How this pastor fought against loneliness in ministry

Jonathan Hayashi Jan. 22, 2023

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Charles Spurgeon is considered perhaps one of the greatest preachers in the history of all Christianity.

While other pastors were preaching how to be good Christians, Spurgeon countered by simply preaching Christ's glory and to be saved.

Through joy and sorrow, Spurgeon felt the weight of ministry and at times would even collapse in so much discouragement people needed to escort him out to be rested and restored. He would at times become very depressed and at times he could hardly do anything, to the point he couldn't even read the Bible.

Spurgeon would drown himself in tears and people feared he would never preach again as he blamed himself for feeling the responsibility of ministry weighing him down.

The reality of discouragement did not get better for both him and his wife. Both of their health began to fail to the point in 1869, Spurgeon felt such terrible pain that he thought a cobra had bitten him (gout). Spurgeon dealt with many other illnesses that drew him into a greater depression that he had to take frequent vacations away in France.

Spurgeon was so hated for his biblical, convictional voice that he was disdained by the Americans and was not invited back to speak in the country. Spurgeon fought against the false teachings at the brink of neo-orthodoxy that denied the inerrancy of Scripture and that the Bible was no longer inspired by God. This period was called, "The Down-Grade Controversy" in which Spurgeon was forced to resign from the network of other pastors from the Baptist Union, including his students from his Pastor's College who turned against him.

During a busy schedule, the stress of ministry, the loneliness that taunted him, Spurgeon as much tried to find rest at his home. He had to let go of many of his duties and Susie (his wife) became the anchor in prayer as he faced the reality of loneliness in ministry.

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Dr. Jonathan Hayashi earned his B.A. from Moody Bible Institute with a double concentration in Pastoral Ministry and Biblical Studies; a M.A., in Congregational Leadership from Moody Theological Seminary, and Doctorate of Educational Ministry in Biblical Counseling from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He presently serves on the Executive Committee at Southwest Baptist University (Bolivar, MO) and serves on the Board of Trustees at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He served as Senior Pastor at Northern Hills Baptist Church Holt, Missouri from 2020-2022. Learn More »

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