Monthly Archives: January 2014

Country Chapels

There are several chapels scattered around in the rural areas that have no pastor of their own so are dependent upon other shepherds to come and feed the flock. Pembroke Dock is also considered rural, but not so sparse as some other places. Many of the remote chapels were built in inaccessible places in the early days of non-conformist freedom to avoid the disdainful eyes of authorities opposed to the Gospel. Carvan Chapel is surrounded by fields outside of Tafarnspite and Molleston Chapel is hidden away down a lane lined with trees off the beaten track. Some chapels have afternoon services partly to avoid conflict with milking times but also to avail themselves of the pastors whose churches have morning and evening services. The Lord has other sheep that are not of this fold, and these are precious to the Great Shepherd of the sheep. Let us remember them in our prayers, for we are but one flock with one Shepherd.

God’s ministry gifts to the church

In Ephesians 4v11-12 we are given a list of the “victory” gifts granted to the church by our Lord following His ascension after excelling in all the Father’s will through the cross, the grave, the resurrection and the 40 days of showing Himself alive by many infallible proofs.
These gifts are generated by grace and derived through the Holy Spirit’s ministry, as none of them are of anyone’s natural inclination. The first mentioned is the apostle. These men were sent as preachers of evangelistic authority, calling unbelievers to Christ and founding churches to spread the light even further. The prophets were men who were proclaimers of the good news. Judas and Silas (Acts 15v32) were such who encouraged the brethren with a lengthy message. They were preachers. Then come evangelists: those men who want to see you saved. Some have the gift of reaping people in to the kingdom where some have sowed, others watered it and God gave the increase. 1 Corinthians 3:6-9.
Then there is the pastor-teacher. He is the one who cares for the flock and feeds the Lord’s people from the Word of God. Most problems people have are resolved by Bible preaching. What remains are cured by love and prayer. The pastor sets the environment in which the people of God can thrive in their faith and grow into mature responsible Christian people in conjunction with those who exercise the other ministries in the fellowship of the congregation.