The Shepherd of Hermas: Works

Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. Revelation 2:5

“The ones who returned their sticks two-thirds withered and one-third green are those who had been faithful, but became rich and acquired a reputation among the outsiders. They clothed themselves with great pride and became arrogant and abandoned the truth and did not associate with the righteous, but lived with and according to the standards of outsiders, and this way of life was more pleasant to them.

Yet they did not fall away from God, but continued in the faith, though they did not do the works of faith. Many of them, therefore, repented, and their home was within the tower. But others, living entirely among the outsiders and being corrupted by the worthless opinions of the outsiders, fell away from God and behaved like the outsiders. These, therefore, were counted with the outsiders.

But others of them were double-minded, no longer hoping to be saved because of the deeds that they had done; and others were double-minded and caused divisions among themselves. For these, then, who became double-minded because of their deeds, there is still repentance; but their repentance ought to be swift, in order that their home may be within the tower. But for those who do not repent but persist in their pleasures, death is near.”

The Shepherd of Hermas 75, Parable VIII.9 (c. A.D. 70-140) in The Apostolic Fathers, Greek Texts and English Translations 3rd edition, edited and translated by, Michael W. Holmes after the earlier work of J. B. Lightfoot and J. R. Harmer, 84.

Thanks for your prayers for our meetings in the Washington D.C. area. Had a phenomenal time at ECFA yesterday. Praise the LORD. More on this trip later.

I am nearing the end of my exploration of the Apostolic Fathers. For many of you that might be a relief. But for me, this has been so enriching.

Today’s parable echoes the message of the letter to the church in Ephesus. Remember Ephesus was a prominent wealthy city. That causes the rich to get to comfortable.

Once that happens, they look and act like those outside the faith. Both the Scripture and this parable from Hermas written probably 30 years later calls God’s people to action.

Repent means to change directions. You are going the wrong way. Do the works you did at first. How might that relate to you and where you are on your journey. Only you can answer it.

Do your best to come to me quickly, for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments. Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message. 2 Timothy 4:9-15

“The ones who returned their sticks half green and half withered are those who are absorbed in business and do not associate with the saints; this is why one half of them lives, but the other half is dead. Many, therefore, repented when they heard my commandments. Those who have repented have their home within the tower. But some of them fell away completely.

These, therefore, have no repentance, for on account of their business affairs they blasphemed the Lord and denied him. So they lost their life because of the evil they did. But many of them were double-minded. These still have an opportunity to repent, if they repent quickly, and their home will be within the tower; but if they repent more slowly, they will live within the walls.

But if they do not repent at all, they too have lost their lives. And the ones who returned the sticks two-thirds green and one-third withered are those who have denied the Lord repeatedly. Many have repented and gone off to live inside the tower, but many fell away from God completely; these ultimately lost their lives. And some of them were double-minded and caused dissensions. For these, then, there is repentance, if they repent quickly and do not persist in their pleasures. But if they persist in their actions, they too produce death for themselves.”

The Shepherd of Hermas 74, Parable VIII.8 (c. A.D. 70-140) in The Apostolic Fathers, Greek Texts and English Translations 3rd edition, edited and translated by, Michael W. Holmes after the earlier work of J. B. Lightfoot and J. R. Harmer, 83.

Only you can say what absorbs your time and with whom you associate. Only you can decide not allow business affairs and the pursuit of wealth to hinder your fruitfulness.

To be double-minded in antiquity is to think that money solves our problems. God does. To be double-minded in antiquity is to pursue God and pleasures.

When we pursue God, because He is good, we will enjoy pleasures. But if we pursue the pleasures, they will be empty. Let me give an example of this.

Jesus enjoyed wine. It’s not the alcoholic who enjoys wine. He or she is controlled by it, a slave to it, and loses the ability to enjoy it. Only a slave to God can enjoy it.

Jesus did not have a place to lay his head but he enjoyed provision. If we make provision or wealth our pursuit, like the alcoholic, we become consumed, and the enemy celebrates.

Hermas, in ancient thinking likens our lives as sticks and uses the tower and walls to depict our eternal destiny linked to our decisions now. It’s complicated but let me say this.

If you have pursued wealth or pleasures, repent. Pursue God, use wealth to accomplish His purposes, and don’t let business affairs absorb your time and suck the life out of you.

Associate with those who give you life. This brings today’s Scripture into view. The Apostle Paul writes Timothy about people who have remained with him and those who have not.

Apostacy is a reality. What matters is not how you start but how you finish. Don’t let business affairs or anything else distract your focus. Associate with saints!

This week I am having priceless time with saints from five countries. Next week I fly to Wisconsin to spend two days with John Stanley in Wisconsin. In the words of Paul, “he is helpful to me.”

John reminds me to guard my heart, to surrender to Jesus daily, and to trust Him with everything. Do you have friends like that? If so, spend time with them. If not, find them.

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. Colossians 2:8

“After he spoke these things to me, he said, “Let us go into the country, and I will show you the shepherds of the sheep.” “Yes, Lord,” I said, “let us go.” We came to a certain plain and he showed me a young shepherd, wearing a bright yellow suit of clothes.

He was tending a large flock of sheep. These sheep were luxuriously fed and extremely frisky and cheerful, leaping about here and there; and the shepherd also was cheerful with his flock. The shepherd’s appearance was very cheerful, and he was running about among the sheep.

He said to me, “Do you see this shepherd?” “I see him, Lord,” I replied. “This,” he said, “is the angel of luxury and deceit. He, then, is the one who wears down the souls of the vacuous slaves of God and turns them away from the truth, deceiving them with evil desires that destroy them.

For they forget the commandments of the living God and proceed in vain deceits and luxuries and are destroyed by this angel — some to death and others to ruin.”

The Shepherd of Hermas 61.5-62.2, Parable VI.1-2 (c. A.D. 70-140) as reported by Bart Ehrman in Lost Scriptures: Books That Did Not Make It Into The New Testament (New York: Oxford University Press, 2003) 276-277.

As I continue reading the Shepherd of Hermas in my morning and evening reading while on my GTP retreat with new staff I am struck by their depth and character. It’s the opposite of vacuous and empty.

They are not led astray by the luxury and deceit though many people are.

Sadly, these people follow shepherds in flashy suits and, as a result, have become empty people who have been turned away from Christ. They listen more to political voices and popular thinkers than Christ.

Jesus, Paul, and others warned us it would happen. The key is not to let it happen to you.

Don’t look for earthly voices to promise you things here on earth. Their lips are filled with deceit and the luxury is fleeting and short-lived. Focus on eternity.

Use your wealth for a purpose while living. Don’t let deceit and luxury fool you. Focus on the commandments of God.

“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:16-21

“I said to him, “Lord, I do not know what these parables mean and cannot understand them, unless you explain them to me.” “I will explain everything to you,” he said, “and show you the meaning of everything I tell you. Guard what the Lord commands and you will be accept­ able to him and enrolled among those who keep his commandments. But if you do anything good beyond what God commands, you will be glori­fied even more and even more highly honored before God than you were bound to be.

If, then, you do what God com­mands and perform any of these ser­vices in addition, you will be filled with joy — if you keep them according to my commandment.” I said to him, “Lord, I will guard whatever you command me. For I know you are with me.” “I will be with you,” he said, “because you are so eager to do good; and I will be with everyone who is just as eager. This fast that consists of keeping the Lord’s commandments,” he said, “is very good. And so guard the fast. First of all, be on your guard against every evil word and desire, and cleanse your heart from all the vain affairs of this age. If you guard these things, this fast will be complete.

And act as follows: when you have completed the things that have already been written, taste nothing but bread and water on the day you fast. Then estimate the cost of the food you would have eaten on that day and give that amount to a widow or orphan or someone in need. Be humble in this way, that the one who receives something because of your humility may fill his own soul and pray to the Lord for you.

