”
 

Some pastors’ spouses play the piano or lead a ministry. Back in the day, when it was mostly male pastors, the question most frequently asked at interviews was, “can your wife play the piano.” Karla played the flute (and she did accompany congregational singing with it, but that’s another story for another day). She doesn’t lead Ladies Bible studies. She isn’t the missionary president type. If you want to get on her “naughty list” ask her to do something up front. More “Martha” than “Mary” (the sisters of Lazarus from the story in Luke 10), Karla is a behind the scenes worker-bee. Hospitality and serving are her gifts. 

Solomon once wrote: A good woman is hard to find, and worth far more than diamonds. (Proverbs 31:10 MSG). He ought to know and apparently Solomon looked and looked and looked for a good woman (he had 700 wives and another 300 concubines… umm… maybe he looked too much.). It only took me one try to find “a good woman worth more than diamonds.” 

Karla is invaluable to me. She keeps me going when I’m ready to quit; helps me in more ways than I can list; and has made me look good more times than I can count. When she finally has time to sit down and read this article (probably sometime next week), she won’t be happy. She’d rather be in the background than in the spot light. Still, I’m very thankful for the love and effort she puts into tonight’s meal. Central church is blessed to have a great church board and wonderful pastoral staff, but I’m most thankful for tonight’s chef. 

What makes a “Joyful and Triumphant” Pastor?

The Pastor’s Christmas Banquet is tonight on the Eastern Michigan District. The district is blessed to have Frankenmuth, a quaint Christmas village, nearby (technically, the town is located in the Michigan District’s territory but the drive is not too far for most EMD pastors). The dinner is at the iconic Zehnder’s restaurant and its famous family style chicken dinners. Karla and I always leave a little early for the dinner so we can stop at Bronner’s (the world’s largest Christmas store) in Frankenmuth to purchase a few ornaments. All this to say, the Eastern Michigan Pastor’s Christmas dinner is a far cry from some district’s pastor’s Christmas dinners in musty church fellowship halls or at greasy truck stops along the freeway. 

When I first started attending this event, it was a much more dress-up affair. I once called the gathering the “Nazarene Prom.” It’s not as “promy” these days. There will be still be red sweaters and a few Christmas ties, but no gowns or corsages. We will eat chicken (and schnitzel), sing Silent Night and see pastor friends from across the district. It will be a nice evening.

I’m thankful for the brother and sisterhood of ministry. Some of the finest people, I know are pastors. While pastoring has its moments of glorious victories, there are also many times of disappointment, betrayal, loneliness and heartache. It’s not always easy being a pastor (believe me, I know). Some have toiled in difficult situations with little thanks, yet are still faithful. Some have been slandered, lied about, criticized by carnal members and still serve Jesus. Social media has butchered plenty of fine pastors (or their families) and caused many sleepless nights. Some have been passed over because leaders have listened (whether consciously or not) to those corrupt and sinful voices. They have endured loss and hurt but press on. It’s a calling not a job. It’s that calling that gets them up every day and keeps them working hard into the night. There once was a commercial saying being a U.S. marine was “the toughest job you will ever love.” Not true. Being a pastor has that distinction.

All this to say, tonight, as we are singing “O Come All Ye Faithful,” I will look around the roomful of pastors and see plenty who are “joyful and triumphant.” They are so, not because of accolades or church statistics. Instead these faithful shepherds, empowered and enabled by Jesus, are fulfilling the call He placed upon their lives. The Kingdom is enlarged because of these “joyful and triumphant” men and women

I will be honored to be standing in their midst. 

Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding. Jeremiah 3:15

Being Thankful if Today’s Dinner is at a Mission or a Mansion

Karla and I didn’t go to Kansas City this Thanksgiving, and our kids didn’t come here. But we won’t be alone. This morning we will be at the Eastside mission, helping feed their neighbors a Thanksgiving meal. 

I haven’t served Thanksgiving Dinner at a mission in a long time. 

My internship during my seminary years was at the Kansas City Rescue Mission. Back then, I was a regular on the holidays at the mission. Had you asked me during that time, I would have told you that I would be a director of a rescue mission “when I grow up.” I had no visions of pastoring a church. I thought my calling was to the down-and-outers of the world not the up-and-comers. What I’ve learned, in the last 37 years, is that both groups need Jesus. 

