I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because you hold me in your heart, for all of you share in God’s grace with me, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel (Phil. 1:3-7).

Further down in chapter 1 of Philippians Paul express his joy in this manner “It is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be put to shame in any way, but that by my speaking with all boldness, Christ will be exalted now as always in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labour for me; and I do not know which I prefer.

I am hard pressed between the two: my desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better; but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you.” (1:20-24).

God’s church is in dire need of Clergy persons who are not afraid of neither social nor emotional isolation by family, Government, friends or foe, while the Gospel is being proclaimed. Edward Joseph Burns penned these lyrics “We have a Gospel to proclaim, good news for men in all the earth; the Gospel of a Saviour’s name; we sing His glory, tell His worth” (1938).