Mike Ovey’s pastoral wisdom for future ministers of the gospel

As we reflect on the life and legacy of Mike Ovey, allow me to draw your attention to a message that has been particularly popular among his students, as well as former students now shepherding churches around the UK: an ordination sermon he gave back in 2015 at St Helen’s Bishopsgate on Acts 20:17-38. Mike ends his address with the following words:

‘We want you to be better than us, we want you to be more faithful than us – we want you, spiritually speaking, to tower above us so that the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ stands high in this land and that men and women may know the blessings of eternal life. That is our dream for you, that is our prayer for you, not that you are as we are, but that you are better.’

To view a library of resources from Mike Ovey, please visit the Credo Magazine page where resources will continue to be added in the days and weeks ahead.

Acts 20v17-38 Ordination Service Sermon (M15/001) from St Helen’s Church on Vimeo.

Matthew Barrett is Tutor of Systematic Theology and Church History at Oak Hill Theological College in London, as well as the founder and executive editor of Credo Magazine. He is the author of several books, including Salvation by Grace, Owen on the Christian Life, God’s Word Alone: The Authority of Scripture,  and Reformation Theology. Currently he is the series editor of The 5 Solas Series with Zondervan. You can read more about Barrett at matthewmbarrett.com.