If then you complete your fast like this, as I have commanded you, your sacrifice will be acceptable before God and the fast will be recorded. The service done in this way will be good and cheer­ful and pleasing to the Lord. Thus you should keep these things, as should your children and your entire household. When you do so, you will be blessed. Everyone who hears these things and keeps them will be blessed, and they will receive whatever they ask from the Lord.”

The Shepherd of Hermas 56. 1-9, Parable V.3 (c. A.D. 70-140) as reported by Bart Ehrman in Lost Scriptures: Books That Did Not Make It Into The New Testament (New York: Oxford University Press, 2003) 273-274.

Jesus instructed us to fast in a way that people cannot tell we are fasting and to store up treasures in heaven rather than on earth.

Hermas echoes this by instructing us to guard and keep the Lord’s commands and even suggests a way to do this as a pathway to joy! It’s simply and practical. Notice he says to fast a day, and give the amount we would have spent on ourselves to others. This reflects the kind of sacrifice Jesus celebrates.

Try it. Consider making your gift to GTP. Our remaining need by 30 June 2024 is $37,096. Click here to give as you are able. And pray for our new Chinese (Haily Chow) and Spanish staff (Javier Espinosa and Lea Peguero). Trevor Lui, Paula Mendoza, and I have meetings with them for orientation and onboarding and to discern direction from the LORD together this week.

We thank God for Peter Fiorello and Black Rock Christian Camp & Retreat Center and ECFA who will host us this week.

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, “Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you” — when you already have it with you. Proverbs 3:27

“There was a person who owned a field and many slaves, and he planted a vineyard in part of the field. And he chose a certain slave who was most trustworthy and pleasing to him; and when he was about to go on a journey, he called him in and said to him, ‘Take this vineyard that I have planted and build a fence around it before I return, and do nothing else to the vineyard. Do what I have commanded and I will set you free.’ And the master of the slave went away on his journey.

When he had gone, his slave took the vineyard and built a fence around it. And when he finished the fence he saw that the vineyard was full of weeds. And so he reasoned to himself, ‘I have finished what the Lord commanded; so now I will dig in this vineyard. Once it is dug it will be more attractive, and without the weeds it will give more fruit, since it will not be choked by the weeds.’ So he dug the vineyard and removed all the weeds that were in it. And that vine­ yard became more attractive and flourish­ing, since there were no weeds that could choke it.

After some time the master of both field and slave returned and came into the vineyard. When he saw that the vine­ yard was attractively fenced and even more that it was dug, with all the weeds removed, and that the vines were flourishing, he was extremely pleased with what the slave had done. So he called his beloved son, who was to be his heir, and his friends, who served as his advisors, and he told them everything he had commanded his slave and everything he found accomplished. And they congratulated the slave for the good testimony that the master had given him.

He said to them, ‘I promised to free this slave if he did what I commanded him. And he did what I commanded and an additional good work in my vineyard besides. He has pleased me greatly. In exchange for the work he has done I want to make him a fellow heir with my son; for when he thought of the good deed, he did not leave it alone, but he accomplished it.’ The master’s son approved of the idea that the slave should become his fellow heir. After some days the master of the house gave a dinner and sent a number of foods to the slave from his table.

When the slave received the food his master sent, he took what he needed and distributed the rest to his fellow slaves. His fellow slaves took the food gladly, and began also to pray for him, that he might find even greater favor with the master, since he had treated them so well. The master heard everything that happened and was again extremely pleased at what the slave had done. And so he once more assembled his friends and his son, and he reported to them what the slave had done with the foods he had received. And they approved even more heartily his plan to make the slave his son’s fellow heir.”

The Shepherd of Hermas 55. 2-11, Parable V.2 (c. A.D. 70-140) as reported by Bart Ehrman in Lost Scriptures: Books That Did Not Make It Into The New Testament (New York: Oxford University Press, 2003) 273.

I am enjoying these second century parables from Hermas.

We could explore many aspects of this parable, but I think the thread that struck me relates to that moment “when he thought of the good deed, he did not leave it alone, but he accomplished it.”

