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|  Hi, I’m Don Minkler. I’ve served in pastoral ministry for
over 25 years, 20 of those years as a senior pastor. I believe there
is no greater passion that one can have than that expressed by Paul:
“That I may know Him!” I’ve been raised with an awesome Christian
heritage, both in godly family members and in a wealth of Biblical
teaching and godly examples, especially concerning examples of the life
of a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I am greatly burdened at
what passes for Christianity today, and I believe the root of the
problem is largely an unscriptural clergy mentality.
One who is
called to shepherd the Church of God must be one who has died to self
and has been crucified with Christ. He must not be a hireling (one who
preaches because he is paid), but must fulfill his ministry whether or
not he is compensated by those to whom he ministers – even if he must
for a time (or for life) be a “tent-maker” in ministry. He is to be a
soldier of Jesus Christ, not entangled in the affairs of this life that
he may please Him who enlisted him. He must be one who does not shun
(does not cower) to declare the whole counsel of God, whether or not it
pleases those to whom he speaks. It is a call that demands that he be
faithful, even if he must be driven from his pulpit by those who love to
have the preeminence among the “christianettes” who will not strive to
walk worthy of the calling with which we are called. Such a minister
will be one who is set apart, not of this world, and not of the common
lot of sparkling personalities that can fill a pulpit with what the
world calls “presence.”
It is a holy calling, which may at times
be “...by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as
deceivers, and yet true; as unknown, and yet well-known; as dying, and
behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet
always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and
yet possessing all things” (II Cor. 6:8-10).
This is the call to
ministry: “And who is sufficient for these things? For we are not, as
so many, peddling the Word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God,
we speak in the sight of God in Christ” (II Cor. 2:16b-17). If
this is what your heart longs for, then my prayer is that this ministry
will prove to be a help in that holy calling, as God enables me to so
minister.
In addition, many will want to
know my theological school of thought. Not liking human titles for such
things, but knowing they serve a purpose, my theology is “Wesleyan.”
My Christian church heritage is rooted in the non-denominational stance
of the Church of God, headquartered in Anderson, Indiana, where I am
recognized as an ordained minister. However, being true to the
non-denominational stance and teaching that is supposed to be held by
the autonomous collection of congregations who voluntarily associate and
have their common headquarters in Anderson for united outreach, I reach
my hands out in fellowship to every blood-washed one. There is but one
Church of God, containing all the saved, whether they be in heaven now,
or are still on earth. I wish to make it clear that I do not hold
Anderson, nor any human headquarters as being either the head, or as
possessing any authority at all, to dictate to the Church – but that
Christ alone is the Head of the Church, and to whom the minister as well
as every other believer answers alone. As a saved man, I am of the one
and only true Church of God, which contains all the saved souls
wherever they may be found. | |
|  This is my younger brother, Jim Minkler, our A.H.C. Host. There’s about 12 years between us and I keep getting
accused of being his father, but really, I’m his brother! As my
brother, Jim shares the same rich godly heritage with me.
Jim has
been and is an incredible blessing to me in ministry, and I am grateful
for his sold out service to Jesus Christ the Lord. While I was serving
as the Senior Pastor at Seabird Chapel Church of God, in Bandon,
Oregon, Jim became the Youth Pastor/Associate Pastor/Worship Leader (I
don’t think you could find a busier man!). God has gifted him with an
incredible ability to reach youth for Christ, and Jim is a deeply
devoted servant of God with a true pastor’s heart and call upon his
life. In addition to hosting the radio program, Jim now serves as the
Senior Pastor of Seabird Chapel. Jim is a humble man of God, a man of
prayer, and a true follower of Jesus Christ.
By the way, Jim is also an incredible musician/songwriter, and played
all the instruments and produced the music for the theme song to the
radio program. He took a tune that I wrote as a teenager, greatly
improved and expanded it (believe me, you don’t want to hear my version
of it now), and then had the charity to still call it my song. Thanks
bro! (Click below on Theme Song if you would like to hear the entire
song.)
Theme Song
If
you would like to share in the work of this online ministry, please use
the Donate button below. You will be taken to a secure page on Paypal
where you can donate using a credit card. All donations are tax
deductible. Thank you for your support.
| |  This is my good friend and brother in the Lord, Bob Vann,
whose service and love for the Lord has blessed many. This ministry
continues largely on the tireless self-sacrificing labor of love that
Bob does behind the scenes in work on the internet, book editing, and
feeding me with incredibly delicious food! Bob graduated Summa cum
laude from one of the nation's top culinary schools in Washington, D.C.,
and is largely responsible for why I have to keep running!
Bob
is the adult Sunday School teacher at Seabird Chapel, and has a warmth
and love for Christ and souls that enriches the fellowship of
believers. Bob is an answer to prayer, for I prayed for years for a
gifted man to encourage me in this radio/writing ministry. God has
blown me away by giving me more than I asked for in Bob. I do not
believe I have ever witnessed a person so captivated with a hunger to
learn the truth of God’s Word. Bob has a line from Scripture which is
often heard to escape from his lips concerning all matters of doctrine:
“But what saith the Scripture?” Thanks bro!
Thanks also to Dan Frank, one of the youth who came up
through Jim’s youth group and who has a hunger to teach and preach the
Word, and whose skills put together this website. Thanks bro!
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