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PASTOR GENERAL'S RErORT, APRIL 5, 1985
ters' wives eventually grow accustomed to transferring and don't have too
difficult a time coping with it. But it still may not be easy for them emo
tionally. You husbands need to be aware of that, and make the transfer as
positive and encouraging for your wives as you can.
Another reaction you may feel toward a transfer is that all your work and
effort over the past several years is just now beginning to bear fruit. The
newsstand program, public Bible lectures, and perhaps the recent addition
of the telecast to your area are all beginning to have positive results.
Growth is beginning to take off.
We must remember the Apostle Paul's words in this regard: "I planted, Apol
los watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is
anything, nor he who wa·ters, but God who gives the increase" (I Cor. 3:6-7,
RAV). The work we are doing is the work God has given us to do. He is the
One who gets all the credit. We are really only tools in His hands, as long
as we are submissive to Him. He is the One doing the work through�-
We can truly rejoice that God has given us a period of time with a particu
lar group of His people. We can be thankful for the growth He has granted
through our labors. But we can also rejoice when it comes time for us to
move on to a new pasture to serve a new f1ock--a new opportunity to serve
God's called-out-ones. As Paul continues in I Corinthians 3:8: "Now he who
plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward
according to his own labor." We are all servants of God. We are called to
do His bidding, wherever that may be. And at Christ's return, we will
receive a reward for faithfully laboring in His service.
Of course we realize trans£ers often entail certain sacrifices. Moving
children into new schools. Packing. Sometimes broken or damaged posses
sions. A new climate. Perhaps housing problems. The list can go on. But
the fact that we are in God's service makes all the difference. One minis
ter mentioned how much he appreciated the frequent transfers he has had in
his ministry because of the positive benefits to his children. He said that
their travel experiences and opportunities to live in different parts of
the country have given them a broader perspective of the,world in general
than many other children who have little or no opportunity for such
experiences. In fact, he said that his family was actually strengthened as
a result of the moves, because his children were never in one school long
enough to develop relationships that pulled them away from the family. He
and his wife felt that although the children had to work harder to maintain
good grades, the advantages far outweighed the disadvantages.
I'm not asking every minister to view this aspect of a transfer in the same
way, but I feel that this is an excellent example of how we should look at
the positive side of what might otherwise seem to be a negative experience.
Often there can be many hidden blessings in serving God that we simply never
think about.
Those of you who will be transferring will need to carefully review the
guidelines in the pastoral instruction 2.2.1 entitled Pastoral Transfer.
It covers in detail the spiritual and physical considerations of transfer
ring. This material is essential for a smooth, harmonious and unified
transition of administration. It should be carefully studied and followed
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