Today is a very busy day for Corinne and I as tomorrow, June 21, we leave California, after 7 months, and we begin a very long, hot trip to West Texas. Today is a day of preparation. We must pack up and stow things in Pilgrim I, our 37 foot, 1991 Winnebago motor home, pick up some supplies for the trip, check out and repair a few things, get some rest and hit the road early in the morning.
We are really "pumped" for this trip as we have been spending the past week on a beautiful mountain, getting some R&R, having some great fellowship with our hosts, Roger and Kim, and seeking the Lord for direction for our coming meetings, and our ministry. More importantly we've been seeking more of Him during this time and we are feeling pretty full of God and ready to go!
Yesterday we took a wonderful side trip into Yosemite National Park. We stood at the top of Glacier Point seemingly looking down at the world. We stood under the forceful spray of Bridal Veil Falls, being baptized in the vast beauty of God's wonderful creation. On the short trip back I was reminded of the circuit riding preachers of old. How I recall the stories of John Wesley, writing sermons on a special desk that would fit over his saddle as he rode from meeting to meeting. I thought of the story of how he almost missed a river ferry at a crossing, and he jumped his horse onto the flat deck of the ferry as it was being pulled across the river, just so that he could preach that day. What a guy!
We don't fly to too many meetings. We travel in Pilgrim I, mostly at 60 miles per hour as this helps in conserving expensive fuel. More importantly, we see and feel the spiritual climate of the Nation as we travel. Many times we note spiritual oppression and we're able to pray, other times we sense a great presence of God in a town or a county and we rejoice in it. You can not experience this at 35,000 feet in a plane. When we pull into a new location, we get a real sense of what God's going to do, as He's prepared us for it on the way in. One can only imagine what Wesley must have been hearing from God as he rode his horse from meeting to meeting.
Today people like Corinne and I are becoming scarce. It seems that pastors of large churches can focus on well known "Guest Speakers," while the smaller churches feel that they do do not have the funds and resources to invite outside ministry in. So often I speak to a pastor on the phone and he'll say something like, "You know I'd love to have you in, but it's just not time, etc." I can't tell you how often I can read between those lines and hear, "I'd love to have you in, but we are a small church and we don't have the money." Of course our desire is to be able to minister in every size church and we never charge for ministry.
A brother told me the other day, "I see you having a debit card that people give into the account to keep you on the road." Of course I said, "Amen!" However, the Bible does teach that traveling ministry is important. In 3 John verses 5 -8 it says, (NLT) Dear friend, you are being faithful to God when you care for the traveling teachers who pass through, even though they are strangers to you. They have told the church here of your loving friendship. Please continue providing for such teachers in a manner that pleases God. For they are traveling for the Lord, and they accept nothing from people who are not believers. So we ourselves should support them so that we can be their partners as they teach the truth."
Two important things are seen in these verses. The first is that, of course, the traveling ministries should be financially supported. The second, even more important.... there is a very Biblical place in the Church of today for the modern Circuit Riders! Corinne and I are very thrilled to be able to do what we do. Sometimes it is a challenge to live in "our home on wheels." I cannot even begin to tell you how much I appreciate my wife, who's been willing to lay all desires of homes and being with family down for the calling of God on her life. I know that some day God is going to richly reward her! In the meantime we wish to continue to be God's Modern Circuit Riders, hopefully coming to a church near you. We too only "Travel for the Lord!"
One last thing.... Please.... our heart is to serve those we minister to. We work for the local church, we love the Church in all of her diverse forms! And if you ever would feel to invite us in for meetings, please do not let lack of money keep you from sending us an invitation. We work for God. Just find us a place to park Pilgrim I, take offerings for us, and we'll trust God for the rest. Fair enough!
And for you in Texas, here's a little Texas talk for you....."God's fixing to do something!" We hope to see you there, and join you right in the middle of one big move of the Holy Spirit!
Blessings ~ Larry
webpage: www.larrysilverman.com
