Hello All!
Meet Pastor Sivan, his wife Daizy, and their daughter Sara. They were our host family this past month as we served in Semarang, Indonesia. I want to personally thank them for driving us around the city, welcoming us into their home, and allowing us to partner with them in all of the various church ministries. What a joy it is to serve in churches located around the world!
My time has actually ended here in this country and my team and I are preparing to leave for Sri Lanka this weekend. But God has reminded me this past month of the importance of remembering our pastors and their families who serve week in and week out to proclaim the gospel. Many times what you see on a Sunday morning is not all there is to being in a minister’s family. There is a lot that happens during the week that many of us may never know about.
Perhaps in the upcoming weeks you can find some practical ways to encourage your pastor and his family. Such as…
-Write them a note of encouragement
-Cook a meal and deliver it to their home
-Babysit
-Mow their lawn
-Invite them over for dinner
-Pray for them!
The list is really endless when it comes to encouraging those we love around us. And why not encourage the people who sacrifice so much of their lives weekend after weekend to shepherd us closer to the Lord?!
I know I am grateful for the leadership of pastors that I have encountered throughout my life. I am sure you can think of many who have influenced your family as well.
So, Lord, let us always be respectful and conscientious of those who are ministers of your grace and truth! Thank you for allowing my team to be part of a local church in Indonesia and to encourage the ones You have placed here to serve.
“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” – Philippians 2:1-4
Off to Sri Lanka we go…
Much love,
Melissa
