Letter to my spiritual son,

Always remember who the Lord is and have a healthy fear and reverence for him. Never be afraid to tell of his strength, even when your ministry during a tragic event, in your own life or the lives of the one you minister to.

Never forget that you’re a sinner saved by grace and that your mission is to tell others that they are sinners and then where the sinners can find salvation. Always remember where you came from and all the Lord has brought you through. Never look down upon someone because of the sin they committed realizing that by God’s grace you’re not overtaken by it.  But, have in yourself the desire to restore a brother or sister unto fellowship with the Lord. Always have disciple making as the main focus of your ministry; second place of course to preaching and teaching the Word of God.

Finally, my dear son, have personal holiness as the main work of your life as being a child of God. Let everyone around you know that the suffering of scripture and its leaning on your life is why you order your steps in life the way that you do. Remember, your authentic testimony as a believer in Christ will be what your family, church, family, and friends will remember you by. But be on guard, for a life that’s contradictory to your testimony can be the ending of your life’s work in the ministry.  Personal holiness will be the measuring stick that both God and man will measure you authenticity by- the former judge will be more fair than the latter one.

In closing, remember the order of importance in your life of your relationships. God, your wife, your children, your church family, and your friends. Never put anything before your marriage and children other than the Lord. Love your wife as if to please the Lord just as He was pleased to die on on our behalf-sacrificially and without hesitation. Raise your children under the diligent instruction of the Word of God and be sure, as with your wife, to love them unconditionally. Remember especially to love these you serve unconditionally. Ministering the love and the Word of God to others is the most wonderful, challenging, invigorating, and laborious things you will ever be called to do. Humble your ministry and yourself as if it belongs to the Lord-because it does! Blessings to you my son in the faith!

Trent Eikenberry