Archives by: Gary Hoag

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. John 10:11

“It is, besides, the special duty of the bishop to remove his flock from a wicked life by means of correction; He is obliged to do so even if it cost his life: The good shepherd giveth His life for His sheep. Otherwise he will have to render an account to Jesus Christ of all the evils that will happen, and that he could have prevented by correction.

This is the great burden which makes holy bishops tremble. Monsignor Sanfelice, of happy memory, said to me one day in a trembling voice: “Don Alphonso, how can I sleep quietly when I know that one of my flock is living in disgrace with God?” St. Gregory condemns the bishops who corrects no one as guilty of the same crime that the malefactor commits.

But in order that the correction may be suitable the following rules should be observed:
1. The correction should be administered in charity; and if in extreme cases severity becomes necessary, we should always mix wine with oil, that is, severity with kindness; hence it is expedient not to administer correction when one is excited; for then one easily falls into excess.

2. We should correct others with prudence: the same remedy that is good for one may not be good for another, especially when the culprit is blinded by passion, which does not permit him to acknowledge his fault nor profit by the correction.

3. It is true that in order to administer a useful correction we should wait for the opportune moment; but when the moment has come, we should correct the guilty one with promptness, without delay. We should remedy the evil as soon as we can; for the fire is easily extinguished when it is only a spark, but not when it has become a flame.

4. We must administer correction in secret, especially when the fault is hidden. He that has lost his reputation easily gives himself up entirely to vice.”

Alphonsus de Liguori (1696-1787) in The Complete Works of Saint Alphonsus de Liguori, translated from the Italian, edited by Rev. Eugene Grimm (New York: Benzinger, 1890) 469-470.

Imagine what churches would look like today if overseers gave correction at the cost of their lives. The church would be pure and without blemish. So how do we get there?

We don’t normally think of “correction” as the object of our giving. Perhaps because we don’t do it right! Alphonsus offers the formula. Do it with charity, prudence, promptness, and in secret. What if you did this?

We need to stop serving people and hoping they will like us and start serving them hoping they will fear God and keep His commandments and standards which point the way to life.

They also position individual stewards as well as institutions like churches and ministries for flourishing. That’s something worth giving our lives for!

I am starting my long journey home soon. Thanks for your prayers for safe travel from Islamabad to Istanbul to Denver.

Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Colossians 3:12

“The bishop should avoid being familiar, and should not give too much confidence to any one of his subjects, so as not to be deceived by him nor criticized by others; but, on the other hand, he should hear and treat every one with the greatest kindness. He is a father, and lie should treat his subjects as his children, and not as his servants.”

Alphonsus de Liguori (1696-1787) in The Complete Works of Saint Alphonsus de Liguori, translated from the Italian, edited by Rev. Eugene Grimm (New York: Benzinger, 1890) 469.

What a great word picture for each of us from the apostle Paul. Imagine you get dressed with shirt, underwear, pants, sox, shoes, and maybe a sweater. In the same way we put on compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.

As overseers of homes, churches, and/or ministries we get to treat everyone with the greatest kindness. We don’t Lord over them as servants but treat subjects as children. In that light our aim is their growth and self-sufficiency.

Many create dependency in their homes, churches, and/or ministries instead. Because of their own weak character issues, they want their subjects to depend on them, need them rather than launch from them as fruitful disciples.

How can you in your home, church, or ministry show the greatest kindness to your subjects? What might need to change to avoid dependency, treating them children with the goal of helping them grow to maturity as fruitful disciples?

Thanks for your continued prayers for me. I am back in Islamabad, Pakistan, and wrapping up a very trip that has had a range of great opposition and tremendous victory. But it’s not over yet.

Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and took off, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan while traveling came upon him, and when he saw him he was moved with compassion.” Luke 10:30-33

“Except during the time of prayer, of Mass, of necessary rest, the bishop should be ready to give audience to everyone and at every hour. He belongs not only to his church, but to his flock. For this purpose the bishop should specially recommend to his servants to announce to him those that have come; above all, if they are parish priests; because these, as has been said above, are the most occupied, and have charge of the most important affairs. If we once delay in giving them an audience, they will afterwards neglect to come by pleading in excuse that they could not obtain an audience; and thus the good of souls and the interests of the glory of God will have to suffer.”

Alphonsus de Liguori (1696-1787) in The Complete Works of Saint Alphonsus de Liguori, translated from the Italian, edited by Rev. Eugene Grimm (New York: Benzinger, 1890) 469.

I read the Good Samaritan story today alongside this exhortation from the Alphonsus to overseers everywhere. The overseer needs not to have such a full schedule that he cannot move toward those in need with compassion.

Think about this story. We have read it many times and our focus goes to the hero, the Samaritan who, moved with compassion, moves toward the broken and needy person and, in so doing, models love of neighbor for the world.

But today, my focus is the priest and the Levite. They did not have time. They had busy schedules. They could not stop their work to serve the person in need. Today’s message is for anyone who thinks their time is theirs.

Why is it so hard to be ready to give an audience to everyone and at every hour? Why is it so hard for some readers to believe that the overseer belongs to his flock. I can think of at least three reasons.

First, we think our time belongs to us. So, we reason to give a portion of it to others and keep the majority for ourselves, when in reality it all belongs to God. We belong to God.

Second, we fill our schedules with so many good things, and we have no margin to help others. In short, we have forgotten the we cost of discipleship, namely, to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Jesus.

Third, we settle for good when we could have unspeakably great. Whenever we move toward those in need we find brokenness and blessing, hurt and hope, indescribable pain and unspeakable joy. And, we find Jesus there. Are you ready to give an audience?

I am sitting in Pakistan activating two new team members who thanked me last night for taking the time to give them an audience. To shuffle my full schedule to come half way around the world to be with them.

Upon arrival I learned that an influential worker had replicated Stations of Generosity with many people in Lahore. They already have plans to replicate it with others. This marks only one of the blessings I have received since returning.

Pray with me for our 250+ trained workers in Pakistan. Pray for our two new GTP staff here. Pray God’s blessings on the 3 million Christian is a sea of about 250 Muslim and Hindu neighbors.

In the words of Alphonsus, pray for “the good of souls” and “the glory of God.”

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. James 1:19

“The bishop should weigh well every order before giving it, and not be too quick in taking resolutions, especially in the heat of passion and in matters of importance. It would, generally speaking, even be expedient, when entering upon the governance of his church, not to do anything else than note the defects that exist, and search after remedies that might be used.

He may then begin the work, being more fixed in his resolutions after having taken the necessary information concerning men and things of his diocese. During the progress of his governance he should take counsel first of God in prayer, then of prudent men; after that let him act with firmness, not only in giving opportune orders, but in maintaining them and seeing that they be punctually carried out, otherwise it would be better not to give them.

For if it is seen that the bishop bears without resentment the non-observance of any of his orders, it will happen that the rest of his orders will be disregarded. This is what St. Paul gave Titus to understand when he wrote to him that he should see that his commands be fulfilled: “Exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise.”

Alphonsus de Liguori (1696-1787) in The Complete Works of Saint Alphonsus de Liguori, translated from the Italian, edited by Rev. Eugene Grimm (New York: Benzinger, 1890) 468.

James served as the chair of the proverbial board of the church in Jerusalem. He epistle urges us to be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. He wants us to “weigh well every order.” Great advice for everyone, especially board members!

Alphonsus proclaims this counsel in his call for prudent governance. In his era, the work of governance took the form of giving orders. Today, boards give orders in the form of setting policy. But what does governance have to do with generosity? Let me explain.

When board members “weigh well every order” and make sure God’s work is administrated following standards and governed with diligent oversight, it positions the church for growth and flourishing. To ensure observance, all God’s servants need training.

