Reflections from a hospital bed by Pastor Peter Nembhard
Church leader Pastor Peter Nembhard has been in hospital awaiting necessary surgery. This break from active church ministry has given him time to reflect. Here’s his thoughts on the need to rest.
REST
Scripture : PSLAMS 23:1-2 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.
Confession is good for the soul, so this morning’s thoughts are going to be a deep look into my soul as I share what the Lord is impressing on to me whilst I’m in hospital.
Today marks one whole month that I have been in hospital. I came in on the 11th October today is the 11th November. I’m asking myself the questions: What on earth is going on? Why am I here? Why is it taking so long?
Am I bored, frustrated, fed up or angry? No I am not.
I am at perfect peace and tranquillity. Why? Because I believe that God’s got me and he is doing a work in me that’s probably more important than my physical heart operation and that’s why it is taking this long for me to be operated on.
I have been saved 34 years and serving as a pastor for 30 of those years. From the day I got saved until now I have been IN THE GAME running hard, winning souls, planting churches and working with God in building up the body of Christ and the kingdom of God in the earth.
Yes!!! For thirty years, non-stop. I’ve had no sabbaticals and no time out because of being offended nor have I experienced moral failure; I’ve just been flat out running hard for Jesus. In the words of apostle Paul in 2 Cor 12:15: “And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you.’ I think the reality is I would leave everything on the pitch and die ministering if it meant so.
God has other plans
This period in this hospital is my HALF TIME. God is MAKING ME TO LIE DOWN. I am on a forced rest, and he has me away from the family and people I love to make me rest.
I know some people I know will be saying “I told you to rest pastor” but telling me to rest is like telling a lazy person to work. You know you can’t just say to a drug addict STOP right!!!? Even the bible, in 1 Cor 16:15 there’s talk of people being addicted to ministry of the saints!
God has brought me here to REST, RESET and RESTORE my soul. I was tired both physically and spiritually. I had lost that peaceful quiet walk in the garden with Jesus and was in ministry mode most of the time. God has taken me off the pitch put me to lie down so I can be refreshed and restored.
I will have the operation when God is ready for me to have it. My times are in his hands and once I have the operation I will rest and recover to get back on the pitch to play in my SECOND HALF of life and ministry. Satan has been trying to take me out from long time but God has got me and I am his and he is mine. No weapon formed against me shall prosper.
In 2022 I will be running again and playing out of my skin with and for God, refreshed and restored and renewed.
Thank you for all your prayers and support and for all those who labour in the kingdom to keep the work of the Lord going. Thank you to all that serve and minister to the saints, thank you to all of you that are not just consumers but contributors.
Do I regret my first half? NO. Not. At. All. I would gladly play it again and again to see thousands come into the kingdom, disciples being made, and churches planted. My first half took me around the world, now I look forward to what my second half will look like.
Big up sister Carris that has run with me for thirty two years. Here’s to our second half.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for teaching me how to rest, appreciate peace, tranquillity and aloneness. Thank you for resting, refreshing, and restoring my soul. Take as long as you need Lord – I’m in no rush.
Pastor Peter Nembhard is Senior Pastor of ARC group of Churches. Visit www.arc4u.org.uk for more information
Pastor Peter Praying -
Pastor Peter in Action 
Pastor Peter and Mrs Nembhard
Here is my testimony
Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ! Thanks for what you are doing in the word of God. I was going through your spiritual posts touched me and touched my inner being! So i decided to write and inform you how we do our work and we request that you come and have a Christian oriented relationship of building and raising up teams to the fields. I am pastor Ibrahim from Kenya.
I have brought to your kind notice under which circumstances we are doing the work of the Lord. It is not easy to do God’s work here in Kenya , especially where superstitious beliefs and violence, unrest are widespread. Add to this we face a lot of oppositions from anti-Christian forces, especially the Moslem and Alisabab! ohh we need your prayers!!!
However we are striving our every to reach the unreached women and men and win the lost for Jesus Christ. Inspite of persecution reproaches and insults we will continue to do that until our last breath. We meet with desperate families’ orphans &widows and share with them the riches of Christ, so we need your support and prayer to this work. Currently we have 10 orphans in (Rise of hope children Orphanage )our care please the need your prayers.
We visit rural areas, tribal and jungle areas and preach the gospel. We go door-to- door, distribute literature and do individual evangelism. We conduct gospel meetings. We use kerosene lamps to preach, as most of the areas and villages are without electricity. We walk on the rocky roads, facing danger at night. However we are steadfast to see that the Lord’s work is done.Ohh we need your prayers.
As the spirit led me i was touched of your faith on the profile and went through your posts and I completely agreed with you as you are doing a good work for the Lord. People of God like you are really rare in these last days. I am sure that the Father is well pleased with you and that you will have great rewards from Him. I wholeheartedly praise the Lord for this connection
Here is my testimony
Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ! Thanks for what you are doing in the word of God. I was going through your spiritual posts touched me and touched my inner being! So i decided to write and inform you how we do our work and we request that you come and have a Christian oriented relationship of building and raising up teams to the fields. I am pastor Ibrahim from Kenya.
I have brought to your kind notice under which circumstances we are doing the work of the Lord. It is not easy to do God’s work here in Kenya , especially where superstitious beliefs and violence, unrest are widespread. Add to this we face a lot of oppositions from anti-Christian forces, especially the Moslem and Alisabab! ohh we need your prayers!!!
However we are striving our every to reach the unreached women and men and win the lost for Jesus Christ. Inspite of persecution reproaches and insults we will continue to do that until our last breath. We meet with desperate families’ orphans &widows and share with them the riches of Christ, so we need your support and prayer to this work. Currently we have 10 orphans in (Rise of hope children Orphanage )our care please the need your prayers.
We visit rural areas, tribal and jungle areas and preach the gospel. We go door-to- door, distribute literature and do individual evangelism. We conduct gospel meetings. We use kerosene lamps to preach, as most of the areas and villages are without electricity. We walk on the rocky roads, facing danger at night. However we are steadfast to see that the Lord’s work is done.Ohh we need your prayers.
As the spirit led me i was touched of your faith on the profile and went through your posts and I completely agreed with you as you are doing a good work for the Lord. People of God like you are really rare in these last days. I am sure that the Father is well pleased with you and that you will have great rewards from Him. I wholeheartedly praise the Lord for this connection