Photo Credit: No Lands Too Foreign

The following is a re-post from Patrick Hoban’s old blog, May 2009.

I posted something that came to mind on my Facebook page. Here is the quote:

“Most people think about themselves. They wonder who likes ‘them’, who thinks ‘they’re’ cool. They think about ‘their’ problems, and want people to help them with ‘their’ needs. Agape is not being about only ‘me’ but about ‘them’ without strings or self-promotion. Oh, how humanity is a fallen race!”

From time to time I ask myself what motivates me to do what I do – that is, the ministry. Why did I plant a church? What motivates me to keep going? Why do I want to preach the Gospel around the world?

Over the years I have met many pastors and ministers of the Gospel. By far, the majority have good intentions from noble motivations. Their hearts are in the right place.

I’ve met a few who seem to be in the ministry for the wrong reasons. For some, the ministry gave them a sense of self-worth. These could be easily identified, as when someone else took the limelight, their insecurities became evident. Others were in it out of self-promotion. The ministry provided a platform to stroke their ego. To put it bluntly, they were full of themselves. If they didn’t see you as another way to get higher in the organization, they had little time for you.

Each minister of the Gospel should take a long look at himself, and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal his true heart. There should be a why, a real why, behind every pastor’s heart.

There are some whom I call the champions of truth. These are those who never compromised their calling. They sacrifice comfort for faith, ease for truth, like my good friend Pastor Steven Sanganahalli from India.  Continue Reading…