At GTP we orient staff in part by reading our Board Policies Manual or BPM. See a sample here. It maps the roles and responsibilities of the board and CEO in one document. It shows the roles of committees and reports. The same reports the staff help generate.

The staff soon discover how “everything is connected to everything else” and that faithful administration and governance is not despised but cherished as it fosters sustainable ministry. And it’s so highly valued, it draws people to participate in God’s work with you.

Please notice that Alphonsus went back to Paul’s words to Titus in encouraging good governance. At GTP we do too. Why? Without good governance, God’s work struggles. With good governance, it achieves local support and sustainability.

What were Paul’s orders to Titus precisely? Let’s read it again. “The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.” Titus 1:5

When we bring order and oversight to a setting it changes everything. How can you bring order and oversight where you are? Can you pause to pray for our GTP Pakistan team as they bring it to this much needed nation?

The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. Since an overseer manages God’s household, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it. Titus 1:5-9

“So many ones in the towns cry for bread, and there is no one to break it to them. Woe, woe to sleeping bishops. It is therefore advisable that the bishop should have a mission given every three years in every village, however small it may be. This I say, because there are missionaries who, in districts where small villages are close to one another, are accustomed to give a mission in a central place for all of them at the same time.

I respect their zeal in wishing to sanctify all these souls at the same time; but I do not approve of their mode of action, and I would ask the bishops for the love that they have for the glory of Jesus Christ not to be satisfied with missions thus given in groups: they should take care that each place, however small it may be, may have its special mission, which is to last at least for eight days.

For we know that if a mission is given in a place for several neighboring parishes, the faithful who go there are those that need it the least. Those, on the contrary, who are laden with sin the most, and are consequently less careful of their salvation, do not attend it at all, under the pretext that it is too far, or that the sermon is over too late, or that the weather is bad, etc.

And so they remain at home and lead the same wicked lives, while if the mission, had been given in their own church they would have been compelled to attend it at least out of human respect, fearing to be looked upon as reprobates. I speak from experience. We have seen many places where it was said a mission had been given; but because it had been given in some central church, or because it had been given in too short a time, we found there people really abandoned, as if no mission had been given there.”

Alphonsus de Liguori (1696-1787) in The Complete Works of Saint Alphonsus de Liguori, translated from the Italian, edited by Rev. Eugene Grimm (New York: Benzinger, 1890) 465.

In Today’s Scripture, Paul exhorts Titus to put order and oversight in every city. About 1,700 years later, Alphonsus exhorts the bishops to wake up from their sleep and fulfill their missional calling. It’s a similar exhortation!

In this excerpt, Alphonsus specifically wants them to show up and do work in “every town” where the gospel is needed. This mirrors the exact same language as Paul. It’s easy to minister where the gospel is widely known.

Alphonsus calls for a mission every 3 years for at least 8 days. Why study this? I am in Pakistan for 8 days. I have found that such a visit that spans more than a week makes a difference in empowering workers.

By activating and deploying staff and volunteers to countries every 3 years, there’s built in accountability to put to work what you learn until the next visit. How are these missions funded? God’s people serve as senders.

At GTP, I praise God that our 18 staff and hundreds of volunteers now freely serve missional workers in 146 countries and territories (and counting). See the GTP at 6 infographic here for more details.

Also, as the infographic notes, we have 874 givers over the past 6 years sending gifts from 86 countries. That’s not a typo! Those that have been blessed, pass the blessing on to others. It’s God’s design to help mission go forth.

Related to your generosity, how might you support those who brought the gospel to you? How are you investing in the spreading of the good news to others? If you want to serve as a GTP sender, click here to give.

Whether you support GTP, consider also going on mission somewhere for at least 8 days every 3 years. And if you are an overseer, do you need to wake up and mobilize people to go on mission?

I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Joshua 1:3

“He that has not given missions… cannot know how useful these exercises are. Owing to the extraordinary manner in which the bread of the divine Word is broken, when the eternal truths are methodically exposed to the hearers who have assembled in great numbers, it is nearly impossible for them not to be converted to God.

