I am truly humbled by the thought of God counting me worthy of this honor, this awesome task of pasturing His Sheep. The opportunity to remind the people of God’s standard as His ambassador, which is what I’m required to do. “I am an ambassador in chains”, and if I am in chains it means that my integrity is vulnerable. Everywhere I go, every step I take, is being watched.
I have had the privilege to pastor some very kind and loving people who have been supportive and loyal to both me and First Lady Courtney. I must confess that I was not fully able to appreciate and acknowledge this in the midst of my internship as Pastor. It is clear that during that time together we were influenced and affected by a small but vocal minority, and the force of that influence is still being felt and seen.
Within this congregation are people who are serious students of the Word, talented laypersons who untiringly work for the progressive movement of the church, committed Christians who practice by word and deed lessons taught, tithers, stewards of their resources, of such manner few Pastors will see in a lifetime of preaching.
The church which God has called and sent me is by any standard of comparison, a great church. I thank you for investing in me the power and the prerogative of this pastoral office; a loving confidence I will never forget or take for granted. I can not forget, because I am a preacher of the Gospel. “I am an ambassador in bonds; that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak”. Eph. 6:20
I am just a preacher, preaching like both the Old and New Testament Prophets. Whether it was Ezekiel in the valley of dry bones, Reverend Hosea hopelessly hooked on a prostitute, or Amos dusting off the leaves of a Sycamore tree; whether it was the dirty dozen, undignified, uncultured, ignorant and undisciplined disciples. In the last analysis, they were all, twelve preachers preaching; ambassadors in bonds. There is a difference between a diplomat and an ambassador. A diplomat is one who is sent for the purpose of negotiating, a professional compromiser. The pulpit is no place for a diplomat. No, Paul said,” I am an ambassador, just a representative of the King.” He doesn’t have to apologize, compromise, or philosophize. All he has to do is say what the King tells him to say. I am just an ambassador on orders from the King, and if anybody ask me who I am, I’ll tell them, "I’m God’s man, I’m heaven’s herald, I’m eternity’s newsboy, I AM AN AMBASSADOR for THE KING.”
Community and friends of Community, let’s continue to do the work of the One who has ordained it from the beginning of time. We have made great strides, but there is still more to do. People of God, don’t become weary in well doing (Galatians 6:9) for great is your reward in Heaven.
Yours in Christ
Pastor Elias Thomas, Jr.
I have had the privilege to pastor some very kind and loving people who have been supportive and loyal to both me and First Lady Courtney. I must confess that I was not fully able to appreciate and acknowledge this in the midst of my internship as Pastor. It is clear that during that time together we were influenced and affected by a small but vocal minority, and the force of that influence is still being felt and seen.
Within this congregation are people who are serious students of the Word, talented laypersons who untiringly work for the progressive movement of the church, committed Christians who practice by word and deed lessons taught, tithers, stewards of their resources, of such manner few Pastors will see in a lifetime of preaching.
The church which God has called and sent me is by any standard of comparison, a great church. I thank you for investing in me the power and the prerogative of this pastoral office; a loving confidence I will never forget or take for granted. I can not forget, because I am a preacher of the Gospel. “I am an ambassador in bonds; that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak”. Eph. 6:20
I am just a preacher, preaching like both the Old and New Testament Prophets. Whether it was Ezekiel in the valley of dry bones, Reverend Hosea hopelessly hooked on a prostitute, or Amos dusting off the leaves of a Sycamore tree; whether it was the dirty dozen, undignified, uncultured, ignorant and undisciplined disciples. In the last analysis, they were all, twelve preachers preaching; ambassadors in bonds. There is a difference between a diplomat and an ambassador. A diplomat is one who is sent for the purpose of negotiating, a professional compromiser. The pulpit is no place for a diplomat. No, Paul said,” I am an ambassador, just a representative of the King.” He doesn’t have to apologize, compromise, or philosophize. All he has to do is say what the King tells him to say. I am just an ambassador on orders from the King, and if anybody ask me who I am, I’ll tell them, "I’m God’s man, I’m heaven’s herald, I’m eternity’s newsboy, I AM AN AMBASSADOR for THE KING.”
Community and friends of Community, let’s continue to do the work of the One who has ordained it from the beginning of time. We have made great strides, but there is still more to do. People of God, don’t become weary in well doing (Galatians 6:9) for great is your reward in Heaven.
Yours in Christ
Pastor Elias Thomas, Jr.