From The Pastor's Desk

Dearly beloved . . . 

Grace be unto you, and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.”  -Revelation 2:7

As we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Shiloah Church, it is my privilege to share my reflections on my pastorate. Gratitude is said to be the mother of all virtues.  A thankful heart is a mark of a holy, whole, wholesome and healthy soul. I am deeply grateful to God for all of those who throughout our precious history drank form the fountain older than the world and which always runs fresh.  Those who were there at the inception of our humble beginnings down to this very present moment.

My predecessor Reverend Dr. Woodrow Wilson Taylor, magnified this office for over 30 years and he is still very dear to my heart. I am grateful that God has allowed me to come to a point of maturity in ministry and manhood as pastor of Shiloah.  The instruments are changed, but God’s hands are the same.  It concerns our peace and hopefulness, in the contemplation of life’s maze and often heartbreaking tragedies of everyday affairs; to hold fast to the conviction that God’s unseen hand moves the pieces on the board and presides over allcontemplations.  Pastoring the Shiloah Church has been a burdensome joy with many challenges great and small. I have sought throughout the years to follow Paul’s words to young Timothy “But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.” -2 Timothy 4:5  

John, that apocalyptic preacher who was sent to the isle of Patmos for preaching the gospel of Christ said . . . ”He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” -Revelation 3:22.  As the Shiloah Church moves forward, we need to hear these ancient yet fresh words today. The spirit is surely saying these words to us today, just as it did long ago. John wrote to seven churches, not because there was only seven churches in Asia but because seven is symbolic. An in writing to these, he was writing to the church universal which includes us.

What does the spirit say to the Church in Ephesus? The spirit says repent, thou has left thy first love; remember, therefore and repent.  What does the spirit say to the church in Smyrna? The spirit says realize your “riches” I know your poverty but you are rich. What does the spirit say to the church of Pergamum? The spirit says stand for freedom, resist the encroaching pressure of power, politics and Pagan Ideologies.  What does the spirit say to the church at Thyatira?  The spirit says holdfast till I come.  What does the spirit say to the church at Sardis?  The spirit says be aware of nominal Christianity.  Thou has a name that thou livest, you are nominally alive-and are dead.  .  What does the spirit say to the church at Philadelphia?  The spirit says evangelize; behold I have set before you an open door, and no man can shut it go out and evangelize.  What does the spirit say to the church at Laodicea?  The spirit says warm your faith at the fire of Jesus Christ, Laodicea was told she was told she was neither hot nor cold but simply tepid. Because you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot because your religion is tepid, you make me sick. ”He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” -Revelation 3:22.  

Shiloah you are the beautiful people. It is indeed an honor to serve as your pastor.

In His Service,

Rev. Ronald Webb, Pastor