The
Minister
One of the
toughest tasks a church faces is choosing a good minister. A member of an
official board undergoing this painful process finally lost patience. He'd just
witnessed the Pastoral Relations Committee reject applicant after applicant for
some minor fault - real or imagined. It was time for a bit of soul-searching on
the part of the committee. So he stood up and read this letter purporting to be
from another applicant.
“Gentlemen:
Understanding your pulpit is vacant, I should like to apply for the position. I
have many qualifications. I've been a preacher with much success and also had
some success as a writer. Some say I'm a good organizer. I've been a leader
most places I've been.
“I'm
over 50 years of age and have never preached in one place for more than three
years. In some places, I have left town after my work caused riots and
disturbances. I must admit I have been in jail three or four times, but not
because of any real wrongdoing.
“My health is not too good, though I still accomplish a great deal. The
churches I have preached in have been small, though located in several large
cities.
“I've
not gotten along well with religious leaders in the towns where I have
preached. In fact, some have threatened me, and even attacked me physically. I
am not too good at keeping records. I have been known to forget whom I have
baptized.
“However,
if you can use me, I promise to do my best for you.”
The board
member turned to the committee and said, "Well, what do you think? Shall
we call him?"
The good
church folks were appalled! Consider a sickly, trouble-making, absent-minded
ex-jailbird? Was the board member crazy? Who signed the application? Who had
such colossal nerve?
The board
member eyed them all keenly before he replied, "It's signed, 'The Apostle
Paul.'"
If the resume of Paul the Apostle
works for you, contact me at the following and I will preach for you:
Phone: 727-536-8807
My policy is that I don’t send
out a resume to anyone that will not have me come to preach. I will say that I am 55 have been saved for
50 years, graduated from Hyles-Anderson College and
believe in KJV, soul-winning, and old fashioned music and holiness. I prefer to arrive on a Saturday, visit
people in your area, go soul-winning with members of the pulpit committee, and
then to preach on Sunday Morning and Sunday Evening after which I will provide
you with a resume giving my education, beliefs and references. I would also like to meet with the music
staff on Saturday to plan the music for the services on Sunday.If
I can’t visit with some members of the deacon board, plan the music and preach,
then I am not interested in being a candidate for your
church.
Sincerely,