You might find this hard to believe, but my husband and I are both getting a little older as each year passes—at least, he is! Occasionally, in my smug state of being a number of years younger, I remind him of this. Whenever we pass an elderly driver doing something a little dangerous on our roads, I have been known to comment, ‘Oh, don’t worry. He’s just an old guy of about seventy-four!’—which is, of course, is my husband’s age!
But last week marked a different sort of milestone for him. Fifty years ago, in March, 1965, Lionel began theological college, which involved a student ministry placement as part of the training. He has been in some ministry role or other ever since, including several local church ministries but also two longer periods as a theological college lecturer and registrar, firstly at the Bible College of South Australia and later at what is now the Australian College of Ministries.
Yet that is not all. Even now, he mentors several pastors, meets with others for coffee and a good dose of encouragement and understanding, occasionally preaches, and pastorally cares for various friends via visits, phone calls and emails. Also, he still provides background support in training others for intentional interim ministry. On top of that, he continues to support me in my writing and speaking ministry as my bookkeeper, computer expert and general ‘roadie’, as he likes to call himself!
During those fifty years of ministry, there have been many interesting experiences, both encouraging and discouraging. Many sermons have been preached. Many lectures have been given. Many people’s lives have been touched. Only God knows the end result of all Lionel’s efforts in sharing the Good News, in caring for others and in training others to minister. Through it all, Lionel has remained faithful. He has kept going when I would have wanted to give up. He has persevered when I would have lost interest in doing so. He has kept the main thing the main thing. And I honour him for that.
Recently, a man in our street became seriously ill. Since then, Lionel has made a point of visiting him, talking with him, praying with him and sharing about God with him, both at home and then in hospital—to the point that now he has been asked to take this man’s funeral when the time comes. He has spoken with this man’s wife too because he cares about them and about their eternal destiny. That to me is the mark of a true pastor and man of God.
So I would say, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant!’ to my husband for staying the course and completing that ministry marathon of fifty years. More importantly, however, I know this is what God will say to him one day—a day I know Lionel is looking forward to as he continues even now to run the race marked out for him until the very end.
Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14
May the Lord strengthen us all to remain faithful and finish our own, unique races well.
Jo-Anne Berthelsen's Blog 
Wow that’s a great achievement. Congratulations Lionel. As you say Jo, it’s amazing to think how many lives he would have touched in that time. An encouragement to us all to hang in there.
AMEN HAPPY DOES WHO COME TO SUPPER THE LORD TABLE AMEN KEEP WORKING IN EARTH LIKE IN HEAVEN AMEN BLESS BOTH .THANKS SUSAN TO SHARE THIS SMILE .
Thanks, Nola. I will pass your comments on to Lionel. And yes, sometimes we lose sight of (or perhaps never even know) the people we might have encouraged along our life’s journey–and that in itself is an encouraging thought!
Lionel we shared a lot of years working together and I love to hear what you are doing now. Jo is so right in that you have a truly servant heart and you love people. I agree that God will say “well done good and faithful servant” . I hope you are looking forward to a lot of years yet to bless others. Narelle.
So lovely to hear from you, Narelle–and thanks so much for your lovely, encouraging comments! I have just emailed them onto Lionel and will make sure he reads them. And yes, we haven’t stopped quite yet–we’re still doing lots of things in ministry. In fact, Lionel has just been asked to take the funeral of a man who lives down the road and is trying to arrange that right now. And I’m still writing and speaking and mentoring others etc. I still mentor Alison Roeth from Telopea and college via Skype but she is home here right now and is actually coming here tonight for a little Turkey prayer group. She spoke at Castle Hill last Sunday which is our home church at this point. God bless–and thanks again.
Congratulations Lionel! That is a great achievement. Fifty years…half a century of serving the Lord–and from the little I’ve been blessed to witness, always with a smile on your face.
Thanks so much, Lyn, on Lionel’s behalf! Yes, he’s pretty famous for that smile! I will make sure he hears this lovely comment from you. God bless!
Definitely a great achievement Lionel😃😃 well done Paul says hi to Lionel as well. Paul really appreciated Lionel’s leadership in the ministers renewal group they were both a part of.
So lovely to hear from you, Heather (and Paul!)–and thanks for your encouraging comments above about Lionel’s leadership in the renewal group too–although he says he wasn’t officially the leader! I have just read your comment out to him. I think he has been touched by all the people who have commented on Facebook and on the blog here, plus some friends who were at Kenmore College with Lionel all those years ago drove all the way down from Brisbane to celebrate with us this weekend, which was lovely. Hope things are going well for you both. God bless!