Friday, April 17, 2026
Pastoral ministry
FW Boreham related his experience of travelling with the Superintendent of home missions by train.
The youth to whom I was introduced
a few moments later possessed a magnetic personality, a fine
presence, a cultured, though perfectly natural, style of speech and a
soft pleasing voice. In answer to the questions of the elder minister,
he made no attempt to conceal the failure of his efforts to attract
the people to his services. I saw that my travelling-companion was
about to offer this young colleague a few words of intimate counsel;
and, knowing how precious their time must be, I quietly moved
away. But my friend called me back and thus I was privileged to
overhear the advice he tendered.
‘Don’t be disheartened,’ he said. ‘You’ve only been here
nine months; it takes longer than that to make an impression.
These people’—he again surveyed the scattered settlement—‘these
people are in no hurry to attend your services; but have patience.
Watch them closely. They marry; they have babies; they fail; they
succeed; they have joys and sorrows; they die. In these things lies
your opportunity. Whenever you marry a couple, make them feel
that you are as much interested in them as if you were a relative.
When babies are born, show pleasure; memorize the child’s name
and take every opportunity of inquiring about it. Congratulate the
people on everything good that comes their way; sympathize with
them in their disappointments and losses. And, when death enters
a home, let the bitterness of it pierce your very heart and make the
people feel that their grief has brought tears to your eyes. The more
you get into their lives, the more they’ll attend your services.’
# posted by Groseys messages @ 10:06 AM 
