Christ is Worthy of a Healthy Church

I had laid in bed an hour already, eyes wide awake. It was late. We had an unexpected and very difficult ministry meeting at church. My wife and I had stood in our kitchen for a long time crying together. Our middle daughter, seven years old at the time, had come into the kitchen at one point and asked if we were fighting. “No, honey. Mom and Dad are not fighting. We are as close as we have ever been. Go back to sleep.”

Now I was lying awake with a million thoughts racing through my mind. I could not sleep. I got up. It was a cool, not cold, October night, and so I walked. I walked through our town. I wept. I prayed. On repeat, I listened to Worthy by Beautiful Eulogy.

I walked a couple of hours up and down the streets of the ghost town. Perryville shuts down at 9:00 pm. This was closer to 2:00 am.

At this point, it is not necessary to divulge the details of the meeting. Suffice it to say I was presented with the opportunity to give up or push back. By the kind mercy and grace of God, I chose to push back.

I know the proclivities of my sinful heart. I know there is pride always lurking. So, I do not say this as one who is as sanctified as he needs to be. But I believe the one driving motivation for not giving up was this: Christ is worthy of a healthy church.

Here is the first verse of Worthy by Beautiful Eulogy that I seem to have mulled over thousands of times:


I am writing this post today to encourage you. Christ is worthy of a healthy church. Worship is not always about feeling happy. Read the psalms. But when we are convinced of the worthiness of the Christ we can worship, we will worship, even in the midst of the darkest night.

I made it back to bed that night. God granted me sleep. And nearly two years later He has sustained us. And no matter what happens in the future, Christ is worthy.

Do not give up.

ALLEN S. NELSON IV
1689 Federalism | Amillennialism
Allen S. Nelson IV is the pastor of Providence Baptist Church in Perryville, AR, where he resides with his wife Stephanie, and their 6 children. Allen is the author of From Death to Life: How Salvation Works, Before the Throne: Reflections on God’s Holiness, and A Change of Heart: Understanding Regeneration and Why it Matters. He is an M.Div graduate of Grace BIble Theological Seminary in Conway, AR and co-host of The Rural Church Podcast 2.0 on the Reformation Podcast Network.