I’LL TAKE CARE OF THE BRETHREN

Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.  I will make you mighty, surely I will help you; surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.  Isaiah 41:10

One of the great servants of the Lord in past history was Henry Allen “Harry” Ironside (1876-1951).  He served the Lord for many years with the Plymouth Brethren.  In 1930 the 53-year-old Brethren evangelist, who had never before held a pastorate was called to be the pastor of the Moody Bible Church in Chicago.  The story is told that for months Ironside prayed about this.  Finally he accepted. 

He was then invited to attend the Brethren Conference in the East to share his decision.  He entered the room where the Brethren leaders were seated and was greeted by silence.  He asked them if they wished to pray or read Scripture.  All were silent.  Finally he said, “I know what you want, and I’ll tell you. It was this way: I prayed over the call to the church, and the Lord said to me, ‘Feed My Lambs.’ But I answered, ‘Lord, what about the Brethren?’  Then I prayed again, and the Lord seemed to say, ‘Feed My sheep.’ Again I asked, ‘But Lord, what about the Brethren?’  So I prayed again, and finally the Lord said to me, ‘Feed My sheep.  I’ll take care of the Brethren!’”

As a pastor in the CGBCI this was an encouragement to me, and I trust to each of you as well.  Many of the churches in our fellowship are small.  But despite our smallness God continues to use us not just here in America but across the seas in Myanmar, the African continent and India.  God is not finished with us yet.  He still has work for us to do.  How will you serve Him today?

Bob Kulp