By REV. DR. JOHN HATCHER
Religion Columnist

I don't know any Catholic priest who has AIDS or who died of AIDS. However, I do know the name of a Baptist pastor who died of AIDS in a North Carolina hospital.

You ask, “Where is Hatcher coming from this week?” Well, I'm trying to process a front page story found in The Atlanta Constitution, Monday, Jan. 31. The headline read: “AIDS killing many priests, survey finds.” As with all survey stories, you have to read into the fourth and fifth paragraphs. It seems the survey results emerged from a sampling of less than 1.8 percent of priests. Of that 1.8 percent, about one-half said they knew of another priest with AIDS.

I just bet that at least 400 of 38,000 Southern Baptist pastors know of another pastor with AIDS related sickness. I do. Yet, that's not including American Baptist pastors nor Freewill Baptists nor Primitive Baptists nor Independent Baptists. It seems to me that sin does not respect gender, race, culture, or denomination. So, why pick on our Catholic brothers?

Let me tell you what I do know for sure: pastor after pastor after pastor of Protestant congregations falling into the sin of adultery—mostly with the opposite sex. The headlines could have read, “Adultery destroying many ministry families, survey finds.”

Jesus Christ, the Chief Executive Officer of the Church, spoke Truth many, many years ago when he said, “The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. Yet, I have come that they may have life more abundantly” (John 10:10). Jesus was talking about the devil. That the devil's modus operandi is to steal what's valuable to us, to kill who's precious to us, and to destroy that which is good for us. We should make no mistake that the devil seeks to kill every God-fearing priest, pastor, and messianic rabbi.

The devil wants to destroy the reputation of Jesus Christ represented in our ministries regardless of our doctrinal differences. The devil wants to steal away a congregation's trust in their spiritual leader. And, the devil will use any means available to do any and all of that. Therefore, what's the church's offense as the devil comes against spiritual leaders?

First, congregations have to get a grip on the reality that sin and death are related. If a person died (or has potential for death), rest assured that person is from planet earth and that person has sinned. The Bible puts it, “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). I believe that “all” includes any spiritual leader proclaiming Jesus Christ. Why then, do congregations act like their ministers were neutered at birth? Most of us ministers don't ask to be pedestaled for perfection, but simply respected for our calling. And, most ministers seriously seek to live victoriously over sin, but sometimes we fall down.

Second, the believers within our churches have a call on their lives and that's to lift their ministers in prayer. How much stronger would ministers be if 50 percent of each congregation seriously prayed for their spiritual leaders rather than only having a sentimental interest in prayer? I heard recently of a devoted believer who confessed to her pastor that she had not prayed for him as she should. She repented and vowed she would be a positive factor in her pastor's ministry through prayer. Wow!

I believe that a survey would show that churches that pray for their pastors would have stronger, more Godly, more gifted, and more effective ministers! What does your survey say?

The Rev. Dr. John Hatcher is pastor of River's Edge Community Church in Fayetteville.

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