NOBTS President Jamie Dew encouraged thousands of listening ministers to press on in ministry during his Monday (June 8) message at the 2025 SBC Pastors’ Conference.
Speaking out of 2 Timothy 2: 8-13, Dew reminded pastors and other attendees of four reasons to persevere in ministry which Paul outlines in the passage.
Before examining the passage, Dew took a brief moment to express his personal gratitude for the pastors of the SBC.
“I have the good fortune of leading our seminary in New Orleans, and that gives me the opportunity to be with many of you in your churches all over our country,” Dew said.
“I want you to know how much it means to me to connect with you and to see your ministries. I’m encouraged by you constantly.
“In just a couple of weeks I will celebrate my 30th anniversary of being a Christian, and for the last 30 years I have been deeply shaped by you, the pastors and servants of our convention. I come to you with deep gratitude for who you are and what you do.”
Additionally, 1,000 of the first guests to arrive at the conference received a free copy of Dew’s most recent book, “Let This Mind Be in You: Exploring God’s Call to Servanthood,” as a special gift.
Regarding the passage in 2 Timothy, Dew said the verses can be a source of “deep encouragement” for weary pastors.
“Do you ever want to quit or give up?” Dew asked pastors at the conference.
“I can imagine a million reasons why you might feel that way. Pastoral stress is perhaps one of the most unique kinds of stress that a person can ever bear. It could be very tempting to either quit altogether or dial it back and go on cruise control, not really giving yourself to the ministry that God has called you to. And the reality is that some people do this.
“In this passage, Paul has just finished telling us of some of the difficulties we will face in ministry and now turns to call our minds to remember the theological truths of our faith that compel us to continue on in ministry.”
Dew outlined these four theological truths:
“My brothers, if Christ has not been raised then there is no hope whatsoever,” Dew said. “But here’s the good news, since Christ has been raised, your preaching is not empty. Your faith is full and meaningful.
“As preachers of the Gospel, I think you and I have the most important job in all of the Earth right now. Our world is broken. People are hurting. There is no hope that this world could ever give to us, except for Jesus Christ.”
In the times where preaching and ministry seems in vain, Dew exhorted pastors to remember these truths and keep pressing on.
“There have been times where I’ve preached something from God’s Word and it didn’t do what I thought it was going to do,” Dew said.
“In those moments, we might be tempted to lose faith or lose heart. But remember this, God always balances the scales. God will always fulfill his promises.
“It might not happen when you think it should happen, and it might not happen the way you think it should happen, but just remember that the tide of God’s Kingdom is coming. Therefore, don’t quit. Stay strong and keep being faithful to the Word and to Christ. Together we can continue to carry the Gospel forth into a world that so desperately needs it.”