Sometimes we think of something and then we don’t follow through.

This reveals that God sees when we do that and celebrates what it says about our hearts. Children of God follow through: when they think of a good deed, they don’t leave it alone.

What will you do the next time you think of a good deed and what will it reveal about your heart?

Flying to Washington D.C. this morning for activating new Chinese and Spanish staff and meetings at ECFA this week. Appreciate your prayers for us.

“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter — when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and He will say: ‘Here am I.’

If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.” Isaiah 58:6-12

“While I was fasting and sitting on a certain mountain, thanking the Lord for everything he had done for me, I saw the shepherd sitting next to me. And he said to me: “Why have you come here so early?” “Because, Lord,” I said, “I have a duty to perform.”

“What is the duty?” he asked. “I am fasting, Lord,” I replied. “But what is this fast you people are keeping?” he asked. “I am fasting according to my custom, Lord,” I said. “You people do not know how to fast for God,” he said, “and this worthless fast you are keeping for him is not a fast.”

“Why do you say this, Lord,” I asked. “I say this,” he said, “because what you think you are keeping is not a fast. But I will teach you a fast that is acceptable and complete to the Lord.” “Yes, Lord,” I said, “you will make me blessed if you show me the fast acceptable to God.” “

Listen,” he said. “God does not want this kind of vain fast. For when you fast like this to God you do nothing at all righteous. But fast to God as follows: Do no evil in your life, but serve as the Lord’s slave with a pure heart, keep­ing his commandments and proceeding in his injunctions;

And let no evil desire rise up in your heart. Trust in God, be­ cause if you do these things and fear him and are self-restrained from every evil deed, you will live to God. If you do these things, you will accomplish a fast that is great and acceptable to the Lord.”

The Shepherd of Hermas 54. 1-5, Parable V (c. A.D. 70-140) as reported by Bart Ehrman in Lost Scriptures: Books That Did Not Make It Into The New Testament (New York: Oxford University Press, 2003) 272.

As GTP does the kind of work Isaiah prophesied and Hermas echoed, I have a testimony to share. I cried for help for capital and God showed up. Simple as that.

Two days ago we were looking at a $250,000 need, and today it’s only $50,000. God provided. And it’s not only for one year but five years ($200,000 x 5). God has given us capital to build capacity.

Today’s message in that light aims to call you to radical service and trust. Spend yourself believing that God will hear your prayer when you have a need. He will say, “Here I am!”

I get on a plane for a week in Washington D.C. tomorrow. I will meet up with GTP staff from Canada, Hong Kong, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Dominican Republic. We will visit ECFA’s offices on one one day.

We have three fasting days planned to discern direction. Our aim is to orient three new staff and activate our Chinese and Spanish teams over the course of the week at Black Rock Retreat.

Pray for us. And pray for God to supply the remaining $50,000 we need by 30 June 2024. Give as you are able here. And, as God leads, support others who are spending themselves for God.

By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. Galatians 5:22-23

“He showed me again a number of trees, some of them budding, others withered. And he said to me, “Do you see these trees?” “I see them, Lord,” I replied. “Some of them are budding and others withered.”

“These trees that are budding,” he said, “are the upright who are about to dwell in the age that is coming. For the coming age is a summer for the upright, but a winter for sinners. And so, when the mercy of the Lord shines forth, those who serve as slaves to God will stand out clearly, and everyone will be able to rec­ognize them.

For just as the fruits of each individ­ual tree appear in the summer and their species are recognized, so too the fruits of the upright will appear, and they will all be known in that age because they will be blossoming.

But the outsiders and sinners — who are the withered trees you saw — will be found withered and fruitless in that age, and they will be burned like withered trees and shown for what they are.”

The Shepherd of Hermas 53. 1-4, Parable IV (c. A.D. 70-140) as reported by Bart Ehrman in Lost Scriptures: Books That Did Not Make It Into The New Testament (New York: Oxford University Press, 2003) 271-272.

This parable reminds me of the coming judgment for all of us.

