Living Water Fellowship: Pastor's Page

Teaching The Word Of God...

A note from Pastor Brett ...

To drink of the good things of the Lord, to serve Him and the Church in humility and strength, to be a man who loves with the love of Jesus - these are my goals, but I didn't learn these easily...

When I first became a Pastor in 1985, I was unreachable, proud, and very self absorbed. I had to learn that being a Pastor is being a servant. It’s sharing your life with those whom God has placed in your care. How did I finally learn this?

Let me share a few thoughts with you... First, how can I explain the joy of being called into the Ministry? The feeling is almost paradoxical, for your flesh wants to well up with pride and self importance, yet both of these feelings are contrary to being a successful Pastor or Christian.

Of all the problems Pastors face, this is one of the hardest. On one hand you have to completely die to yourself and be a humble servant, and on the other you feel God's power flow through you and experience His inspiration and begin to feel like God uses you because you are special. This is where pride sneaks in and your head begins to swell. This is what happened to me. God had to humble me many times before I finally learned how to be a servant. I came to understand that for God to work through you and anoint your words, you have to completely die to self and have the humility to know that it is not you who lives and does, but Christ living and working through you that accomplishes the work of ministry.

It was then that the fountain of Living Water began to flow in me and through me to others! I finally began to live in a position of being accessible to anyone who has a need. To truly love them with the love of the Lord. As we live in humility, God pours out His blessing on our lives and the ministry.

I have come to realize that it's not my greatness that makes me successful in life, but Gods greatness flowing through me! As I live in a state of humility on the inside and power on the outside (God's power - for His glory), God fills me with that Living Water.

I have to admit that after I give a message, and I am praying for people and greeting them after the service, there is that need for someone to say 'good job'. After the closing prayer, in my heart, I remind myself that I just delivered God's message to His people - it's not about how me. So I can then greet people without having to ask anyone 'how did I do?'. The important question is one that only I can answer - 'did I deliver God's message today?' If the answer is yes, or even I tried to, than it was a successful sermon, no matter what anybody else thinks about how well I delivered that message!

1Co 2:1-5 And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. (2) For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. (3) I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, (4) and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, (5) so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.

Every Pastor I know struggles with this - but if sermons begin the basis of your self worth and the reason you are in ministry, it will destroy your effectiveness in the Kingdom. Ministry is your life - and Sunday's message is for you as much as it is for the Church - because it's God's message you are delivering. It is my weekly goal to finish a message, lift my eyes to the Lord, and say - 'Great message God! Amen!!'

This is spiritual integrity. It took me 7 years to finally come close to this place of balance (my wife would most assuredly say I have not even come close) and I had to go through the humbling process several times since that wonderful day in 1981, when I was called into ministry. The road has been long and at times hard, but it has been worth it all! Jesus is calling you to integrity and humility. He desires to fill you with His Living Water - to quench your thirst and give you the tools to celebrate life and experience His peace.

I really want to help you in any way I can. What's your story? I would love to hear what God is doing in your life - email me!

Love and Prayers,

Pastor Brett

Pastor Brett was the Administrator of Calvary Chapel Bible College in RSM and Jerusalem. Currently he is President of Coastland University. He is blessed with his lovely wife Cheryl and handsome son Cody.