Many folks eating the free meal at the mission have Jesus. But others there will think that their past sins and behaviors have blown their chances with God Almighty. They haven’t. That’s not how God works. God is willing to enter any surrendered heart (no matter our past). 

Many church-going regulars eating thanksgiving dinner around a big dining room table with lots and lots of food have Jesus too. But some church folks act like they need just a little “dash of Jesus” who makes their already full life just a little better. That’s not how God works either. Jesus isn’t a condiment to our lives. Jesus must be the main course. It’s an all or nothing deal with Jesus. Either we have Him or we don’t. The question then becomes “does Jesus have all of us?” 

Michigan native, Hillsdale college graduate and evangelist Judson Van DeVenter had the answer for all people no matter where one eats thanksgiving dinner.  His words penned over 125 years ago still ring true. “All to Jesus, I surrender. All to Him, I freely give.” 

Everyone is in the same boat. We all need Jesus and Jesus needs all of us. When we don’t have Jesus we are doomed. When Jesus doesn’t have all of us, we are living a far less than fulfilled life. We are never satisfied (even if our cupboards are full and surrounded by family). But when we have Jesus and Jesus has us, then no matter the circumstance or trial (even if our cupboards are empty and we are alone), we can be living a thankful, blessed life. 

True thankfulness flows from a heart fully surrendered to Jesus. Those people who know they have all of Jesus and Jesus has all of them are the most thankful people around whether eating their meal at a rescue mission or in a mansion.

Here’s Why I am Thankful for the Church of the Nazarene

Is the Church of the Nazarene perfect? No.
Are their faults in the Church of the Nazarene? Yes.
Can I point to bad churches, bad pastors, bad leaders, bad DSs, bad, bad, bad?  Yes. Yes and Yes.

Still, I am thankful for the Church of the Nazarene. 

Here’s why:

I found Jesus in the Church of the Nazarene.
The church building is now a doctor’s office. The small, rag tag body of believers split apart when the church closed. The preacher, who preached the message that prompted me to invite Jesus into my life, lost his credentials. But I found Jesus at the Elmwood Church of the Nazarene in Westland, Michigan in 1974. Fifty years later, He is still with me.

The theology of the Church of the Nazarene is rock solid.
I’m a Nazarene because I believe in the theology and doctrine of the CotN. If I didn’t, I would leave. Would I change this or that in the Manual? Oh maybe, but it’s not enough to scream about on social media.

The Preaching Collaborative has been a breath of fresh air. 
Dr. David Graves led an initiative (thanks to a Lily Grant) to make more effective, evangelistic preachers. The effort will probably make better preachers (the curriculum is good), but it’s been most refreshing because of the relationships I’ve established with the very gifted ministers in my cohort (I’m looking at you Dave, Travis, Christen, Nate and Ajay!!!).

USA/Canada’s Emphasis on The Cycle of Resurgence instituted was needed.
The emphasis on Blessing our Community; Bringing People to Jesus; and Becoming Christlike Disciples is simple enough, but vital for a turnaround. (Full Disclosure: Maybe I like it because it aligns perfectly with the three core commitments of the church I pastor: Being the Best Neighbors; Jesus changes Everything and Growing Together.)

The diversity in the General Superintendents’ board room.
GSs born in Guatemala, Columbia, Mozambique, Germany, and two in the United States make for a global room (Don’t quote me on this, but I believe Scott Daniels was born in Detroit Michigan, which is…well…  let’s just say a lot of good people were born around Motown… ahem). Having the group include a woman is also great. 

The Church of the Nazarene cares for its missionaries.
I’m thankful the CotN believes in missions. I’m glad Nazarene global missionaries don’t have to beg churches for financial support, but have an agreed upon salary and health insurance. In my weak moments, I’ve complained about the apportionment system, but I am thankful for WEF funding of our missionaries. 

The Church of the Nazarene has a commitment to higher education.
Even with the sad closing of Eastern Nazarene College this year, there are still over 40 educational institutions in the world where Nazarenes gather to learn. Learning has always been an important hallmark of the CotN. (Again my bias shows, my siblings and I all went to Olivet. All of my parents grandkids went to Olivet too – except for the lone “black sheep,” my son, who went to MidAmerica Nazarene University).

