My trusted son in the faith,
As I pass the torch of the ministry to you, there are several important ideas that you need to hold dear if you are to be a faithful soldier of The Lord Jesus Christ. The world in which you will minister differs greatly from the one I have known and lived in. We have gone from party line phones to the IPhone, email and instant messaging. When I was young, the country had at least a semblance of a respect for Christ and his word. You will have to navigate through the stormy waters of unbelief and outright opposition to the Gospel.
Remember in the midst of the storms, that The Lord has not changed at all. Forever His word is settled in the heavens! While I have made many mistakes, I have tried to exemplify a commitment to Jesus Christ regardless of the opposition that has come my way. Be sure that you are on the firm foundation of Christ and His holy Scriptures and lovingly stand firm. Be gracious to all, but do not assume that older folks know more that you do just because they have been around longer. One of my regrets is that I sometimes allowed my self to be intimidated by older Christians
Be open to learning from others, but do not fall into the trap of trying to please everyone. Make sure that you are pleasing Christ. After all, He alone will be your ultimate Judge! We older folks have trouble with change so be an encourager to help them see the need of newer ways of presenting the old Gospel. Most of them have fought the good fight and should not be discarded. You will find that if you can explain Biblically the reason behind your thinking, that they will often come along, even if reluctantly.
Let no one sway you from your foundation of the Word and your commitment to Jesus. Political forces and cultural, as well as legal entities will put more pressure on you than I have faced, but remember that your brothers and sisters around the world have faced persecution and martyrdom for The Lord. You will never be alone as Christ will always be with you.
Take care of your family. They are your first responsibility before The Lord. You will lose all credibility if you lose them. Too many men have lost it all by forgetting this. Make sure the next generation will have the same passion for the word as you have learned from me.
May the God of all wisdom guide your steps each and every day!
Carl Baker