It is, moreover, evident that God co-operates more efficaciously with this work… It is only by the missions that souls reach eternal salvation. But, O God ! there are some who say that by the missions disquietude is spread among consciences. Would it then be better, in order not to disquiet consciences, to leave poor sinners in their deplorable state, with this cursed peace which is the seal of their damnation?

One disquiets consciences! But it is the duty of a pastor to disquiet his sheep that sleep in sin in order that they may awaken, recognize the danger in which they live, and thus return to God. Now for this purpose there is no better means than the mission. We also manifestly see the efforts that hell makes to hinder missions.”

Alphonsus de Liguori (1696-1787) in The Complete Works of Saint Alphonsus de Liguori, translated from the Italian, edited by Rev. Eugene Grimm (New York: Benzinger, 1890) 464.

In God’s timing I have found this precious ancient writing. It has provided timely encouragement to me to embark on generous service in hard places. Today it inspires us to pursue missions and to anticipate opposition from hell. That’s what has happened.

After more than 12 hours of detainment with hundreds of people praying Acts 12 and other passages. Prakash Chandra Giri, GTP Curriculum Developer, was miraculously allowed to enter Pakistan last night. It happened in the four hours while I slept.

National workers had relatives collect him at the airport and get him to a local hotel. He will join Emmna Pervaiz and Sharoz Sajjad and me, the two newest GTP staff members, at a retreat center in Murree, between Islamabad and Abbottabad.

I hope my willingness to do missions on which I see God overcome the gates of hell disquiets you. That means I hope it shakes and wakes you to what you can to do. Many people prayed last night. That’s how we won the battle at the start of this mission.

But it has only just begun. I pray Joshua 1:3 that God will give us Pakistan. We now have 1 country coordinator, 2 staff, 6 course moderators, and 250 trained workers. There are 3 million Christians to serve in a country of about 250 million Urdu speakers.

That’s the war. My friend and driver, Mark Brackney, retired Army Colonel (06) reminds me. “Battles are won by executing strategy.” Our strategy was prayer and careful planning to convene the team. God worked and we will be together for one week.

Mark continues, “Wars are won by orchestrating logistics.” That calls for people and resources. I am praying hundreds of disquieted and determined people join in the work of GTP. Please do it. See the GTP at 6 infographic released here on our sixth birthday yesterday.

Right now if this message motivates you pray for us daily over the next week. Download our prayer schedule here. Become a monthly giver to GTP here. And ask God to give us favor in Pakistan and other hard places so that all may come to faith in Jesus.

Let all things be done decently and in order. 1 Corinthians 14:40

“The overseer should give opportune orders for keeping the churches in repair, either in reference to the building, or the altars and sacred vessels, and recommend cleanliness and silence in the holy place. Before his departure he should leave in writing the given orders, and rigorously exact their execution, so that everything may be done promptly.”

Alphonsus de Liguori (1696-1787) in The Complete Works of Saint Alphonsus de Liguori, translated from the Italian, edited by Rev. Eugene Grimm (New York: Benzinger, 1890) 461.

As I continue to read a document that is about 400 years old which recounts on the role of the overseer in ensuring order in the local church, I found this section as perfect for today.

Why? GTP turns 6 today. Time flies! Click here to see the GTP at 6 infographic. It celebrates God’s faithfulness to GTP in 6 years.

Similarly, our 2024 Annual Report (click for English or Spanish editions) talked about the importance and impact of putting order and oversight going back to Paul’s words to Titus. The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. Titus 1:5

One of the most generous things we can do is help every church and ministry in the world administrate with order and standards and have oversight with peer accountability. When we do that, we make sure churches don’t fall into disrepair, and more importantly, the gospel of Jesus Christ spreads exponentially.

I have arrived safely in Islamabad, Pakistan. And while I am celebrating, I am waiting on the LORD for a miracle.

