To Anthony, my brother in the faith and co-laborer for the Kingdom of our God and Savior Jesus Christ,
It has only been a few hours since we sat and grilled you for answers at your ordination council, and those hours have given me time for reflection on the years that we have known one another. I thank God for your willingness to learn, for your openness to be challenged, and for the boldness to leave what you know and be trained for ministry. Your years in the ministry are ahead of you, and yet you have already come so far. As Mike has already expressed, the fruit which you will harvest in ministry is in a sense our fruit, for you are the fruit of my ministry, and the fruit of his. You cannot know what great pleasure it gives me to know that First Baptist Church of Union will set its seal upon you and declare you a minister of the gospel.
We have celebrated each step of the way. As is your way, your celebrations have been different others I have known. We studied the joy of redemption over open bibles, and you had the greek word for redemption tattooed across your back. We discussed being yielded to the Lord for His use in the world for the gospel, and you left your home and your church to be trained as a minister. We discussed how purity and holiness and marriage were symbols of our relationship with Christ, and you found the girl of your dreams and we celebrated your wedding in a graveyard in
You have done well, and on this day of solemn celebration and joyful seriousness I would like to encourage you as we delight and celebrate this day.
Four recommendations I would encourage you to focus on as you begin your ministry.
1) Find your Home in the Cross: Pastors can find a million things to do with their time, and there are endless things that can be said in the pulpit. Current Events and Hot Topics ensure that you will never be without something to say, but Paul shows us a better way. He says in 1 Cor 2:2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. Anthony, make the cross of Jesus your home. There is no greater subject to focus on, no more worthwhile object of attention. If there is no salvation except through Jesus, why would you preach anything other than Jesus? Find him in every text. Point to His work in every sermon. Be sure you appeal to his death as the solution for sin, his resurrection as the source of new life, and his coming as our greatest and only hope. Anthony, make the cross your home.
2) Apply yourself to Diligent Study of the Word: As one of the wise professors at CIU once said, we call it ‘commencement’ because it is the beginning, not the end. Ordination is not an end in itself, it is another beginning. You have left the hallowed halls of learning and are now out on your mission field. You will find a great deal of time on your hands which can be put to many uses. Be sure to apply yourself to the Word. Wherever you go, people will look to you as a trained expert. Be sure that they receive from you the only thing of value you have to offer: the truth of the word. Paul assures us that this is why God gave us the scripture, in 2 Tim 3:16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. Anthony, Apply yourself to Diligent Study of the Word.
3) Preach and Teach with Conviction: You do not have years and experience to appeal to, but do not let that get in the way of declaring the word with authority. You will be tempted to take shortcuts. You will be encouraged to buy into programs and fads. You may be disregarded at times because of your age. Be mindful of the words of Paul in 1 Timothy
4) Finally, Seek to Imitate Christ in All that you Do: Listen again to the words of Paul in 1 Timothy 4:12 Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Your integrity is bond of trust that will bind you to your people and give you an ability to minister in a profound way. There are many who know the wisdom of the Word, and many who are willing to apply the word to the lives of others. Fewer and more precious are those who delight in the Law of the Lord and seek to honor him in all they do. Seek to love those who fight with you. Live in a way that inspires both young and old. When the Word seems at odds with conventional wisdom and all within you cries out that God demands foolishness from you, be a fool who honors Him. Study the life of our Lord and the words of His servants, and apply their character to yours. He makes no promise that following Him will be easy, but calls us to join Him in glorifying the Father. Anthony, Seek to Imitate Christ in All that You Do.
I am honored to know you and to call you my friend. I am delighted that you have found a jewel in Monica. Treasure her, and love her as Christ loves the Church. I am unable to be with you today, but I look forward to days of celebration to come, as I hear what God is doing through you in ministry. And I look forward to that day, the day when with tears in our eyes we will cast down our crowns, abandon our preaching awards, refuse any compliments and celebrate the one who has redeemed us from our sins. We will delight together in Him in His Kingdom.
God is Good, All the Time. Anthony, take a moment and reflect on where He has taken you from and where you are today. Congratulations. Carlos and
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