...The enemy would have fought for things to be different, but tonight, as we step into tomorrow, as we step into the future, I'm asking that you would close ranks behind Pastor Townley, his wife, and family. Love them, love them with everything there is within you, and understand this: Bro. Townley is his own man. Even though he will preach from this same book the same truth that I preach and teach, there may be a difference in some of his ways. There may be a difference in his administration, but I promise you, when God is in it, it's all right. And God IS in it. Amen.
So, I along with the faithful members of the First Apostolic Church of Brewer, after prayerful deliberation have asked and elected Brother Richard Wade Townley to be the Pastor of our assembly. And tonight I present him before this church for installation. The Lord Jesus Christ said, "Peace be with you." And then He said, "As the Father hath sent Me, even so I send you." He said, "if you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven. If you retain the sin of any, they are retained." Hear the words that were addressed to Timothy by the Apostle Paul, when he said in first Timothy chapter four beginning at verse twelve, "Set the believers an example in speech, and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Till I come, attend to public reading of the Scripture, to preaching, to teaching, do not neglect the gift that is in you, which you have been given by prophetic utterance when the council of elders laid their hands upon you. Practice these duties; devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress. Take heed to yourself, and to the doctrine, for in so doing, you will both save yourself and them that hear you."
Pastor Townley, in the presence of this congregation, I have a charge that I want to make tonight to you. As an ambassador of Jesus Christ, you are to preach and to teach the pure doctrine of the Word of God. You are to instruct all in the ways of salvation, council the inquiring, strengthen the weak, seek for the lost, and reclaim the straying, comfort the sorrowing, care for the needy, visit the sick, minister to the dying, and pray for the spiritual welfare of every soul that God will put under your care. You are to devote yourself to the meditation and study of scriptures, and carry out your duties in conformity with the Word of God. You and your wonderful family are to be an example to others in godliness and Christian living, putting no stumbling block in anybody's pathway, so that the ministry will not be discredited.
The Apostle Paul says, "Here is a trustworthy saying, if anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, then he desires a noble task. Now the overseer must be above reproach. The husband of but one wife, temperate, self controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well, and see that his children obey him, and properly respect him. We have seen all of that in this wonderful man. Not every church will have the privilege that we have had. To have an incoming pastor be among them for the number of months this family has been here, but God has blessed us and we are indebted with gratitude.
Bro. Townley, preach the word. Be prepared in season, and out of season. Correct, rebuke, and encourage with great patience and careful instruction. Keep your head in all situations. Endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. Now I ask you:
"Do you solemnly pledge to serve this congregation to the best of your ability?"
"Yes, I will."
"Will you, like our Lord, remember that you have come not to be served, but to serve...?"
"Yes, I will."
"...and will you keep yourself in true devotion to your high calling to practice daily the faith you profess? Proclaiming the truth with love, and endeavor to lead this people in the ways of the Lord Jesus Christ?"
"Yes, I will."
To all those that are a part of this Brewer assembly, you have heard the solemn promise that our Pastor has made, as he has answered these questions in the affirmative. We receive it not as the word of man, but what the Word of God expects of us as members of the flock. We will listen eagerly to his preaching of the word. We will receive it not as the word of men, but as the word of God. We will take to heart his scriptural words of warning and encouragement, humbly accepting the word that he will plant within our hearts and minds. We will work together with him for our Lords kingdom, so that by our works of service, the body of Jesus Christ might be built up at home and around the world. We will honor our Pastor and love him. The apostle Paul says, "Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Pray for him continually that his ministry among us may be greatly blessed.
Would you stand together with me, and as I...
