Jump Start # 3781
Acts 8:2 “Some devout men buried Stephen, and made loud lamentation over him.”
What a week last week was. On Monday, gospel preacher Leon Goff passed away. I loved Leon. On Friday, in the same week, gospel preacher John McPherson passed away. I knew them both. I had spent wonderful time with both of them. And, in one week, both passed on to the eternal reward that they had so often taught about. Both were great preachers. Both had done incredible good for the kingdom. Both were exceptionally kind in spirit and passionate about God’s word. Both will be greatly missed.
Twenty years ago this month I wrote an article for Biblical Insights entitled, “When the Preacher Dies.” Something I rarely do in Jump Starts, I am going to reprint that article here.
When the Preacher Dies
“In the past few months I have heard of the death of several gospel preachers. I know of a few other preachers that are battling very serious health issues. Preachers die. We all understand that. The Bible teaches that it is ‘appointed unto man once to die’ (Heb 9:27). That includes preachers. Hearing of many preachers passing away in a short period of time has made me think about “When a preacher dies.”
In some ways the death of a gospel preacher is the same as the death of any Christian. A husband, father, grandfather will be dearly missed by his family. Friends will miss his laughter. The congregation will miss a helping hand. This is true when any Christian dies. Heaven gains but earth loses when a Christian dies.
The death of a preacher has a deeper effect upon the congregation because of the role he filled. In many, many congregations the relationship between the preacher and the congregation is warm, close and very healthy. The preacher has been to the hospital when there was a sickness. The preacher is the one who married many of the couples in the congregation. He is the one that has baptized so many in the congregation. He is the one who preached the funerals for many family members. He has worked with elders in trying to develop teachers. He has taught Bible classes nearly every quarter of every year. He is the leading force to challenge and encourage the congregation through his preaching. He has counseled. He has been in homes. He has taught Bible classes publicly and privately for years. He has been out many evenings teaching people about Jesus Christ. Sometimes we don’t realize how many times in our lives the preacher has been there. He is a constant, steady voice every week.
When the preacher dies, it affects us. Consider a few thoughts:
Help the preacher’s family: As hard as it may be for the congregation not to see the preacher in the pulpit, it will be especially hard for his family. Because of economics, jobs, and schools, the family of the preacher often must continue to attend where he preached every week. That will be hard. Some preachers struggle financially. Some have little or no life insurance. The congregation ought to keep that in mind during the stressful time of his death.
Be kind to the next preacher. Sooner or later, another preacher will take the place of the one who passed away. Many may not be ready for another preacher. The new preacher will be different in style, personality, and attitude than the former preacher. Don’t compare. It is hard enough to fill the shoes of someone who was so loved and then died. He will do things differently. Give the new preacher a chance. Let him grow on you. Encourage him as he presents the word of God.
Be patient in removing the former preacher’s things. Each preacher has his office the way he likes it. There are many personal touches. There are books, articles, pictures, collectables, file cabinets and all the things that help a preacher to study. The grieving family many not know what to do with all the books and things. Don’t rush them to get the things out. Help them as they go through the difficult task of cleaning out his office. Encourage them not to throw away sermons, books and class materials. Younger preachers could be helped by those things. There is no hurry to “get rid” of those wonderful tools. Let the family have time to think about what they want to do.
There are so many tears when a preacher dies. I hope these thoughts will help those who are experiencing this and will enlighten the rest of us who haven’t thought much about this.”
Biblical Insights (Vol 5, no. 3, March, 2005).
I am thankful for such wonderful good servants in the Lord like Leon and John were. There will be many in Heaven because of the great work they did in showing the life of Jesus. Bless their families. Those of us that knew them are better because of that. The Lord allows amazing intersections in the lives of others that help us in so many ways.
We all journey to be with our Lord one day. May the seeds we plant today help others who come along after us. I am thankful that our journey never ends. There is no final page to our life’s story. We shall live on and on.
Devout men made loud lamentations over Stephen. We lift up our voices in thankfulness to our Lord for such godly men as Leon and John.
Thank you, Lord.
Roger