PULPIT AND PEW NEED LEADERSHIP
Strong leadership is needed today among both the clergy and the
laity. Edward M. Bounds, author and evangelist, pinpointed our
need for strong leadership in troubled times when, years ago, he
said: The church is looking for better methods. God is looking
for better people. What the church needs today is not more or
better machinery, not new organization or more novel methods, but
people the Holy Spirit can use mightily in prayer.
We need men and women in the pulpit and on the governing boards:
- Who will assume responsibility for an aggressive leadership.
- Who know where they are going and how to get there.
- Who know the direction the people ought to be going and who
know how to get the people going in that direction.
- Who believe the gospel is worth promoting and who get busy at
it.
- Who believe that revivals can be had for a price and who are
willing to pay that price.
We need men and women in the pew:
- Who will face up to life's priorities with courage.
- Who will support an ordinary pastor and church leadership
with extraordinary loyalty.
- Who will gladly change their man-made methods to get some
God-given results.
- Who will produce a pure and holy witness that will have its
impact on the community.
- John Wesley said: Give me 100 men who fear nothing but sin,
and desire nothing but God, and I care not a straw whether
they be clergymen or laymen; such alone will shake the gates
of hell and set up the kingdom of heaven on earth.
Fletcher Spruce was a pastor and church administrator
for more than three decades. Before his death in 1974
he authored hundreds of articles and seven books.
Following in his father's footsteps, Jim Spruce is a
district superintendent for the Church of the
Nazarene. He has authored several books, including
Lord of the Valley.
From A Simple Faith by Fletcher Spruce compiled by
James R. Spruce. Copyright (c) 1997 by Beacon Hill
Press of Kansas City, Mo. Used by permission. To
order copies call: 1-800-821-2890.