Dear Pastor...

Complimentary Story
June/July  2023

     I would suspect, if you are a pastor and you are reading this letter someone gave it to you to read. Thank you, in advance for taking the time from your busy schedule. I, too am a pastor. Perhaps different, from you, in some ways. I do not regularly deliver a sermon on Sunday, unless I have been invited to speak. I do have a four-year Bible College BA in theology and phycology. The place God has called me is to a writing ministry. I have been writing to men in prison for nearly 30 years. I would explain it as mentoring or discipling to bring about the life change that only the power of God can bring. I usually have at least two and up to four men that we exchange letters on a monthly basis. For the last four-and one-half years, I also write a monthly article for Wisconsin Christian News, where the letter you are reading was published. Some use my articles for discussion in their small group Bible studies, some perhaps from your congregation. 
  
   I am writing to you to encourage you. In these days we can all get discouraged. Like the times I invest my life into a young man, just to see him go back to prison, again, for the drug addiction he can’t shake or the anger problems he has with family. But also, the man who, at 58 years old, celebrates his birthday and also the end of all parole or probation. The first day of his life, since he was 11 years old. Transformed by the divine power of God, the man is now an encouragement to me and many others. It would be easier to spend my time concentrating on the good and positive of Godly success but we are called to the unrighteous. 

   Being a pastor is sometimes messy. We find ourselves at the foundation of all that’s wrong in this world. Drug and alcohol addictions, pornography and sexual addictions, the transgender wave, LGBTQ activists pushing for rights, domestic violence, political division and the list could go on and on. If I or you try to take on all these issues on our own and in our own strength, we will burn out or just find ourselves ignoring the sins of the day. But our churches exist in the issues of the day. How are we equipping the flock under our shepherding to handle these issues in a Biblical way? I once heard a fellow pastor say that today’s pastor needs to have a newspaper in one hand and the Bible in the other. I think he is right. 
  
   I have written articles on most all the issues I listed above, not because I am the leading expert, but because I sought out leading experts to help me. It is never a bad thing to ask for help. No pastor has all the answers, but they definitely can be the coordinator to provide the answers. Wisconsin Christian News has a slogan, “The truth is out there.”  Jesus claimed to be the truth, so the foundation for all truth will be found in His or His Father’s words. Any other source will lead us down the road of the myriad of truth opinions and more confusion. All the sources I use to write, even on the LGBTQ, are Bible based ministries dedicated to bring hope, help and healing to a fallen world through a relationship with Jesus Christ. 
  
   I am told that some pastors reject Wisconsin Christian News and will not allow a copy of the paper in the news stand of their church. Why would that be? There are many pulpit pastors that write articles for WCN. There are many people that are in some form of Christian ministry that write articles for WCN. I don’t personally know all the writers, but I believe they are doing the best they can to provide Biblical truth in a time that it is hard to find truth. The writers are doing their best to provide a source of help for the church and their pastors. I know that not all reject WCN because the reason I have been invited to speak at some churches is because I write for WCN and to share my testimony of a 28-year addiction to porn and the divine power of God that has kept me free from that addiction the past 30 years. I have to admit to you, being that the National Center on Sexual Exploitation has declared the use of pornography a pandemic in America, the enough.org research and the National Association of Christian Counselors pointing out the majority of church goers are battling porn use, I wonder why I don’t get invited by more churches. 

   I spoke at the WCN spring conference, where a number of people informed me they were going to talk to their pastor and have me come and speak in their communities. They were genuinely fired up about it. I have not heard a word from any of them. Is it that porn is too shameful an issue? Is it that I am affiliated with WCN

   I am sure, pastor, you know the feeling I am having, “Is anybody actually hearing the message I preached?” Or, “does anyone want to hear the message?” It’s when I question and doubt that I think of the successes like a man in prison who is growing strong in the Lord and God is transforming his life. At this point he has become a great encouragement to me. I know for you also, you have the successes that can be of great encouragement to you in the times of doubt and discouragement. But as I we know; the times are evil. I just heard, on Christian radio news, that there is an attempt to legalize adult sex with children. In my 68 years, I would never dream of such blatant disregard of God and His Word. 

   I was raped by a man when I was 8 years old. Sixty years ago, that was never talked about; now predators want to make it an acceptable practice and there will be some law makers that will discuss it. The news in one hand and God’s Word in the other, we roll up our sleeves and preach the truth, as ambassadors of Jesus Christ, me with the pen and you from the pulpit. There is no other hope for this world than a return to God and His Word as the foundation that directs life. 
  
   I encourage you that “God gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us.” (2 Corinthians 18-20).
And:
  “For the grace of God, that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and Godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope-the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good.” (Titus 2:11-14).

   We, as servants of the Most High are in this mission together, regardless of the name above the church door. Let’s support each other and help each other carry out the mission God has given us. God be with you, strengthen you and give you the boldness of Acts 4:29.

Lynn Fredrick is the author of Stand Firm.” Stand firm over sin. Stand firm in your faith.

LynnFredrick.com 

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