PREFACE

     Some twenty years ago this author had a booklet published entitled Admonitions To Young Pastors.*  About five years ago I took much time that winter to write a sequel to that booklet entitled Admonitions to Local Churches.  I sent and gave rough draft copies of its outline and several chapters to different Christian authors and asked for their opinions and suggestions before I proceeded to have it put into print.  The responses I received were almost unanimous:  “Great ‘stuff’ but few people will read it.  First its title and secondly it is too much like a study book making it only of interest to serious minded students.”  After two more years of visiting and speaking in many local church services I could see more than ever the need of such a book.  Many who knew me and had sat under my ministry for years have told me I should write a book about all my experiences as a “country pastor.”  As I meditated upon these things over a period of time, the thought came to me, “Why not combine the two, using the experiences over the past fifty years as a pastor to illustrate and teach those truths I had entitled  Admonitions to Local Churches.   I had learned many years ago the power of illustrations to clarify revealed truth.  From whom did I learn this?   From the Master Teacher who is my master whom throughout this book I call “The Heavenly Shepherd.”  All through His public ministry while He was here upon this earth, He was constantly using illustrations (parables) to teach important truths.  This book is the result of combining the two: Admonitions To Local Churches and  illustrations, many of them personal, gleaned from all those years as a pastor.  Therefore the book’s title became Fifty years A Country Pastor. 

     One more thing to note.  You will notice immediately from the chart and outline on the next two pages that we are looking at a local church and a pastor (shepherd) from a Biblical standpoint.  In the scriptures which is His inspired Word the church is HIS FLOCK and a pastor (shepherd) is one called by Him to tend HIS FLOCK (Acts 20:28) and lead them to maturity and unity for His glory. (Ephesians 4:1-16)

*An abbreviated copy for this booklet can be found in the appendix of this book. Taking time to read this booklet  before starting to read Fifty Years A Country Pastor would certainly increase both your understanding and enjoyment as you walk along with Pastor Walter and his wife through those fifty years. Should there be enough interest shown in this booklet, it will be republished in its entirety.