IN PURSUIT OF HIS GLORY

Subtitled ‘My twenty five years at Westminster Chapel’, this book is the memoir of one the most respected and popular preachers in the UK in the latter part of the twentieth century.  He is the author of many books, some of which are transcripts of series of messages he preached in the Chapel.  The autobiographical account is surprisingly candid and at points moving as the author writes of his eventful and sometimes difficult time as Minister of the Westminster Chapel.  He talks frankly of his disappointments and the blessings experienced during the tenure of his ministry and his experiences will be helpful to those who are leaders engaged in church work.  Clearly the principle ministry of R.T. is preaching but as he engaged in that central calling upon his life he had a longing for the Spirit of God to work freely in his life and in the life of his church and was not afraid to follow  that which he felt God wanted him to do even though it was not in the main stream of the tradition of the Westminster Chapel. He led the church into more active evangelism in the London area after he opened the platform of the chapel to Arthur Blessit. This was not well received by all. The path he trod, the development of links, the people the Lord brought across his path and through him into the life of that particular church are challenging to those more ‘stuck in a rut’.  The title of the book reveals the main burden of his heart, pursuing the glory of God whatever that might mean.  He is honest concerning the mistakes he felt that he had made, particularly his concentration upon preaching and preparation to the extreme limitation of time with his family in their younger years.  He was an American from Kentucky seeking to minister in the center of London, England, not an easy thing to do.  He was also seeking to fill the place vacated by D.Martyn Lloyd Jones, a thing impossible to do.  He had the privilege of spending a number of years with Lloyd Jones as his mentor and then into his life came certain other men with ministries very different and from each he seemed to profit and so did his church.  However, there were periods of controversy which led to conflict and the need for a warm and forgiving heart to overcome the disappointments with himself, with people and with the church. He did not find it easy to totally forgive but when he did such freedom of heart was the result.  It is clear that he increased in stature with God and with man as he passed on through the years of which he writes.  The book is a worthwhile read for all pastors and leaders.