PODCAST

The Furnace Room

August 5th, 2017

RG AUDIO 080517

 

2 Thessalonians 2:13—3:5

Clifton Lotter profoundly affected the pastor I would become. I was a green-as-could-be rookie pastor. He was a successful farmer. He was also a student of God’s Word, and had sat under the teaching of some great pastors. His greatest impact didn’t come from the conversations we had, or from the insight from God’s Word he shared as he taught. The greatest impact came every Sunday morning. As I stood up to preach, he would walk out of that small sanctuary, go down the steps into the basement of that church; would make his way to the furnace room where he had a chair waiting for him. That chair was positioned right under the pulpit in the sanctuary. It became his altar. As I stood to preach behind that pulpit, he would be sitting under that pulpit praying.

I’m sure the growth we experienced had more to do with the prayers he was lifting than the preaching I was doing. I am also absolutely convinced the growth I experienced personally can be traced right back to a man who was committed to praying for a young pastor who needed encouragement and not criticism.

How often do you pray for your pastor?

Author: Fred Prince

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2 Responses to “The Furnace Room”

  1. Martin Janicke Says:

    August 5th, 2017 at 9:13 am

    In my first congregation (at Miltonvale, KS) I was privileged to have a “retired” pastor, Rev. George Dixon, as a brother in Christ, a mentor and a prayer warrior who prayed constantly for a very rookie pastor. Rev. Dixon kept me going in difficult times, trained me in pastoral care, and helped me learn theology. Rev. Dixon got this young pastor off to a great start on my 31 year pastoral career.

  2. Duane Brush Says:

    August 8th, 2017 at 3:33 pm

    Great memory. Thank you for sharing, Martin!

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