90 Yr Old Pastor... Going Strong

I certainly didn't intend to write another blog born out of  the AG News email that I receive, not this soon, anyway... but this one is too good to pass up.  It is about a 90 year old pastor who has served for 72 years already and is not about to retire. He leads a congregation of 125 and has an international ministry!!!

The AG News article reported that DiBiase travels several times a year, taking the gospel to Italian and French audiences around the world.  In 2011, DiBiase visited Germany, Holland, Belgium and Italy.    

Carmine DiBiase  has no plans to slow down, much less retire!   If you respond as I did...it will take a few minutes to recover from the shame of using age as an excuse to be lazy in serving the Lord.  I included a few paragraphs from the article just to fill you in a bit on this remarkable man who has a passion for sharing the gospel.

"Almost a year ago, DiBiase transferred his credentials to become an ordained Assemblies of God minister.  He received his initial AG credentials at the oldest age of any currently official AG U.S. minister.

DiBiase, senior pastor of the Church of Philadelphia in Pennsylvania, was previously associated with the Pentecostal Assemblis of Canada and the International Fellowship of Christian Assemblies.

DiBiase worked closely with the AG during his 72 years of ministry.  He has supported and promoted Teen Challenge for many years, recently helping found a Teen Challenge Center in Belgium.

What keeps him going at age 90?  He stated that it is his passion that keeps him going.  Obviously, he lives in the love of the Lord.  His passion must be one that is enthusiastic, fervent, personal and endearing!

Passion is defined in Webster’s Dictionary as an intense, driving, or overmastering feeling or conviction; a strong liking, desire for, or devotion; ardent affection; love.

A “big” passion for God means that every fiber of our being is drawn to God and given to God.

Now I understand what drives this 90 year old pastor to continue serving the Lord with such zeal...and it may be his passion that has extended his profitable life to age 90 and going strong.

Passion.  It's something to think about.  We know whether we have it or not.  Could passion be the missing element in our life?  It sure is something to think about...