The Church of the Nazarene is family. 
When out and about, I love knowing that I have Nazarene brothers and sisters that I could call in an emergency. In 164 world areas, I have family. That is incredibly comforting to know I have a 2.7 million member extended and blended family! (We added seven more to that number yesterday at Central Church).

My local church is awesome.
The church is about the people I rub shoulders with on a weekly basis. These folks in Flint Michigan love Jesus and it shows. They are missional. They are intergenerational. They are generous. The church board is great. So are the pastors. I’m super biased, but I’m convinced my local church is the best Nazarene church on the planet (with apologies to the other 30,746 other Nazarene churches that are vying for the second best church). 

Yes, I’m thankful for the Church of the Nazarene. 

The “Sometimes” Truth about People (and you)

It shouldn’t surprise us, when people disagree and are not nice. Jesus was perfect. 100% perfect. He lived a perfect life. And yet, there were people, lots of people, who hated him. People called him names. People spat upon him. People tried to throw him off a cliff, and, of course, people clamored for and succeeded in crucifying him. People aren’t always nice.  Sometimes, downright ugly.

News flash: You ain’t perfect (neither am I). As such, here are a few other “sometimes” to keep in mind…

Sometimes you will be wrong and people will rightly disagree. Hopefully “politely” disagree.Sometimes you’ll be right, and they will still disagree. Sometimes people who are wrong (just like you) will say, “Hooray, for you!” But both of you are still wrong. Sometimes people are wrong (unlike you) and will say, “Boo to you!” But you are still right and they are still wrong. Sometimes people will bald face lie about you. That’s always wrong. Sometimes (in fact most times, these days), they won’t say “Boo” or lie to your face. They won’t even private message their disagreement. Keyboard boo-birds and liars post it on social media for all to see. Sometimes it really hurts—especially when you are right or innocent. There’s no defending yourself on social media. You just have to take the “Boos” and the lies and ride out the storm. But that doesn’t make it fun or leave you without scars.Sometimes you discover who your true friends are when the lies and boos are headed in your direction.Sometimes you should not post anything, not blog, not hit “send,” and turn off your devises. (Are you reading what you are writing, Rob? I am. Good). 

When you are wrong apologize or change or stop thinking wrongly. Then move on.
When lies are spread about you, remind yourself of the truth, hold your head high and then move on.
When you are right be humble (no boasting allowed) but do not change (at least don’t change your thinking regarding that one issue). Then also move on. Always move on. Never stay put.

Right or wrong try your best to maintain relationships. Those people who say, “Boo to you” are like you (not perfect). They just think differently on whatever issue they are booing you. It doesn’t make them bad (although it would have been nice if their boos were in a private message). It doesn’t make them an enemy. It only means they think different than you on that issue. That’s all. 

The liars are bad. Lying is bad. Always (duh). Still treat the liars with the same respect and kindness the Lord has extended to you when you’ve lied. Forgive. Even when thy don’t ask for it. “Love your enemies” is a good reminder when lies are flying in your general direction. 

There’s too much spewing of hatred these days. Too much booing. Too many pointing fingers, wagging fingers and when it’s really bad middle fingers. Yikes!

Let’s be open to the fact that we could be wrong. Allow the Holy Spirit to help us. Let’s work harder on loving our neighbors who boo us and our enemies who lie about us. While we are far from perfect, let’s live into Paul’s instructions to the Philippians: In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:5). Peter’s instruction isn’t a bad reminder either: Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8). 

Sometimes as you love the boo-birds and enemies with the mindset of Christ Jesus, they become your friends. 

Sometimes.  

NEWS FLASH: The Election is Over– Let’s Love One Another Again.

Donald Trump is the president elect. There are those in our church who are glad and those in our church who are unhappy with the results of last week’s national election.  That is the way elections work. Someone wins. Someone loses.  My concern is how the country and more specifically how the church moves forward (no matter who happens to be residing in the White House). 

I’m going to sound like an old man (which is Ok because I am an old man): We don’t have to be so divided. We don’t have to be this way. It wasn’t always like this. Democrats and Republicans could be friends. Hang out together. Actually, enjoy each other’s company. They knew how one another voted and it didn’t send either into a tailspin. It was OK. Everyone loved the country. They just had different ideas on how it should be governed. 

