Paul told Timothy to do the work of an evangelist. Our Lord's commission to his disciples was to go into all the world and preach the gospel. This is the very thing that sends me forth in response to every invitation to come over and help us.
I do not enjoy being away from home most of the time, nor do I feel good about being out of my pulpit on Wednesday night; but our time to labor in the Lord's vineyard is short and mine gets shorter all the time. We must make full proof of our ministry; that is, we must fulfill our calling and commission.
I wish that all of you could be with me in these meetings and conferences and meet the people who come from miles around to hear the Word. Many of them, who have been blessed by our tapes, I meet for the first time. They bring their friends and family to hear me. They rejoice in the hope that we have in Christ Jesus. The influence of this church and its ministry grows every day. At the end of this year I will have preached in nearly 30 different churches and assemblies in 52 weeks.
God has given us an able and gifted assistant pastor and several young preachers who labor with me here, and who are being used of the Lord in other places. I thank God for him and them! Brethren, in answer to those who ask, “Does 13th St. mind the pastor being away so much?" I reply, "They do not mind at all because they thank God for what he has done here and rejoice that he is pleased to effectually open doors for us to share the good news of our Redeemer with others."
We all pray, "Here am I, Lord, send me." (Is. 6:8).
About Henry Mahan
Henry T. Mahan was born in Birmingham, Alabama in August 1926. He joined the United States Navy in 1944 and served as a signalman on an L.S.T. in the Pacific during World War II. In 1946, he married his wife Doris, and the Lord blessed them with four children.
At the age of 21, he entered the pastoral ministry and gained broad experience as a pastor, teacher, conference speaker, and evangelist. In 1950, through the preaching of evangelist Rolfe Barnard, God was pleased to establish Henry in sovereign free grace teaching. At that time, he was serving as an assistant pastor at Pollard Baptist Church (off of Blackburn ave.) in Ashland, Kentucky.
In 1955, Thirteenth Street Baptist Church was formed in Ashland, Kentucky, and Henry was called to be its pastor. He faithfully served that congregation for more than 50 years, continuing in the same message throughout his ministry. His preaching was centered on the Lord Jesus Christ and Him crucified, in full accord with the Scriptures. He consistently proclaimed God’s sovereign purpose in salvation and the glory of Christ in redeeming sinners through His blood and righteousness.
Henry T. Mahan also traveled widely, preaching in conferences and churches across the United States and beyond. His ministry was marked by a clear and unwavering emphasis on Christ, not the preacher, but the One preached. Those who heard him recognized that his sermons honored the Savior and exalted the name of the Lord Jesus Christ above all.
Henry T. Mahan served as pastor and teacher of Thirteenth Street Baptist Church in Ashland, Kentucky for over half a century. His life and ministry were devoted to proclaiming the sovereign grace of God and directing sinners to the finished work of Christ. He entered into the presence of the Lord in 2019, leaving behind a lasting testimony to the gospel he faithfully preached.
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