Libanus Evangelical Church
As Stuart Olyott commenced preaching at the induction of Stuart Dainty to the pastorate of Libanus Evangelical Church, Morriston, on 17 March, he reminded the congregation of 300 that even a church with twelve apostles in its membership experienced problems (Acts 6).
When the ‘murmurings’ of the Grecians against the Hebrews had been resolved by choosing the first deacons, the apostles were able to devote themselves to prayer and the ministry of the Word. The result was that ‘the word of God spread and the number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly’ (Acts 6:7). Rev. Olyott made it clear that a pastor needs to guard his time for prayer and study, and the church needs to recognise this priority.
Stuart Dainty was exhorted to know: his God (does a congregation want a man who has the touch of God, or a busy man?); his Bible (preaching should be exegetical, biblical, systematic, historical and practical); his job (there are many worthwhile tasks a pastor can get involved in, but he should never be distracted from ministering the Word); his people (the apostles knew their people, for they were under-shepherds); and himself (the apostles had physical limits to their ministries; so do pastors).
Earlier, Stuart Dainty’s father Peter, a retired medical missionary, read 2 Timothy 3:16 – 4:8 and Neville Rees, retired from over 40 years pastoral ministry at Libanus, led in prayer. Dr Eryl Davies inducted Stuart Dainty.
Members of Bethany Baptist Church, Cefn Fforest, were present to witness their former pastor’s induction to his new church.
It is everyone’s prayer at Libanus that under the ministry of Pastor Dainty the Word of God will spread and the number of disciples of the Lord Jesus increase.
Jeff Bownds
