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THE PREACHING LIFE

by the Editors

PM Editors from past to present:
1926-47 J. B. Chapman
1947-48 D. Shelby Corlett
1948-52 L. A. Reed
1953-54 D. Shelby Corlett
1954-61 Lauriston J. Du Bois
1961-63 Norman R. Oke
1964-72 Richard S. Taylor
1972-78 James McGraw
1978-80 Neil B. Wiseman
1980-89 Wesley Tracy
1989-99 Randal Denny

A Departing Word

Preacher’s Magazine has a rich history. J. B. Chapman envisioned a magazine with the central purpose to help ministers preach holiness effectively. Preacher’s Magazine began from a desire to provide specialized theological and preaching material that was “adapted to the requirements of the men and women who [were] giving their life to the preaching of the Wesleyan doctrine of holiness.” The magazine’s stated purpose in 1926 fits our goal today to provide resources to preachers “designed to help parish pastors carry out their ministries more effectively.”

In 1999 we sat down with then director of Pastoral Ministries, Dr. Wilbur Brannon, to discuss the direction of Preacher’s Magazine for the 21st century. We talked about significant changes to transition the magazine from a broad pastoral ministries journal to a narrowly focused preaching resource. We are grateful for his confidence in us to lead this change. We also want to honor the visionary leadership of Dr. Bill Sullivan who gave us his blessing and support in every way. And, we should all be reminded, this resource is available to us because of the generosity and missional commitment of Nazarene Publishing House.

In our first issue (Advent/Christmas 2000), we opened with these words: “It’s our belief that one of the primary contributions of every pastor to their congregation is to preach the Word of God in ways that are faithful to the text and faithful to the people.” This belief has guided us as preachers and editors of this resource. We have worked at this with a very particular group of preachers in mind: the bi-vocational pastor who of necessity must have reliable resources quickly at hand. Of course there is no substitute or shortcut for prayer and immersion in the text out of love for a people, but we hope we have helped some along the way to move faithfully from text to sermon.

With this issue, our season as editors of Preacher’s Magazine ends. We have thoroughly enjoyed this journey and are grateful for the feedback we have received from you. We are grateful for constructive criticism, words of appreciation, and the knowledge that this resource has been useful in a number of our institutions around the world that teach preaching.

More than anything we step aside with the prayer that the anointing of the Holy Spirit might be upon those who preach the Gospel week after week. It is hard work, but it is also the best work there is when one preaches from a heart full of love for God and for the people of God.

May the grace and peace of Christ be with you.

David Busic and Jeren Rowell