I’ve talked to so many people who have lost friendships or worse over the election. They aren’t going to Thanksgiving family celebrations because of the political divide within their family. Are you kidding me? (OLD MAN ALERT AGAIN: Everyone needs to grow up).

Repeat after me: Relationships are more important than politics. Relationships are more important than politics. Relationships are more important than politics. 

People who voted for Kamala Harris are good Americans. So are those who voted for Donald Trump. Are there crackpots on both sides of the aisle? Of course, but let me remind you, Jesus said we are to love our neighbors (presumably even the goofballs). Even if our neighbor had yard signs for a candidate we didn’t like, we still need to love them. Paul wrote: “as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (Romans 12:15). Jesus said this about our family members with whom we may disagree, “If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift” (Matthew 5:22-23). In other words, relationships matter! Even if our crazy cousin Harold spouts crazy conspiracy theories all day long. We still need to love him and his booger eating kid. 

Love means you talk. Love means you care. Love means you are present. Love means you are respectful. Love means you say, “I’m sorry.” Love sometimes means you zip your lip and say nothing. Love means you are constantly looking for the good, not the bad. Love means you say (or type on your keyboard) things that build up and not tear down. Love means… love. Honest. Faithful. True. Consistent. Persistent. Keeping no record of wrongs. Love Always Protects. Always trusts. Always Hopes. Always perseveres. Love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13:6-8a)

News Flash: the election is over. One side won. The other side lost. That’s the way the system works. No gloating. No bitterness. Let’s move forward as a country. Let’s try to be legitimately called “the UNITED States of America” (ALL CAPS ON PURPOSE). Let’s work together. Let’s be the great hopeful nation that everyone wants it to be. Let’s love one another again.

The Pastors I Admire

As I embark upon my twelfth year at Central Church, I am impressed by those pastors who have given their entire lives to one community (this is my fifth pastorate). Pastors on the Eastern Michigan District like Rev. Bob Hunter who went to Detroit Grace Church of the Nazarene straight out of Bible College in 1978 (or something like that) and has never left. Rev. John Wright who has only pastored Detroit New Hope and has been there around 40 years. Rev. Mike Kempton, a classmate of mine at Olivet and Nazarene Theological Seminary, has only pastored the Hazel Park, Michigan church. He is at 35+ years in that assignment. Those men, and many other pastors around the country like them, are heroes.

Flint Central is my longest pastorate. Compared to those pastors in the previous paragraph, I’m a newbie. Mine is the second longest pastoral tenure in the history of Flint Central church (Rev. John Andree was here longer). I’d like to say that my time here has been without worries or trouble. I’d like to say it, but I can’t. There have been peaks and valleys (as with any church). There have been times when the Enemy has said, “Be like a bread truck and move your buns” or something to that effect. But through it all, God has been faithful to remind me of my call to Flint Central Church. I wasn’t “hired” to be the pastor of Flint Central Church, I was called by God to be here. It’s that calling that hasn’t left me and has kept me here. 

All this to say, I’m sure Revs. Hunter, Wright, and Kempton have had moments of frustration and problematic people. They may have been wooed to go to other places. But they’ve stayed through thick and thin. They have remained faithful to the cause of Christ in their communities. They have fought the good fight, through all times. It is an admirable quality that I cannot match (unless I keep pastoring until age 104). 

Uncle Buddy Robinson, an evangelist of a century ago, understood the challenges of the ministry. Of course, he didn’t have today’s keyboard critics hiding behind their screens using social media to spread venomous lies and gossip. He didn’t know of maliciousness of rumormongering technology that could land below-the-belt gut punches with the stroke of a key. Still he knew the Enemy would put up a fight, trying to get beat-down pastors into throwing in the towel. He described a determination to stay in the fight that the three pastors mentioned above (and many others not named) exemplify.

Put iron shoes on my feet along with galvanized britches. Hang a wagon load of determination upon the gable end of my soul and help me to sign a contract to fight the devil as long as I’ve got a fist and to bite him as long as I’ve got a tooth and then gum him ’til I die.

In-it-for-the-lang-haul pastors like Revs. Hunter, Wright, and Kempton signed that contract years ago to keep on fighting no matter the circumstances. They have heroically remained faithful. I can’t match their longevity, but I pray all pastors (myself included) would strive to match their resolve, fortitude and grit. Keep on fighting and “gum him ‘til we die.”