The votes are in... and it's a Pastorate!!!

Two weeks ago I preached in view of a call to Saraland BC. I had the privilege of meeting with some of the kindest people we have met in a while (the search committee). Almost immediately we knew that the Lord was bringing us to this church. We gladly accepted the call to come and be their pastor! I preached and they voted. The votes were tallied… and it’s a Pastorate. We are excited and looking forward to being at Saraland. We start on the 15th of October. Preaching the morning service was great a experience and the night service was even better. They took to me (in spite of my preaching).

I hope and pray that I don’t have any experiences like some of my other brothers out there who are having tremendous trouble finding churches due to their theological beliefs. Many a persons will demonize young men in the ministry if they do not come from the “correct/right” seminary and it breaks my heart that there are men who are desperately seeking churches and are faced with this opposition!

We live in a time when people (church members) need the Word of God preached more than ever. The issue years ago was is one a believer or not. But live in an age where everyone claims to be a believer, and you have to disern if they are worshiping the Christ of Scripture? It is my hope and prayer that the Lord will have favor on the ministry that He has now given me, and that the people will have a hunger for the Word (the pure milk of the Word).

Many people are telling me that they are praying for me… and I am forever grateful for it, and thank them for all their prayers. I have told many people that if they pray for me pray as the Spirit leads, but here are a few things that you can pray for:

Pray for:

1. My personal holiness (1Tim.4:6-16) (2Pet.1:5-9)
As a Pastor there can be no greater duty/delight for him than to be at the Throne of God pleading for himself and his people, and in the Word studying it and drawing strength for himself, his family, and his ministry!

2. The Church to have a hunger for the Word and a teachable spirit (Acts 17:11)
Many pastors come to churches were the ministry of teaching is mainly to unregenerate church members. The members are power hungry, un-teachable people that have no heart for the word of God. I’m just naïve enough to believe that God can break through that heart retching situation. Not that this church is that situation but what greater ministry to have than one to a church that has a tremendous passion for the Word of God and with a teachable sprit. So please pray!

3. That there would be a wonderful connection between our family and the Church!
There is no need for me to roll out why this is important. The last thing I want is to pastor a church where I can not or have not connected with the people. I want to be a pastor who is knows his people and his people know him. There is no desire for cold preaching in the pulpit mix with a disconnection between him and the congregation.

4. That there would be fruit.
The idea of numerical growth is definitely one in mind but not the only one! I would rather have 50 sold out members than 5,000 unregenerate “casual Christians.” May the Lord grant to His Church spiritual fruit, that is… lasting fruit! The Church needs the pure milk of the Word, but they need to grow in respect to it! If the church doesn’t embrace the teaching of the Word with a heart of obedience (and satisfaction in it) then it will slide into carnality and die a cold heartless death…! May this never happen at Saraland Baptist Church!

Thank you!

Loving the Logos,
Yogi Taylor