I Thessalonians 5:12, 13 – And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.
Having been acquainted with Bro. Eugene Saylor for several years, I count it a privilege to be asked to pen my deep thoughts of respect concerning him. Ministries of great men are often greater than our perspective of them, and the ministry of Bro. Saylor is no different. Although I knew Bro. Saylor’s ministry was great, I did not grasp its depth until I sat down to write this article. Bro. Saylor’s ministry was a great ministry because it was God’s ministry. Truly, it was God that wrought the work, and it is God that receives the glory. However, as all workers in God’s great vineyard know, while it is God’s work, God’s people are His tools, His instruments, and His weapons. Bro. Saylor was a great tool in the hand of God for a great task.
His Works
“Esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake.” That is the commandment of Paul the apostle concerning our attitude toward them who labor among us. So, my reflections of Bro. Saylor begin with his works. All who knew Bro. Saylor are sure that Bro. Saylor’s heart was in the prison ministry. Miles traveled, hours of visitation, days of writing letters to inmates, messages preached in correctional facilities, and prayers for inmates that ascended to the throne are all proof of this preacher’s great burden for the lost within prison walls. Prisoners who seldom or never hear from their family or friends often heard from Bro. Saylor. Perhaps his greatest ministry in the prisons was not revealed in the taking of a text but in the making of a friend. Bro. Saylor was friend to friendless. Bro. and Sis. Saylor have not been blessed with children of their own. However, they have been blessed with many who call them “Mom and Dad.” This kind of relationship began with Bro. and Sis. Saylor befriending the outcasts of society, tirelessly laboring to bring them, not just into the Saylor family, but into the great family of God.
Bro. Saylor’s ministry was not limited to the prisons. Often, he and Sis. Saylor visited churches across the nation, proclaiming testimonies of the work of God in their ministry. Sis. Saylor’s singing is always certain to bring glory to Jesus Christ. Whether she is singing Too Much to Gain to Lose, I am Blessed, or No One Ever Cared for Me Like Jesus, you are sure to hear a song sung by an anointed servant whose goal is to edify the church and glorify the Christ. Her testifying and singing was followed up by Bro. Saylor’s anointed preaching. His ministry within Holiness churches throughout our nation always proved to be uplifting to the saints. His good spirit always drew us to his words while declaring the truth. I remember messages preached by Bro. Saylor. I remember him preaching one message in Kentucky concerning The Power of God. How could I forget when he preached a messaged entitled, Pass the Salt? Bro. Saylor was a great friend to the prisoner and encourager to saints of God.
His Words
Bro. Saylor was a man whose words, whether in or out of the pulpit, whether in or out of the prisons, were seasoned with salt. In the pulpit, Bro. Saylor spoke the truth of the gospel without compromise. He did not water down the truth. I remember hearing him talk once about the doctrine of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, referring to their movement as the “Witchtower.” Of course, they refer to their prominent publication as the “Watchtower.” Bro. Saylor did not water down the truth for anyone’s false doctrine. His messages in the pulpit were seasoned with prayer. When you heard him preach, you can be sure that God heard him pray. He was a dedicated man of prayer and the Word.
Perhaps Bro. Saylor’s words outside the pulpit had the most influence on my life. I have spent a significant amount of time with Bro. and Sis. Saylor over the past few years. I have been to their home. I have visited them while they were on the road. I have had precious fellowship sitting across the table from them. We have shared laughs. I have been with them at disappointing times in their lives. Over all the years I have known Bro. and Sis. Saylor, I can honestly say I cannot recall EVER hearing Bro. Saylor complain. Even when I knew his body ached with pain, he had a smile. This is convicting to me! I feel that I have been through far less than Bro. Saylor, but I have complained far more! Bro. Saylor’s words were never words of complaint! Through the years that I have known Bro. and Sis. Saylor, I have never heard Bro. Saylor say one negative remark about any minister, any Christian, or anyone else! What a record! As I honor Bro. Saylor for his words, what he didn’t say is just as commendable as what he did say! When he did speak, it was words of edification and encouragement. When he didn’t speak, often he just smiled.
His Worth
When we speak of great mysteries of the gospel, we think of the mystery of the godhead, or the mystery of the coming of the Lord, or the mystery of godliness. The mystery that continues to boggle my mind is the mystery of man’s worth to God. David was amazed at the thought that God was even mindful of him. I am still amazed that the Father would even give me the time of day, but He did much more than that. He sent His only begotten Son to pour out His blood upon Golgotha’s hill. God commended His love toward me, that even when I was a lost sinner, Christ died for me! Even when I was lost, I had great worth to the Father.
No doubt Bro. Saylor was of great worth to the Father. Of course, I understand that Bro. Saylor was who he was by the grace of God. However, Bro. Saylor’s ministry was valuable to the kingdom of God. I want to look at a few things that determine value. First, something is valuable when it is rare. Books that are no longer printed, clothing that is no longer manufactured, furniture that is no longer constructed, cars that are no longer in demand, and styles of houses that are no longer built are worth something because they are hard to find! Men like Bro. Saylor are not everywhere. The Bible says twice that Daniel had an excellent spirit, but the scriptures do not even declare it once about anyone else. Although I am sure there are other men in the scripture that had a good spirit, Daniel was definitely one of a kind. And although there are many men in Holiness churches that have a good spirit, Bro. Saylor was definitely one of a kind. Men with his burden, his spirit, his determination, his passion, his prayer life, and his humility are not found in every Holiness church.
