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FORT WORTH—Christians tend to gloss over the challenges of ministry, but suffering is a welcome companion to ministers of the gospel, Tom Ellif told an overflow crowd during the president’s luncheon at the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention annual meeting, Nov. 11.
Elliff, who retired as president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s International Mission Board in August, praised the SBTC’s generosity in giving to the IMB and to the Cooperative Program and expressed thanks to all who had prayed for his wife, Jeannie, currently undergoing chemotherapy for stage 4 cancer. He assured the audience that he didn’t want to preach but instead to talk about “the serious side of serving the Lord.”
“We like to hear the good stuff,” Elliff said.
Citing 2 Timothy 1:8-12, Elliff described the Apostle Paul’s suffering in a Roman prison. He focused on verse 12, a verse he frequently adds to his signature: “For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day” (NASB).
“Most of my ministerial pilgrimage, I failed to see that the verse begins with this statement: ‘It is for this reason that I suffer these things,’” Elliff said, emphasizing suffering. “I think Paul is saying this is not an easy road.
“If there is ever something like a church planting movement in this nation, it is going to start with suffering. The suffering-less church is not found in the gospel, not in the New Testament, not in the heart of God.”
Elliff recounted the missionary sufferings of Paul, including his concern for the churches.
Elliff explained to his audience composed largely of pastors that the gospel is counter cultural. Noting examples of a Cambodian village pastor beaten savagely by his family for preaching the gospel and a successful IMB church planter in India whose American scientist father, an atheist, demeaned his work, Elliff emphasized that the challenges of ministry are worthwhile.
“You won’t be sorry,” Elliff said.
Recalling a recent experience in Nigeria among Fulani tribesmen—a group heavily recruited by the terrorist organization Boko Haram—Elliff described meeting smiling, laughing, machete-scarred Fulani men eager to talk of the 20,000 Fulani who had come to Christ, a tangible reminder that God changes lives.
“It is a journey of faith that leads you into intimacy with Christ,” Elliff said, reminding pastors that “God can handle anything you bring to Him.”
Reflecting on his wife’s struggle with cancer, Elliff recounted a time when, during an earlier round of chemotherapy 10 years ago, God had impressed the following upon him as he watched his sleeping wife, “Mine or yours?”
This is what God asks all Christians, said Elliff: “Mine or yours? Who’s gonna run the show here?”
“It is not an easy road, but you won’t be sorry you took it.”
In an interview with the TEXAN prior to the event, Elliff said he was pleased to accept SBTC President Jimmy Pritchard’s invitation to speak at the luncheon.
“This is one of my favorite state conventions,” Elliff said. “Not only was it born right, it has continued right. … It has led the way in terms of support for missions, missionaries and church planting in 50 states and all around the world.
“The SBTC not only does it correctly, but it is a model for other state conventions. Others say, ‘We can’t do that,’ but this state convention has proved you can.”
