Although Bethel’s ministry has constantly evolved over the decades, the purpose remains the same—to glorify God and enjoy Him forever by developing followers of Jesus Christ who strive to make their lives “All About Him.” Originally launching in the 1930s, Bethel called its current Senior Pastor Steve DeWitt to begin serving in 1997. Under his leadership, Bethel has grown to exist in multiple locations, multiple languages, and dozens of staff members.
MBTS: How were you first introduced to Charles Spurgeon?
Steve DeWitt: The first significant introduction I had to Spurgeon was from the senior pastor where I first served as a youth pastor. He loved Spurgeon, quoted Spurgeon, and would even suck on an unlit cigar in his office, mimicking Spurgeon’s affinity for the broad leaf. His Spurgeon enthusiasm was contagious. During that season of my life, I began reading from the same doctrinal tradition as Spurgeon. While not all Reformed roads lead to Spurgeon, he is a scenic overlook often referenced, quoted, and admired. I was hooked when I read his Lectures to My Students and Arnold Dallimore’s biography of him.
MBTS: What is it about Charles Spurgeon that makes him a helpful pastoral figure?
Steve: Over the years, I have observed a wide variety of ecclesiological streams that admire him. The evangelistically oriented admire his heart for the Great Commission. The doctrinally oriented admire his expansive understanding and careful attention to the text of Scripture. The church growth movement holds him high as the prototype megachurch pastor. The missional stream reveres his community outreach, church planting, and para-church innovations. The Charles Spurgeon fan club makes for some strange bedfellows. He isn’t easily categorized. There are so many facets to his ministry, most of which, if not all, he excelled in.
Upon closer examination, though, we see much more than meets the eye—a chronic and spiritually depressive soul, a semi-invalid wife (they had a successful marriage despite her frailties), a host of health challenges, and more. This is why Spurgeon is a great hero for pastors. None of us can relate to his giftedness, but we can relate to his hurts.
Pastoral ministry hasn’t changed much in 125 years. Spurgeon was well-acquainted with the dark night of the pastor’s soul. Yet, God worked through his sermons, words, wisdom, and faithfulness to an extent that astonishes to this day.
By God’s grace, he accomplished it all without a computer, Kindle, or social media platform. We need stark reminders like Spurgeon that everything that truly matters to God in ministry is utterly dependent, not on our modern tools, but on God’s means of grace: the Word, the Spirit, the gospel, prayer, love and care for people, etc. God worked through Spurgeon mightily and can work the same through us.
MBTS: What tips would you provide pastors who want to see Spurgeon’s legacy live on in them and their congregation?
Steve: You are the chairperson of your church’s admiration society. Pastors hold decisive influence over who their church admires. I would encourage pastors to have a few dead Christian heroes with whom they are highly familiar, their biography, teachings, and legacy. Tell these stories of ancient faithful Christians to your church family. Other than the biblical figures, no one is more commonly in my sermons nor more frequently helping me through complex pastoral challenges than Charles Spurgeon. Since I have appreciated him before my people, Spurgeon’s opinion carries weight. Once your people admire him too, you have a friend and advocate with you in the pulpit.
Let old things come alive. It is well-known that Spurgeon is the most published author in Christian history. What is less celebrated but no less accurate is that Spurgeon is arguably the most quoted. He is so eminently and easily quotable. He said things in short, clever turns of phrases that stick in the brain. I have many of them memorized, and they come to me while I preach or counsel.
I remember doing a radio interview where the host threw me a curveball question about churches and the gospel. At that moment, this Spurgeon quote came to me, “I looked at Christ, and a dove of peace flew into my heart. I looked at the dove, and it flew away.” I stopped. It was the perfect response. Was this my wisdom? No. That day, Spurgeon spoke to the modern city of Chicago a century later through his unique gift as a wordsmith. For these reasons and more, I would encourage you to find your top 10 Spurgeon quotes and commit them to memory—they will come to you at opportune moments.
Additionally, engaging with his artifacts can help bring his ministry to life. Spurgeon’s original sermon manuscripts are still available for sale, his first church in Waterbeach still stands, and the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London can still be toured. Moreover, Midwestern Seminary’s Spurgeon Center is a goosebump experience for Spurgeon lovers too! Stand in his pulpit, hold his books in your hands, and a close-up experience of Spurgeon may open your soul to the God and gospel he preached like no other.