But it’s a glimpse of the present looking ahead to that time. In the parable, some trees are budding and blossoming. Others are withered. This begs the question for all of us.

Is there budding, blossoming, and fruit on my tree today?

Only you can answer this. And remember the key to producing the fruit of the Spirit: we must stay connected to the vine of Jesus, put the flesh to death daily, and keep in step with the Spirit.

Father bear fruit in our lives, especially generosity, I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16

He showed me many trees that did not have leaves but ap­peared to me to be withered. And they were all alike. He said to me, “Do you see these trees?” “I see them, Lord,” I replied. “They are like one another and withered.” He replied, “These trees you see are the people who dwell in this age.”

“Why, then, Lord,” I asked, “do they seem withered and like one another?” “Because,” he said, “neither the upright nor the sinners stand out clearly in this age, but they are like one another. For this age is a winter for those who are upright: they do not stand out clearly while dwelling with the sinners.

For just as the trees that shed their leaves in the winter all look alike, with the withered indistinguishable from the living, so too in this age it is not clear who the upright are and who the sinners, but they all appear alike.”

The Shepherd of Hermas 52. 1-3, Parable III (c. A.D. 70-140) as reported by Bart Ehrman in Lost Scriptures: Books That Did Not Make It Into The New Testament (New York: Oxford University Press, 2003) 271.

In today’s Scripture we see Jesus liken our generous deeds to shining as lights. We are illuminated. We stand out. We bring glory to God through our living, giving, serving, and loving.

Then in the Shepherd of Hermas, this parable describes trees in the opposite way.

No wonder Jesus gave instructions to let our light shine. When we conform to the world, we are indistinguishable from those who do not follow Jesus.

“How’s your light?” Or maybe a better question is to say, “What does your tree look like compared to other trees in this day and age?”

God has me still praying for capital for GTP to scale. If you have resources, put them to work.

Our works send a message about what we believe more than our words. And they bring glory to God when they illuminate the darkness around us.

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. Ecclesiastes 4:9

“While I was walking in the field and considering an elm tree and a vine, reflecting on them and their fruits, the shepherd appeared to me and said, “Why are you asking yourself about the elm tree and the vine?” “I am thinking, Lord,” I replied, “that they are extremely well suited for one another.” “These two trees,” he replied, “sym­bolize the slaves of God.” “I would like to know,” I said, “what these two trees you are speaking about symbolize.” “You see,” he said, “the elm and the vine?” “I see them, Lord,” I replied.

“This vine,” he said, “bears fruit; but the elm is a tree that does not. Yet if this vine did not grow up onto the elm, it could not bear much fruit, since it would be lying on the ground, and the fruit it bore would be rotten, since it would not be clinging to the elm. And so, when the vine attaches to the elm, it bears fruit both of itself and because of the elm. And so you see that the elm also gives much fruit — no less than the vine, but rather more.” “How does it bear more, Lord” I asked. “Because,” he said, “it is by clinging to the elm that the vine gives an abundance of good fruit; but when it is lying on the ground it bears just a little rotten fruit. And so this parable applies to the slaves of God, the poor and the rich.”

“How so, Lord?” I asked. “Explain it to me.” “Listen,” he said. “The rich person has money, but is poor towards the Lord, since he is distracted by his wealth. The prayer and confession he makes to the Lord are very small — weak, small, and of no real effect. And so, when the rich person depends upon the one who is poor and supplies him with what he needs, he believes that by helping the one who is poor he will find his recom­pense before God. For the poor person is rich in his petition and confession, and his petition has a great effect before God. And so the rich person supplies every­ thing to the one who is poor, without hesitation.

And then the poor person, having his needs supplied by the one who is rich, prays to God and thanks him for the one who has given him what he needs. And that one becomes even more eager to help out the poor person, so that he may lack nothing in his life. For he knows that the petition of the poor person is acceptable and rich before the Lord. And so both accomplish their work. The poor person works at his prayer in which he is rich and which he received from the Lord; and he gives it back to the Lord who supplied it to him in the first place.