Not only does rarity produce worth, but an item’s difficulty or inability to be replaced produces worth. I have items that did not cost me a dime. They were given to me. However, they are worth so much to me because if I lost them, there is no way I could ever replace them. Bro. Saylor’s shoes will be difficult for any man to fill. It will certainly take the Lord to call someone to fill his shoes and carry on a ministry like Bro. Saylor’s. Bro. Saylor was called by God to a ministry that, in terms of monetary gain, costs rather than pays. Plainly put, many ministers today are not interested in a ministry that does not come with an offering. Bro. Saylor, a man willing to pay to preach, will be very hard to replace.
Lastly, an item’s material determines its worth. Some items are worth more than others because of what they are made of! Allow me to talk about what Bro. Saylor was made of. God called Bro. Saylor to prison ministry. Anyone who has ever done any jail or prison ministry at all knows about the prominence of “jailhouse religion.” There are many who get religious in jail so God will get them out, but they have no real experience with Jesus Christ! Knowing about the presence of “jailhouse religion” has stopped many preachers from even trying to reach people in jails or prisons. You may never witness to anyone in jail because you’re afraid that if they pray, their conversion may not be real. Know this – Bro. Saylor didn’t let “jailhouse religion” stop him! Bro. Saylor was willing to see many phony conversions to witness a few real ones! Praise God for men made of steel who refuse to let false gospels keep them from declaring the true gospel! Bro. Saylor had physical battles. I remember when he had problems with his voice. The doctors told him he would never be able to talk. So, what did he do? He continued to preach! Look at what this man was made of! Sickness in his latter days did not stop him from working for God. Bro. Saylor, in his latter days, worked in spite of his sickness. He didn’t call in sick; he crawled in sick! I remember when his vehicle caught on fire. Do you think this stopped him? Bro. Saylor kept working for God. Some men’s ministries are massive structures, made of wood, hay, and stubble. They look good, and they are fairly stable…until the fiery trial comes. Bro. Saylor’s ministry was made of the finest, most valuable gold. Fire doesn’t destroy gold; it just makes it stronger! The same flames that destroy wood, hay, and stubble only purifies the gold. Bro. Saylor’s ministry was made of gold. It stood the fire. Like Job’s fiery trial, Bro. Saylor has proven that when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
Having been acquainted with Bro. Eugene Saylor for several years, I count it a privilege to be asked to pen my deep thoughts of respect concerning him. Ministries of great men are often greater than our perspective of them, and the ministry of Bro. Saylor is no different. Although I knew Bro. Saylor’s ministry was great, I did not grasp its depth until I sat down to write this article. Bro. Saylor’s ministry was a great ministry because it was God’s ministry. Truly, it was God that wrought the work, and it is God that receives the glory. However, as all workers in God’s great vineyard know, while it is God’s work, God’s people are His tools, His instruments, and His weapons. Bro. Saylor was a great tool in the hand of God for a great task.
His Works
“Esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake.” That is the commandment of Paul the apostle concerning our attitude toward them who labor among us. So, my reflections of Bro. Saylor begin with his works. All who knew Bro. Saylor are sure that Bro. Saylor’s heart was in the prison ministry. Miles traveled, hours of visitation, days of writing letters to inmates, messages preached in correctional facilities, and prayers for inmates that ascended to the throne are all proof of this preacher’s great burden for the lost within prison walls. Prisoners who seldom or never hear from their family or friends often heard from Bro. Saylor. Perhaps his greatest ministry in the prisons was not revealed in the taking of a text but in the making of a friend. Bro. Saylor was friend to friendless. Bro. and Sis. Saylor have not been blessed with children of their own. However, they have been blessed with many who call them “Mom and Dad.” This kind of relationship began with Bro. and Sis. Saylor befriending the outcasts of society, tirelessly laboring to bring them, not just into the Saylor family, but into the great family of God.
Bro. Saylor’s ministry was not limited to the prisons. Often, he and Sis. Saylor visited churches across the nation, proclaiming testimonies of the work of God in their ministry. Sis. Saylor’s singing is always certain to bring glory to Jesus Christ. Whether she is singing Too Much to Gain to Lose, I am Blessed, or No One Ever Cared for Me Like Jesus, you are sure to hear a song sung by an anointed servant whose goal is to edify the church and glorify the Christ. Her testifying and singing was followed up by Bro. Saylor’s anointed preaching. His ministry within Holiness churches throughout our nation always proved to be uplifting to the saints. His good spirit always drew us to his words while declaring the truth. I remember messages preached by Bro. Saylor. I remember him preaching one message in Kentucky concerning The Power of God. How could I forget when he preached a messaged entitled, Pass the Salt? Bro. Saylor was a great friend to the prisoner and encourager to saints of God.