The opposition to this global work is real. The spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms do not want this work to happen. My co-worker, Prakash Chandra Giri, GTP Curriculum Developer, who was coming to help me activate the two new staff, has been detained at the border.

He lives in Nepal and has done ministry work with me in Bangladesh and India, and so they do not want to allow him to enter Pakistan. Pray for his entry into the country in Jesus name. We have work to do here for God to equip workers to repair His Church.

For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ Matthew 25:35-36

“The bishop should not fail to personally examine all the priests and all the clerics of the place which he visits by interrogating each one of them in private, first on their employments and their mode of life so as to recommend to them, if necessary, assiduity in hearing confessions, in attending the dying, application to study, or prayer and detachment from dangerous societies, etc.

Finally, he should make inquiries in regard to the defects of others, and especially of the parish priest (since the visitations aim particularly at reforming parish priests), to find out whether he attends to the duty of preaching, of hearing confessions, of assisting the dying, whether he visits dangerous places, takes care to remove scandals, sees that the church is always kept clean, etc.; he should put similar questions in regard to the other ecclesiastics.

For this purpose it will be very useful, as is done by vigilant bishops, to keep a register in which, with the names of all the priests and all the clerics inscribed in alphabetical order, are noted their good or bad qualities according to the secret information that has been obtained. This register may prove very useful, particularly in order to select parish priests, rural deans, and other ministers, to give to every one the advice that he needs, and to watch more carefully over his conduct, etc.

The bishop should also make general inquiries about the abuses, the scandals, and the dissensions which exist in the place. Let him rest assured that in these private and secret examinations he will succeed in learning many important things of which he would have been ignorant; he will thus be able to remedy many abuses which otherwise would not be remedied.”

Alphonsus de Liguori (1696-1787) in The Complete Works of Saint Alphonsus de Liguori, translated from the Italian, edited by Rev. Eugene Grimm (New York: Benzinger, 1890) 461.

When you read this I will be somewhere between Denver and Istanbul en route to Islamabad. And while the details of today’s post may sound antiquated, they demonstrate the value of order and oversight.

Generous service includes visits and vigilance. That’s why I am headed to Pakistan. GTP welcomes two new staff members, Emmna Pervaiz and Sharoz Sajjad. They may feel like strangers to GTP, but shortly they will be oriented and activated.

How might you set aside the irrelevant details of this post (since you are likely not a priest) and model the generous service it contains? What might visits and vigilance look like in your life?

Notice that the overseer uses questions to make sure proper order exists. To ask questions requires thought, preparation, empathy, and more. That’s part of diligent oversight.

Imagine if every church and ministry had such order and oversight! Part of my reason for heading Pakistan relates to helping Khurram Younis, GTP Country Coordinator for Pakistan, activate it at his ministry.

What questions do we ask at GTP? Our GTP Diagnostic Tool asks 36 questions and points to Templates. Find it here. It’s free and available in Arabic, Czech, English, French, Russian, Slovak, and Spanish.

Khurram did the Diagnostic Tool and I will coach him on using templates. In this way he will implement order and oversight for having a flourishing and sustainable ministry.

Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds; for riches do not endure forever, and a crown is not secure for all generations. When the hay is removed and new growth appears and the grass from the hills is gathered in, the lambs will provide you with clothing, and the goats with the price of a field. You will have plenty of goats’ milk to feed your family and to nourish your female servants. Proverbs 27:23-27

“According to the Council of Trent, the bishop should personally visit all the places in his diocese at least every two years. The inconvenience in traveling certainly does not dispense one from this obligation; for it is the indispensable duty of the pastor, in spite of in conveniences and fatigue, to examine into the condition of his flock so as to provide for their wants. How many times did not St. Charles continue his visits notwithstanding the fever from which he suffered! It was a maxim of his that a bishop should go to bed only after the third attack of fever. On one occasion, in order to make a visitation in a certain place, he crept on his hands and feet through the mud and snow. And St. Francis de Sales, as we also read in his Life, in order to visit certain places was also obliged to drag himself along roads that were so bad that his feet were badly bruised, and he could not stand erect for several days. At other times he had to pass the night sleeping on leaves of trees, and when his friends begged him not to expose his life in this manner, he said “It is not necessary that I should live, but it is necessary that I should perform my duty.”

Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) in The Complete Works of Saint Alphonsus de Liguori, translated from the Italian, edited by Rev. Eugene Grimm (New York: Benzinger, 1890) 459.

I am traveling again this week. Headed back to Pakistan tomorrow to activate two new staff members. Praise God. Yet, I had some back spasms this weekend which might make this trip challenging. I will do my duty by the grace of God.

On the way I will write a scholarly paper for an International Consultation on Enterprise Risk Management for Churches and Nonprofits. I scanned chapters from five books and will carry another three on the plane. Peaceful place to write!

My topic is entitled “Stewardship of the Mission and Risk: Policy development and protocol establishment with
standards to foster a culture of integrity before God and man.” So today’s post on duty gives me inspiration.

Notice that the Council of Trent urged overseers to make personal visits to “examine the condition of the flock and provide for their wants.” This echoes the wisdom of today’s Scripture passage.

Knowing and examining the condition of whatever God has called each of us to steward and providing necessary care are vital actions to ensure the ongoing sustainability of life, of ministry, and flourishing for all.

The consultation takes place online from 7:30-9:00am Denver Time on 6-9 May 2025. Download the concept note here. Click here to register. If you register that should get you free access to all the papers. They aim to help you do your duty.

And what does this have to do with generosity. I think the missing piece in ministry worldwide is good governance. That’s the oversight the Council of Trent called for, which echoes Paul in texts like Titus 1:5.

Doing our duty and ensuring good governance coupled with diligent risk management despite mud and snow, sometimes sleeping on leaves, or battling back spasms, comes into view as priceless generosity.

What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ — the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ — yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. Philippians 3:8-11

“And if it appear hard to give up all, and then as our reward only have a whole lifetime on the cross, oh let us listen again to Paul as he tells us what made him so willingly give up all, and so intently choose the cross. It was Jesus – Christ Jesus, my Lord. The cross was the place where he could get into fullest union with his Lord. To know Him, to win Him, to be found in Him, to be made like to Him — this was the burning passion that made it easy to cast away all, that gave the cross such mighty attractive power. Anything to come nearer to Jesus. All for Jesus, was his motto. It contains the twofold answer to the question, How to attain this conformity to Christ’s death? The one is, Cast out all. The other, And let Jesus come in.”

Andrew Murray (1828-1917) in Like Christ, excerpt from chapter 24 “Like Christ: Being Made Conformable To His Death.” 90-91. Click here to download a copy.

Imagine your heart as a physical room that housed that which you love, desire, and cherish. What does God see when He looks in that room? Does He see a crowded space? An empty space? Or somewhere in between.

Today’s Scripture uses strong language. Paul consider everything else that could have been in his heart as garbage next to gaining Christ, being found in Him and knowing Him.

Murray echoes this thinking in today’s reading. He does not use the word garbage, per se, but what do we do with garbage. A few minutes ago I took out the trash. I emptied the rubbish bin in our kitchen. Gone.

And I put a new bag in the bin or container. It’s empty now. The word picture comes into view for me thanks to Murray. The reason we cast out other loves, desires, and stuff from our hearts is so Christ can come in.

When we experience union with the one who is love, we can then love those close to us, including our family members, neighbors, and brothers and sisters in Christ, with the love we have receive from God.

But imagine if our heart hold onto other things. Whatever we place their, controls us. If it is money or relationships, they dictate our lives. They hinder our generous living, giving, serving, and loving.

These other devoted things chart our demise. Is it time for some Spring cleaning on this Lenten feast day. Only after we fast from everything else and cast out all can we feast on Jesus.