So too the rich person does not hesitate to supply his wealth to the poor person, since he received it from the Lord. And this is a great and acceptable thing to do before God, because the rich person has gained understanding by his wealth and has worked for the poor per­ son out of the gifts provided by the Lord, and he has accomplished his ministry well. And so, people may think that the elm tree bears no fruit; but they neither know nor understand that when a drought comes, the elm nourishes the vine by holding water; and the vine, since it has an undiminished supply of water, pro­duces fruit for two, both for itself and for the elm.

Thus also those who are poor who pray to the Lord on behalf of the rich bring their own wealth to comple­tion; and again those who are rich and supply the poor with what they need bring their souls to completion. Both then share in an upright work. And so the one who does these things will not be abandoned by God, but will be recorded in the books of the living. Happy are those who have posses­sions and understand that their riches have come from the Lord; for the one who understands this will also be able to perform a good ministry.”

The Shepherd of Hermas 51. 1-10, Parable II (c. A.D. 70-140) as reported by Bart Ehrman in Lost Scriptures: Books That Did Not Make It Into The New Testament (New York: Oxford University Press, 2003) 270-271.

This may be the most famous and powerful parable in The Shepherd of Hermas. I have posted it before but have posted it again because of it’s significance and relevance to my situation at GTP.

People with riches are like the elm tree. They give structure, gather water, and make more fruitful the work of the vine. But alone, they produce not fruit. Notice how the two are better together.

Now notice the parallel to the rich and the poor. The rich are distracted by the responsibilities associated with wealth and the poor have margin to pray. On this note I am thankful for GTP ministry partner, Project 114.

Project 114 understands the role of prayer, so they have helped identify intercessors who pray for GTP. I believe their work has helped contribute to the growth of GTP as the power of prayer has opened so many countries.

And I believe GTP has grown so fruitful because elm trees have given riches to give us structure. Please pray with me for capital to scale. I am praying for $1,000,000 ($200,000 a year over five years) to do that.

And I am praying that elm trees everywhere will collaborate with vines to perform a good ministry and find joy and fruitfulness in doing it together.

And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. Hebrews 13:16

“Instead of fields, then, purchase souls that have been afflicted, insofar as you can, and take care of widows and orphans and do not neglect them; spend your wealth and all your furnishings for such fields and houses as you have received from God.

For this is why the Master made you rich, that you may carry out these min­istries for Him. It is much better to pur­chase the fields, goods, and houses you will find in your own city when you re­turn to it. This kind of extravagance is good and makes one glad; it has no grief or fear, but joy instead. And so, do not par­ticipate in the extravagance sought by outsiders; for it is of no profit for you who are slaves of God.

But participate in your own extrav­agance in which you can rejoice. And do not counterfeit or touch what belongs to another, or desire it. For it is evil to desire someone else’s goods. But do your own work, and you will be saved.”

The Shepherd of Hermas 50. 8-11, Parable 1 (c. A.D. 70-140) as reported by Bart Ehrman in Lost Scriptures: Books That Did Not Make It Into The New Testament (New York: Oxford University Press, 2003) 270.

When people ask me about making gifts to GTP, I have referred to this famous passage from The Shepherd of Hermas, which has been a meditation in the past, but this one is worth repeating as I work through this text again for the talk I will deliver at conference in Amsterdam in July.

Don’t relate to riches like the world. Use it to carry out ministry for Him that touches people. Last Friday I spent an hour on the phone with a mentor and friend, Rob Martin, one of the founding board members of GTP. He said the Spirit had been telling him that GTP had reached capacity.

“It’s time to do things differently, Gary.” He said. “Let’s pray for God to supply some capital through His people so GTP can scale to respond the opportunities to strengthen stewards crying for help in many countries.” So that’s what we did. We prayed.

Then when I read this, I though I’d ask every reader to pray this too. We are praying for God to supply $1,000,000. And for the first $200,000 before 30 June 2024. Would you pray with us for this? We need someone to purchase souls by releasing funds that could otherwise buy a field or a building.