One of the divine designs in ministry is that we are to labor alongside one another. God gave Moses a Joshua and Elijah an Elisha. The Lord Jesus Christ sent His disciples out two by two on their mission. Paul took fellow laborers with him on each of his gospel journeys.

There are many reasons for this – encouragement, accountability, and varying spiritual gifts. Solomon said it best: “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10). The Lord has made it that, in His church, we are all dependent on Him and we are interdependent with one another. 

Years ago someone shared with me  a little acrostic that sums up the blessing and benefit of working together with others:

T – together

E – everyone

A – accomplishes

M – more

The work that God has given us with Enjoying the Journey is one that could not be done without a wonderful team of laborers. Many of them work behind the scenes, but they are an integral part of helping us get the gospel and the teaching of God’s Word to others. In the days ahead I look forward to introducing many of them to you.

I am happy to announce that this week we are adding an associate evangelist to our team. The gift of the evangelist is vital to the advancement of the gospel and the edifying of the church (Ephesians 4:11-12). You may want to read more about the biblical evangelist here. We are praying that in this crisis hour God will raise up many more to do the work of the evangelist.

As doors continue to open for us to preach and teach God’s Word, we want to enlarge the team of evangelists who are laboring with us. Personally I want ETJ to be broader than what I can accomplish and to extend longer than my own lifetime. Evangelist D.L. Moody believed that his most meaningful work was not in what he could do but in what he could help to set in motion. Our hope is that we will be used to set much in motion for the work of Christ.

Chase Whitten has labored with us on occasion in the past. He is a graduate of Crown College and a dear friend. He and his wife Joy have two beautiful children, William and Ruby. Over the last ten years the Lord has used Chase to lead a mission chapel in England, to conduct a wide variety of evangelistic events, and to serve as an assistant to a pastor. Most recently, he has pastored a church in West Virginia and was used of God to help that congregation in a wonderful way.

All along, his passion has been the gospel and, at heart, he is an evangelist. I personally believe the Lord has allowed him to have this variety of experience in preparation to minister to many churches and alongside many pastors. They are being sent out of our home church in Beckley and have a desire to help God’s people in many places.

This week the Whittens are conducting a Vacation Bible School in Virginia. He is now available for revival meetings, pulpit supply, mission conferences, and children’s and youth meetings. Brother Chase is a capable and faithful Bible preacher. My dad said it well this week: “He is an encourager.”

Chase will be assisting me in a number of gospel efforts and ETJ projects but he will be preaching meetings each week and living by faith as we do. I want to encourage you to pray for him and his family and to get acquainted with them. You will be glad you did.

You may contact Chase directly for more information or to schedule a meeting at [email protected]. or at 304.661.6139. We are grateful for all of you who are on our ETJ team as prayer partners and hope that you will add the Whittens to your prayers. May God use us all to do what we can while we still have time.

h