Having recently returned from Scotland, I am greatly encouraged by the history of gospel faithfulness in that land over the past several centuries. From a small nation of five million has come numerous Christians that have planted and strengthened great local churches, which have produced eminent Christians, both male and female. And though the spiritual landscape today is not what it used to be, I believe that great things lie ahead as faithful Christians lovingly labour for the Lord. Perhaps in the not-so-distant future, the Lord will again raise up the likes of John Knox, Samuel Rutherford, Robert and Mary Moffatt, David Livingstone, John Paton, Alexander Whyte, Helen Ewan, Sinclair Ferguson, John Murray, Ian Murray, Alistair Begg, and Robert Murray McCheyne.
Speaking of the latter, McCheyne was a well-known nineteenth-century Scottish minister. He zealously pursued holiness as he faithfully shepherded his congregation. (“My people’s greatest need is my own holiness.”) He was known as for his evangelistic zeal and his great burden for the conversion of Jews. Perhaps most notably, he was an instrument the Lord used for a mighty revival in his parish. What a wonderful testimony. One would think that someone having such an impact would have been of a ripe old age and yet he died two months shy of his thirtieth birthday.
As he lay dying, he regretted that he had not listened to friends who had counselled him to take periods of rest in light of a very hectic schedule. Shortly before he died, he lamented, “God gave me a message to preach and a horse to ride. Alas, I have killed the horse and now cannot deliver the message.”
At the recent conference in Edinburgh, I referenced this in my talk on the theme “Longevity in the Ministry.” I spoke of the need for elders to rest. I spoke of the need to “protect our horse” so that, God willing, we can, over the long haul, proclaim the message. Applying this advice close to home, the elders are committed to protecting Edwin’s horse. We aim to do this by giving him a sabbatical from the eldership for a period of four months minimum to six months maximum. This will commence within the next couple of weeks.
Edwin is our longest serving non-vocational elder. We are grateful for his faithful service to our congregation. But he needs some rest. He, and we, need to “protect his horse” and hence this sabbatical rest from shepherding responsibilities.
He will occasionally lead corporate singing (it is hard to imagine many Sundays without this!) but the elders are going to take on his elder responsibilities so that he does not kill his horse! We trust that, after a suitable sabbatical, he will return as a very refreshed thoroughbred ready to run again.
Should you have any questions about this feel free to engage with the elders.
Wishing Edwin a well-deserved rest,
Doug