Pastors to the Bridge

With the ministry at the bridge growing, I see that my friends there need more attention and training than a one hour bible study each week. I want someone who can be at the bridge several days a week teaching the families about God and training them to serve Him. I asked my friend Pastor Noel if he was willing to let one of the men he has been training and who has been working with him minister at the bridge. He liked the idea because he has a heart for the poor, God being glorified through the preaching of the gospel, and it gives opportunities for more training. He suggested that instead of sending one man that he send two.

After talking with some of his men, he found two men who are willing to move near the bridge to shepherd God’s people there and to reach out to the neighboring communities with the gospel. Pastor Rick has been minister for over a decade and Pastor Robert is a student in Bible College. However, I am faced with two difficulties. Pastor Noel’s church is barely able to pay its own bills and is unable to help out these men financially. Jessica and I decided that we will scrape together enough money to pay their rent and we might be able to contribute towards their food each month, but we can’t afford much. We found a small room in a house for these men to live in. It is about 12’ x 7’ and goes for $50 a month including water, electricity, and a bathroom. Food will cost about another $100 a month. For now, their serving the bridge is on hold till we can find people willing to help us support them and their ministry. For now they will come each Sunday to help Pastor Sonny teach the bible study.

The second difficulty is the human tendency to struggle with change. My friends at the bridge have grown fond of Pastor Sonny and some are struggling with his inevitable moving on, (he is working on a few other church plants in other cities) and some are struggling with embracing the new guys. Having been apart of situations like this several times in the past has helped me in dealing with this. This is why I have Pastors Rick and Robert working with Pastor Sonny and slowly transition in over a period of several months. My hope is that the will eventually be accepted, respected, and loved as they build relationships and lovingly minister to the people at the bridge.

Join me in praying for all of these pastors as they serve the Lord. Pray that God will provide all there needs and also consider being a part of the means that God uses to do this.