H. B. London’s Farewell Prayer for Pastors

By Phil Miglioratti
       
 
H.B. London, VP Pastoral Ministries, Focus on the Family

Good Morning, Colleague 
by H.B. London

A FOND FAREWELL —
IN TRIBUTE TO MY COLLEAGUES 
IN MINISTRY 

I have just walked out of my last Clergy Couples Conference at Focus on the Family. Couples from 40 states joined us for this special event that featured the teaching of Dr. Gary and Barb Rosberg and Dr. Emerson and Sarah Eggerichs. It was a marvelous event. 

As I closed the session, I had the opportunity to share with them a prayer that I wrote for members of the clergy several years ago. I share it with you as a kind of benediction to my ministry here at Focus on the Family. You are my heroes. You have given me so many wonderful opportunities to serve you and your family. You have written to me, prayed for me, corrected me, admonished me and supported me over these past 20 years in ways that I could only have imagined. When I walk out of this place on June 24, it will be with a heart both filled with sadness, but also with overwhelming joy. 

May I pray the following prayer for you? 

1) That the demands on your time will not threaten your intimacy with God.
2) That you will give adequate attention to your family as you seek to guide those within your congregation.
3) That you will find a colleague to join you in prayer for your community and your ministry.
4) That your preaching and teaching will not be tepid, but courageous and purposeful.
5) That the people you lead will respond to your passion and follow you with great enthusiasm.
6) That America will wake up and realize that God’s call on your life and the message you speak cannot be ignored — and when you’re finished, that you complete your journey with joy in purity and in His strength.
  Amen.


And may I remind you, “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning, great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him'” (Lam. 3:22-24). 

God bless you, my colleague. You have been called to the greatest assignment known to man. Be faithful! 

Be blessed and be a blessing. –HBL