“The pastor is out of town.” This is a comment heard quite often and it appears will be heard more in future months. The Lord has opened so many doors for me to preach the gospel that I hardly get back home before it is time to travel again. But I'm grateful, as I know you are, that he is pleased to use me and this church to minister the gospel to others. I try to be home for Sunday services but I do feel that if there is a congregation or a group of people asking me to come and preach to them the gospel of God's grace, I should go! I'm thankful for our able and gifted assistant Pastor. And I'm thankful that you have a concern for other pastors, churches, and the lost wherever they are.
When Joseph and Mary found Christ in the temple, they said, "We missed you and have sought you sorrowing?" The Master replied, "I must be about my Father's business." I miss all of you when I'm away. I miss the midweek service, the daily contacts, visiting, and being "at home." But we must be about the Father's business, which is to preach Christ and him crucified to every creature.
I believe I can say, "Christ is my life." Where I preach—you preach! Where I minister—you minister! God has given us a strong and generous church and he has been pleased to give us a worldwide ministry. Let us then be faithful stewards of the grace of God. We must not pray, "Here am I, Lord, send me," and then find reasons and excuses not to go!
I will crowd as much preaching, ministering, fellowship, and work as I can into the days I am here and, when I am away, I will look to you to minister to one another and pray for me. "Who am I, O Lord God? and what is my house (this church), that thou hast brought us hitherto?" (2 Samuel 7:18).
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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