My Inner Circle of Christian Counselors

“So also with our duties. One must not interfere with another; public usefulness must not injure private piety; church work must not push family worship into a corner. It is wrong to offer God one duty stained with the blood of another. Each thing is beautiful in its season, but not otherwise.” – C.H. Spurgeon

Do you have a spiritual mentor or two? How about a close Christian friend to whom you can always count on for some wise and biblical advice?

I have been very fortunate in this area. Over the years, people like Larry Lufburrow, Ken Campbell, and Dave McMurray have filled that role for me. All three men were ordained ministers and the latter two served as pastors while Larry was an administrator at a Christian college. I have lost count of the number of times I have solicited their wise counsel and – because their advice was always based on scripture – it never let me down.

Larry and Ken are home with the Lord now and so, God has replaced them with several other dear Christian friends who are true men of God. I know that I can call Rev. Larry Lilly, Rev. Tom Cox, or Rev. Bill Waltz anytime, day or night, and they will respond with good and godly counsel. In fact, Larry “Chap” Lilly once told me that the Christian life is all about balance, a lesson I have never forgotten and try to apply on a daily basis (and apparently, from today’s quote, so did Charles Spurgeon).

As for Dave McMurray, he once told me that sermon preparation should never be used as a substitute for personal Bible study and prayer. Now that I am pastoring a church myself, I try to follow Dave’s words and more importantly, his godly example.

My friend, I would be lost and adrift without Dave, Chap, Tom, and Bill in my life and so, I strongly encourage you to find someone similar to whom you can turn in times of need.

“Where there is no guidance the people fall, but in an abundance of counselors there is victory.” Proverbs 11:14 (NASB)

- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President