Ministers are national treasures, desperately needed

It’s time to honor you, dear ministers. We realize you are on call around the clock. Bible studies, preparation of sermons, funerals, and hospital visits take priority. That leaves little time for your own activities.

You spend many hours or even an entire night in prayer with those going through a crisis. You miss many nights of sleep, holiday dinners and family events to be with someone in need.

It’s hard to survive without encouragement and affirmation. Behind you is an unselfish wife who shares your concern, hurts and cares. She shares your time day or night.

I admire your courage in speaking the truth without compromising or rationalizing in spite of moral decay.

You are human beings with hurts and needs. May all of us treat you generously in every way. We stand by you. (“Psalm 105:15: Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm”.)

May we know the importance of you and your staff. It cannot be overstated. I think we have a responsibility before God to hold you up as Aaron and Hur did for Moses: “But Moses’ hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun” (Exodus 17:12).

You may not be holding like Aaron and Hur’s hands but you will be helping others with “the greatest esteem and love, because of the work you do” (1 Thessalonians 5:13).

You are our national treasures and you are desperately needed. I honor you as you proclaim God’s truth, the only answer to life’s problems. You are vital to our town and to our nation. I shudder to think how our lives would be without you … our spiritual leaders. Each one of us sometime come to a place where we need the comfort and counsel of you, our minister. Your presence eases the pain in an emergency.

Bless you, “He who refreshes others will himself be refreshed” (Proverbs 11:25).

We appreciate you. Thank you for your patience, unselfishness and most of all your dedication and love for our Lord.

May God hold you close as you minister to a stressful world.

Portales resident Joan Clayton is a retired teacher and published author. Her e-mail address is:

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