I am sure that it seems an eternity ago that the congregation here at Belmore Road embarked on the process of expanding the eldership. It is hard to believe that it is six months ago that the three candidates put their names forward to be considered for the eldership. To say that the road has been long would seem to be an understatement and following the various twists and turns has not made the journey any easier.

Making the journey seem even longer are the trials and tribulations it has produced. For those standing for the eldership this has been particularly true as being the focus of attention is never a pleasant experience.

Under such circumstances it is very easy to feel that it is all too much and that it is just not worth the heartache, pain and uncertainty. Maybe, it is easy to conclude, it is just not worth the cost and the congregation would be better just forgetting the whole thing for the time being. I must admit that I have felt this way from time to time especially as it has been difficult to follow the progress of the process from Gosford and, more recently, from the USA.

While such feelings are natural they need to be tempered with the realization that the process of establishing a sustainable eldership is not something that we can just neglect because it is taking a long time or because it is a hard thing to do. In the book of Acts we read:

21 After they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God." 23 When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed. (Acts 14:21-23)

Among the many things we can learn from this passage are some things of the greatest importance in our present circumstance for the passage clearly reminds that:

• Appointing elders was part of proclaiming the gospel. The fact that Paul went back to cities already evangelised indicates that the task was not completed by the proclamation of the “plan” of salvation alone. As the task of proclaiming the whole Gospel has not changed, it follows that the task of proclaiming the gospel is no more complete for us than it was then if we have failed to address the task of appointing elders.
• Appointing elders required determination. For Paul to go back to places where he had been physically attacked required a great deal of courage. Courage also displayed by those churches that had to live with the hostility of their fellow citizens toward the gospel. Determination in the face of obstacles is just as important today was it was then if new elders are to be appointed.
• Appointing elders demands sacrifice. Paul must have been exhausted by the schedule he had maintained and a time of rest and recuperation at Antioch must have been appealing... To appoint elders Paul had to retrace his steps and spend valuable time focusing the young churches of these cities on the task of appointing elders. To do this both Paul and the congregations had to make sacrifices of, among other things, time and energy. Appointing elders today makes similar demands on us.

Regardless of how long and winding the road might appear which lies ahead of us this passage serves to remind us that it is a journey which we need to take regardless of the determination and sacrifice it demands. As surely as appointing elders was a necessary part of the Gospel for the early Church so it remains for us today no matter how long and winding the road may be.