From Strength to Strength

I have been leading the ministry of Jews for Jesus since May 1996. Our founder, Moishe Rosen, was 65 when he stepped down from being our executive director. He announced that the Lord had shown him that it was time to transition into a new ministry role so that Jews for Jesus could experience the blessing of new and younger leadership. That was 28 years ago.

Twenty-eight years is a long time to lead anything, and leading the ministry of Jews for Jesus presents me with unique blessings and challenges. With a couple hundred staff in 12 countries—two of which are in the midst of horrific wartime conditions—comes a tremendous weight of responsibility.

As the great evangelist George Whitefield once prayed, “Lord Jesus, I am weary in thy work, but not weary of it.” That’s why older leaders need to raise up younger leaders who will be prepared to carry on with fresh energy and vision.

Now that I am 65, I’m thinking more than ever about the importance of godly transitions. I am not making an announcement at this time, but don’t be surprised if before too long, you hear that David Brickner and the Jews for Jesus ministry are embarking on a period of leadership transition.

When that announcement comes, it will be a time for celebration and praise to God. Like Moishe, I will continue to serve with Jews for Jesus in a new role. Back when I was elected to be his successor, God gave Jews for Jesus the grace to move from strength to strength, and I believe the same will happen once more.

The phrase “from strength to strength” comes from Psalm 84, once described by famed preacher Charles Spurgeon as “The Pearl of Psalms.”

“Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, whose heart is set on pilgrimage…. They go from strength to strength” (Psalm 84:5, 7). This wonderful promise inspires me, and I hope it inspires you as you follow Jesus on life’s pilgrimage.

When our hearts are truly set on the pilgrimage of following the Lord Jesus, we can count on Him to provide all the resources we need.

Our Source of Strength

If we rely on our own resources for the journey, we will find them wholly inadequate. Our true strength is in the Lord, who alone is able to provide all our needs according to His riches and glory in Messiah Jesus. In a world where most people long to be self-sufficient, we need to remember to depend on His sufficiency.

The apostle Paul understood this and frequently spoke of his own weaknesses. In fact, his deep concern for all the churches caused him to identify personally with the weaknesses of all under his care: “Who is weak, and I am not weak?” (2 Corinthians 11:29). Such weakness reminds us that, “blessed are those whose strength is in [the Lord]” (Psalm 84:5)

Our Pilgrimage

When our hearts are truly set on the pilgrimage of following the Lord Jesus, we can count on Him to provide all the resources we need. But if we set our hearts on staying put to make our lives as comfortable and predictable as possible, we will miss out. Only in periods of growth and transition can we be assured that we will go from strength to strength. In circumstances when we might otherwise feel weak and uncertain of our future, we can instead be confident all along the path.

I love to go backpacking in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, but I know that despite how hard I train for a trip, the usual pattern on the trail is to go from strength to weakness or fatigue. But this is not the case with those whose strength is in God—they go from strength to strength. Instead of growing weary, we grow stronger.

Our Never-Ending Supply

A rich relationship with God means a never-ending supply of strength for the journey, even in difficult seasons or times of transition. It won’t always be physical strength, but it will be the strength that we need most. As Spurgeon wrote, “From strength of patience to strength of hope; from strength of hope to strength of faith, to strength of vision.” I have experienced this kind of strength as I have led Jews for Jesus for nearly three decades, and I have every reason to believe the same will be true of our future.

Our gracious God will provide similarly for you. He will lead us all from strength to strength on our pilgrimage of obedience to the Lord until we see Him face to face. What a wonderful transition that will be!