The following is reprinted with permission of The
Timely Messenger
STEPPING
UP TO STEPPING
DOWN
By Charles W. Wages, Editor
Taking on new responsibilities is always an adventure and challenge.
However, the laying down of those responsibilities is possibly a more
difficult task. There will always be beginnings and endings in a lifetime.
That is the reason for this editorial.
 There
is no higher calling in anyone’s life than being a minister (servant)
of God’s Word. The ministering of the Word is as broad as humanity
itself and isn’t the personal domain of any individual or group.
It ranges from the home to the heavens. The writer of this “departure”
note came to know the Lord as Saviour as a young man and immediately entered
the ministry of teaching and preaching to young people and then further
as responsibilities grew. By the grace of God, and the help of a faithful
pastor, Brother Ike T. Sidebottom, I have had the privilege and blessings
of being His servant for 64 years, in giving out the message of the Gospel
of Grace and the giving forth of the teaching of the dispensation of the
mystery, by spoken word and the printed page.
In all these years I have also had the privilege of serving as pastor.
Forty-four of those years were spent with this congregation of saints
here in Fort Worth; twenty years were spent in Denton County as pastor,
radio minister, and evangelistic Bible teacher.
There have been other ministry related opportunities across these years.
The educational opportunities have afforded a springboard of living and
learning to give out the Word. Serving as teacher, counselor, principal,
and superintendent of a growing suburban school district afforded many
opportunities of “defending the faith” and giving the gospel.
These opportunities opened doors to be a witness and testimony to the
wonderful grace of God.
A ministry of 64 years involved all the ups and downs, the highlights
and heartaches, the suffering and the glory that accompanies living and
trying, by God’s grace to serve Him. The results are all to the praise
and glory of our wonderful Lord Jesus Christ.
As to the ministry of the Timely Messenger, and related books and pamphlets,
there are many faithful saints who will be rewarded for their faithful
continued work and support. It was my privilege to be serving as Associate
Pastor with Brother Sidebottom when he began the Timely Messenger. My
wife and I helped with the first printings, and have had the privilege
of contributing lessons in the Timely Messenger all these years. There
are many who have served to help in the giving out of the Word through
the Timely Messenger. Quenton Goyne has given his time and talent in printing
the Timely Messenger all these years. He was a professional printer, but
gave his time on the side to be our printer, serving without any financial
pay—just the blessing of givng out the Word for His glory. Even in
his retirement years, he continues to do the printing. Through many years
my wife, Beverly, did the typing and preparing for the printer; before
the days of computers. Now much work is saved through the computer. Others
have joined to help with the mailing out. Many have contributed articles
and Bible study lessons through these years. Many of you readers have
helped support this printing ministry with your offerings and prayers,
and helping to distribute to others. Your letters and words of encouragement
have meant much to us through the years. To all of you, I give my heartfelt
thanks for your labor of love.
Having said all that is needed to be said, your long-time editor and
friend, is stepping down after having the privilege of “stepping
up” to the most wonderful and rewarding work of using this as one
means of giving out the Word. This issue will be my last issue as editor
of the Timely Messenger. It is left in capable and faithful hands and
will continue, by God’s grace. Brother Gregg Bing will be the editor
beginning in January.
We ask you to continue to pray for this printing ministry and pray for
Brother Gregg. We also ask that you continue to remember Beverly and I
as we carry out what the Lord has for us to do.
“But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear
unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry,
which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the
grace of God.” (Acts 20:24)
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