His Words
Bro. Saylor was a man whose words, whether in or out of the pulpit, whether in or out of the prisons, were seasoned with salt. In the pulpit, Bro. Saylor spoke the truth of the gospel without compromise. He did not water down the truth. I remember hearing him talk once about the doctrine of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, referring to their movement as the “Witchtower.” Of course, they refer to their prominent publication as the “Watchtower.” Bro. Saylor did not water down the truth for anyone’s false doctrine. His messages in the pulpit were seasoned with prayer. When you heard him preach, you can be sure that God heard him pray. He was a dedicated man of prayer and the Word.
Perhaps Bro. Saylor’s words outside the pulpit had the most influence on my life. I have spent a significant amount of time with Bro. and Sis. Saylor over the past few years. I have been to their home. I have visited them while they were on the road. I have had precious fellowship sitting across the table from them. We have shared laughs. I have been with them at disappointing times in their lives. Over all the years I have known Bro. and Sis. Saylor, I can honestly say I cannot recall EVER hearing Bro. Saylor complain. Even when I knew his body ached with pain, he had a smile. This is convicting to me! I feel that I have been through far less than Bro. Saylor, but I have complained far more! Bro. Saylor’s words were never words of complaint! Through the years that I have known Bro. and Sis. Saylor, I have never heard Bro. Saylor say one negative remark about any minister, any Christian, or anyone else! What a record! As I honor Bro. Saylor for his words, what he didn’t say is just as commendable as what he did say! When he did speak, it was words of edification and encouragement. When he didn’t speak, often he just smiled.
His Worth
When we speak of great mysteries of the gospel, we think of the mystery of the godhead, or the mystery of the coming of the Lord, or the mystery of godliness. The mystery that continues to boggle my mind is the mystery of man’s worth to God. David was amazed at the thought that God was even mindful of him. I am still amazed that the Father would even give me the time of day, but He did much more than that. He sent His only begotten Son to pour out His blood upon Golgotha’s hill. God commended His love toward me, that even when I was a lost sinner, Christ died for me! Even when I was lost, I had great worth to the Father.
No doubt Bro. Saylor was of great worth to the Father. Of course, I understand that Bro. Saylor was who he was by the grace of God. However, Bro. Saylor’s ministry was valuable to the kingdom of God. I want to look at a few things that determine value. First, something is valuable when it is rare. Books that are no longer printed, clothing that is no longer manufactured, furniture that is no longer constructed, cars that are no longer in demand, and styles of houses that are no longer built are worth something because they are hard to find! Men like Bro. Saylor are not everywhere. The Bible says twice that Daniel had an excellent spirit, but the scriptures do not even declare it once about anyone else. Although I am sure there are other men in the scripture that had a good spirit, Daniel was definitely one of a kind. And although there are many men in Holiness churches that have a good spirit, Bro. Saylor was definitely one of a kind. Men with his burden, his spirit, his determination, his passion, his prayer life, and his humility are not found in every Holiness church.
Not only does rarity produce worth, but an item’s difficulty or inability to be replaced produces worth. I have items that did not cost me a dime. They were given to me. However, they are worth so much to me because if I lost them, there is no way I could ever replace them. Bro. Saylor’s shoes will be difficult for any man to fill. It will certainly take the Lord to call someone to fill his shoes and carry on a ministry like Bro. Saylor’s. Bro. Saylor was called by God to a ministry that, in terms of monetary gain, costs rather than pays. Plainly put, many ministers today are not interested in a ministry that does not come with an offering. Bro. Saylor, a man willing to pay to preach, will be very hard to replace.
Lastly, an item’s material determines its worth. Some items are worth more than others because of what they are made of! Allow me to talk about what Bro. Saylor was made of. God called Bro. Saylor to prison ministry. Anyone who has ever done any jail or prison ministry at all knows about the prominence of “jailhouse religion.” There are many who get religious in jail so God will get them out, but they have no real experience with Jesus Christ! Knowing about the presence of “jailhouse religion” has stopped many preachers from even trying to reach people in jails or prisons. You may never witness to anyone in jail because you’re afraid that if they pray, their conversion may not be real. Know this – Bro. Saylor didn’t let “jailhouse religion” stop him! Bro. Saylor was willing to see many phony conversions to witness a few real ones! Praise God for men made of steel who refuse to let false gospels keep them from declaring the true gospel! Bro. Saylor had physical battles. I remember when he had problems with his voice. The doctors told him he would never be able to talk. So, what did he do? He continued to preach! Look at what this man was made of! Sickness in his latter days did not stop him from working for God. Bro. Saylor, in his latter days, worked in spite of his sickness. He didn’t call in sick; he crawled in sick! I remember when his vehicle caught on fire. Do you think this stopped him? Bro. Saylor kept working for God. Some men’s ministries are massive structures, made of wood, hay, and stubble. They look good, and they are fairly stable…until the fiery trial comes. Bro. Saylor’s ministry was made of the finest, most valuable gold. Fire doesn’t destroy gold; it just makes it stronger! The same flames that destroy wood, hay, and stubble only purifies the gold. Bro. Saylor’s ministry was made of gold. It stood the fire. Like Job’s fiery trial, Bro. Saylor has proven that when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
