The thought hit me in the second church service Sunday I’m not sure where it came from, considering the thought and the overwhelming weight of this thought. It must have come from the Holy Spirit.
Here’s the thought: somewhere there is a pastor standing before a group of people that he has faithfully served and loved. He has prayed for them, visited them, buried their dead and officiated over their children’s marriages. He has guarded their secrets with dogged confidentiality; he has at times taken from his own family and given to theirs. He has tried desperately to live up to their high expectations, but fell short as they have been quick to tell him and…today is his last Sunday. He has been terminated, fired, asked to leave, and told that he is just not a right fit. If he is one of the “fortunate” ones he is given the opportunity to give a farewell message; otherwise, he is simply told that his services are no longer needed and that is that. I knew this was happening somewhere today. Maybe not exactly as I thought but close enough so I prayed for my unknown brother. I prayed that he would depend upon the supernatural grace and strength of the Lord to get him through the day.
After the service my thoughts were confirmed as my wife shared with me an e-mail that a friend had sent us. The e-mail stated that a pastor friend had been terminated and that today was his last Sunday. Then it all made sense. I understood the prompting to pray for my fellow-brother. At the moment, that was the most I could do. When and if I find out what more I can do, rest assured, I will do so.
My growing passion and purpose of life is to come along side my brothers in ministry and help in every way possible. At times that may be as simple as a prompting to pray for them in the middle of a worship service.
Pastor Ron Cook
