Letter to Christians

By L. E. Ketcherside

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     Dear Brethren: My work for the past month has been routine. I see and talk to people daily, call on the sick and aged, install fans, repair broken locks and replace broken sash cords, mow their grass and run a few errands, and conduct a few Bible studies at night. Do you say, "You should spend your time preaching and teaching, and leave such work to others?" To whom, for instance?

     Down in this area, we have a great amount of "hill billy" music on the air. During a 30 minute period many numbers are dedicated to sick folks, shut-ins and the aged. I think such folks are happy to be thus remembered. But would it not be a much greater manifestation of sympathy, love and affection by those dedicating, or requesting the dedication of the song if they would just take a few hours to visit such folks in person, present them with some food or other necessary items? But, it is so much easier for most of us to say, "Be ye warmed and filled," I can't be bothered.

     Brethren, am I all wet in thinking that an eldership has to know the work of an evangelist before it can train men to do the work of an evangelist, and that an

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evangelist must know the work of an eldership before he can train men for the eldership? Speak up! I would like to hear from you regarding this matter. Is my thinking on this question right or wrong? Am I wrong in thinking that the vast majority of elderships have but little, if any understanding of the work of the evangelist or the requirements of that work? And that very few evangelists understand the work of the eldership or the requirements of that work?

     I surely believe that a preacher of the gospel should be willing to endure hardness as a soldier of his King, if need be. Many years ago, my brother and I fixed our eyes on Paul as our hero and fitting example of suffering for Christ, and in so doing we, in a measure, overlooked the welfare of our families. We failed to consider that the care of a family was not one of Paul's responsibilities. Both preachers and elders urged us into fields where the gospel was never preached in its purity, but very few of them ever considered the needs of our families.

     We detested the practice of evangelists (?) who were crying out against the "pastor system" and who, at the same time, were spending all of their time in "protracted work" with the oldest, wealthiest and strongest (?) congregations in the brotherhood. Neither could we approve the lack of foresight of elderships encouraging such practices. Also, in those days the country was teeming with monthly "circuit riders" that kept many church treasures drained to the last mite. I venture to say that elderships tolerating either of these evangelistic (?) abuses have never developed a single evangelist in the scriptural meaning of that term. Exhibit number one, please!

     I certainly believe that it is scriptural for evangelists to develop evangelists. I know that it is possible for evangelists to develop themselves. Experience has taught me that that is the hard way to do it. I have had but very little association with either elderships or evangelists during the more than 40 years of preaching. My desires and ideas for reaching the lost have kept me virtually apart from both. During the more than 40 years that I have been preaching, the vast majority of evangelists have been forced to make choice of one of two possibilities open for providing a livelihood for themselves and families: 1. They can either desecrate and wilfully falsify the office and work of an evangelist by accepting a "position" as "Minister" to a people who do not know the will of the Lord concerning his blood bought ekklesia, and who will never learn it under this double standard of teaching and practice. 2. Work with their own hands to support the family while preaching and teaching the word of God. This can be done, and is by far the more honorable of the two.
     Yours in Christ.
               L.E. Ketcherside
               306 N. Main, Farmington, Mo.