Friends

“[Timothy,] do your best to come to me soon. When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments.”
ESV 2 Timothy 4:9, 13

Come to me soon…The words ring in my mind as an urgent plea of sorts. Paul was sitting in a Roman jail and presumably facing a death sentence that would no doubt soon be fulfilled. The fuller passage notes several other people. Some who had deserted him, some who had gone on to other ministry endeavors, and the beloved physician (Luke), who was still by his side. Yet Paul writes specifically here to his friend and partner in the ministry of the gospel; Timothy.

It has become obvious to me over the years that ministry is seldom effective as a one man show. There’s no place in ministry for a Lone Ranger mentality. No, the work of ministry is best carried out in and through people; friends and partners in the gospel if you will. It sounds like a definition of the local church doesn’t it?

Paul used friendships in his ministry. He had some friends that would stay by his side through thick and thin; Luke for instance. Others would prove to be an encouragement, trustworthy and dependable in times of need; people like Timothy. Some would be called to other ministries and sadly, some would help for a season and then abandon him completely. But Paul would continue to preach Christ and labor in the ministry with complete faith that all things were ultimately working to God’s glory.

Back to Timothy…Paul entrusted him with some of his most prized possessions. Notice the things that Paul has asked Timothy to bring. Paul has requested his cloak; no doubt a heavy outer garment of utmost importance as winter approached and an item that satisfied a physical need. He has asked for books; perhaps he was referring to manuscripts that would be useful in his study and good for his spiritual health. Finally, he requested parchments which could have been used for his writing tablets and useful in his ministry. All these things, Paul readily and confidently requested of Timothy his trusted friend.

I’ve spent this time discussing friends because a trusted friend of mine is leaving our community. Dave Kinney and his wife Teresa are moving to North Carolina as this article goes to print. Just as Dave was called to serve in Russellville several years ago, this move is in response to a ministry calling to another field.

I’ve called on Dave more than once this past year to submit a Truth Matters article in my place when the pressures of the week made it seemingly impossible for me to type one out. He always accepted and always did an outstanding job. I’ve called on him to pray for me on more than a few occasions and we’ve bounced countless theological notions back and forth. By the way, his wife Teresa is one of the most talented folks with a needle and thread that I’ve ever encountered; not to mention that she makes an outstanding apple dessert!

Dave and Teresa have been friends in the ministry; folks to be counted on whenever a need arose and I’ll miss having them close by. On the other hand, I’m excited for them and wish them well as they head to a different ministry field. May it be for God’s glory.

-Ken Askew