The stories behind most of our great hymns of the faith are nothing short of amazing. A good example is John Fawcett, who came to a saving knowledge of Christ at an evangelistic meeting held by George Whitfield in 1756. Shortly after the Lord called him into the ministry, John accepted his first pastorate at a small, impoverished assembly in Wainsgate, England. After several years at the church, with his family growing larger in number, he was struggling to make ends meet; therefore, he reluctantly accepted a call to pastor a large church in London.

When the day arrived to move, the members of the congregation gathered around the wagons in tears to bid their beloved pastor farewell. Pastor and Mrs. Fawcett had grown so close to the congregation that it broke their heart to see them weeping uncontrollably. They both agreed they could not leave these dear saints and instructed those who were helping, to unload the wagons. A short time later, Pastor Fawcett was preparing a message when he incorporated the words of what would become one of the most beloved hymns of the Christian faith.

Blest be the tie that binds / Our hearts in Christian love!
The fellowship of kindred minds / Is like to that above.

When we asunder part/ It gives us inward pain;
But we shall still be joined in heart,/ And hope to meet again.

The world will never understand the depth of our fellowship with those of like-precious faith. Brother Stam’s good friend, Pastor Edward Drew, once shared these insightful words with his congregation:

“Fellowship is the knitting together of all saved souls into a unity and oneness in Christ. If you are saved, you will feel a nearness to all others who are saved, and you will find it a peculiar joy that you cannot feel in any other human relationship. It is wrought only by the Holy Spirit, and is a very precious thing among believers. Unfortunately, it is often marred in our assemblies. It is God’s method of blessing His Church, and so it is the purpose of Satan to mar and spoil it among God’s people. Where there is true fellowship there is blessing that cannot be attained in any other way.”

Although the above stanzas of “Blest Be the Tie That Binds” were written centuries after the ministry of the Apostle Paul, they pretty well sum up his relationship with the saints at Philippi. The mutual tie that bound their hearts in Christian love was Christ. When they were torn asunder by Paul’s unjust imprisonment, it caused both Paul and them inward pain. But they were still joined in heart and longed to meet again (Phil. 2:24).

Photos

April 2016

Dear Ones,

On Thursday, March 31st, Pastor Paul M. Sadler went home to heaven to be with His Savior. This soldier for the Lord Jesus Christ was a tireless worker in the ministry who had a tremendous impact on the lives of many. His dedication to the Word of God rightly divided, consistent soundness in doctrine, valued writings, teaching, preaching, and wise counsel greatly honored His Savior. His example in godliness and faithful service to the Lord Jesus Christ is one we all appreciated and can seek to follow in our own lives. Praise be to God for the spiritual impact of this faithful soldier of Christ. Our lives are richer for having known him.

Through the outreach of social media and telephone calls, many learned within minutes of being posted on Facebook that Pastor Sadler had graduated to glory. We wish to thank you for your prayer support for the family in recent weeks and for the tributes of many kind words. It is the express wishes of Pastor Paul Sadler’s loved ones that no flowers are sent. Instead, they are asking those who wish to express their hearts do so by a gift to the ministry of the Berean Bible Society. In their words, “This is what he would have wanted.”

A Memorial Service has been planned for Friday, April 29th, 2016, at Falls Bible Church in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. The service will begin at 7:00 PM. At the family’s request, no testimonials will be given during the service as it was the desire of Pastor Sadler to focus the attention primarily on the Lord Jesus Christ. A time of refreshments and fellowship will begin at 6:00 PM, in the basement of the church, preceding the memorial service. We are sending this letter to let you know you are welcome to attend and participate.

We thank you in advance for your continued prayer support for the family, staff, and the Berean Bible Society. Thank you for your interest. May the God of all comfort strengthen all our hearts at this time.

In Grateful Appreciation,

The Board of Directors of the Berean Bible Society

A message from Kevin Sadler:

Photos of Pastor Sadler from the BBS 75th Anniversary Conference and Open House: