As Christians who desire to be kingdom-minded, seeking “first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,” we regularly pray, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:10, 33). In light of such a holy yearning, we may also well ask: “What can I do?” or “How can I be used of God in answer to this prayer?” Thinking of the Church that our children and grandchildren will inherit, what can we do now, practically, for her spiritual wellbeing — for the purity and holiness of the Church? Certainly, we begin with prayer, and a good plea would be, as Jesus taught his disciples, to pray to the Lord of the harvest for more laborers, that is, for more pastors. The Church of every generation needs faithful shepherds who are strong in the Lord, and will sow the seed of his life-giving Word by the power of His Spirit (Matt. 9:35–38).

How blest the Church has been throughout history, as the Lord raised up men like Athanasius and Augustine, Calvin, Knox, Spurgeon, Lloyd-Jones, and others even into our own day! These men were gifted and able preachers, who fearlessly stood for Christ, their preaching and teaching ministries like beacons of light in a dark age. Such lights are surely what we desire for the coming generations of God’s people, especially as we see the world and its culture grow darker and more hostile to the things of God.

Now, once more: in addition to prayer, what can I practically do? One of the best kingdom investments you can make is the training and equipping of men to pastor the flock of Christ. While the Lord alone raises up men, and calls them to pastoral ministry, He also uses means to train and equip them. More than ever, would-be pastors need a rigorous seminary curriculum, to learn the doctrines of our holy faith, to learn the lessons of history, to think logically, to be able to defend the faith, and to know the Scriptures intimately in their original languages in order to preach and teach God’s living Word faithfully and with conviction.

We live in a culture where people want everything quick and easy, readily available over the internet. Many schools have departed from the model of students coming to learn in a classroom for a dedicated period of rigorous learning and discipleship. If God is really calling a person, however, He will make a way for them to render a consecrated period for study. If there is no time to be discipled by Christ through solid, rigorous courses in Bible and theology and church history and the languages, then perhaps such a person isn’t really being called, because God will not send a messenger to His people who does not know his Word, who is unprepared and untaught. Within the pressing context of our world, the Church needs men who are more committed than ever before, and more thoroughly trained and devoted to such labors. How tragic for Christ’s flock to be pastored by a man who spent more time watching sports and entertainment than on a demanding divinity degree, who never experienced what it is to consecrate oneself to study the things of God. If he will not be devoted as a seminary student, he will not be so as a pastor. Robert Murray M’Cheyne’s words still ring true: “My people’s greatest need is my personal holiness.” So let us indeed pray that God will supply such men for the Church, that He will do so today and for tomorrow; then let us also be a part of His answer, by supporting a faithful seminary, like Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, which employs a solid curriculum that includes learning the Bible’s original languages.

Who knows but that you may be helping to train up the next Calvin or M’Cheyne, along with a host of others who, while not rising to prominence, nevertheless faithfully feed God’s people with both the milk and meat of His Word. Today’s investment may prove tomorrow’s blessing. May God grant such congregations for our children and grandchildren, indeed, until the return of our Lord. May we do whatever we can to be used of God to provide spiritually strong churches for the generations to come — that is what it means to leave a living legacy, a legacy that honors God and loves one’s neighbor, even our children’s children.