FRIDAY — Ambrose of Milan & Richard Baxter --Two Pastors, Twelve Centuries Apart — One Lord, One Calling
- Ken Kalis
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
“He gave some… pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints…”— Ephesians 4:11–12
My Dad was such a pastor; he fed sheep.
And tended their souls and raised their lambs.
For 50 years he cared for many sheep.
Success in not hoe many you bringin,
But how many you send out
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During Advent, the Church honors two great pastors whose ministries shaped Christianity across centuries: Ambrose of Milan (339–397) and Richard Baxter (1615–1691).
One lived in the waning days of the Roman Empire, the other in the turmoil of post-Reformation England. Yet their lives prove the same truth:
When God calls a pastor, He equips him with courage, compassion, and conviction — and the Church is never the same.
Ambrose of Milan (339–397): The Reluctant Bishop Who Defied an Emperor
Ambrose was not a clergyman. Not a monk. Not even a priest.
He was a respected governor in northern Italy, known for justice, wisdom, and peacekeeping. When the bishop of Milan died, the city erupted into unrest, divided by theological factions.
Ambrose stepped forward only to calm the crowd. But the people, suddenly and unanimously, began shouting:
“Ambrose for Bishop!”
He fled. Literally ran away. He knew himself unprepared.
But the will of God followed him, and within a single week Ambrose was:
• baptized• ordained• consecrated bishop of Milan
A miracle of providence — and a man transformed.
Ambrose the Shepherd
Ambrose devoted himself to Scripture, prayer, and the care of souls. He wrote hymns still sung today (“Veni, Redemptor Gentium”--Come, Thou Redeemer of the Earth”), .He trained young Augustine, who would become one of the greatest minds in Christian history.
But above all, Ambrose was a pastor who stood firm when others bowed.
When Emperor Theodosius committed a massacre in Thessalonica, Ambrose refused him communion until he repented publicly.
Imagine it:
A bishop rebuking the emperor — and the emperor weeping for forgiveness.
Ambrose understood that the Church serves Christ, not kings, and that a true pastor must guard truth even at personal cost.
Richard Baxter (1615–1691): The Pastor of Kidderminster
If Ambrose pastored a city, Baxter pastored a village. Yet the transformation he brought was no less miraculous.
When Baxter arrived in Kidderminster, the people were spiritually indifferent. There was:
• little prayer• little worship• little sense of God
Within a few years, the town changed so completely that travelers reported hearing psalms sung from nearly every home as they walked its streets.
Why? Because Baxter believed one thing deeply:
A pastor must not simply preach to the people — he must shepherd their souls.
He visited every family, catechized every child, and prayed with every household. His book The Reformed Pastor remains one of the most powerful guides to pastoral ministry ever written.
Baxter also suffered greatly:
• chronic sickness• slander• political imprisonment• the loss of his church
But he never stopped serving Christ, writing over 140 books, including The Saints’ Everlasting Rest, a devotional classic that has lifted weary Christians for 350 years.
Why the Church Needs Ambrose and Baxter Today
In a world of celebrity pastors, marketing, branding, and noise, Ambrose and Baxter remind us:
• A pastor is a shepherd, not a performer.• A pastor speaks truth even to power.• A pastor leads his people toward holiness, not applause.• A pastor’s greatest tools are Scripture, humility, courage, and love.• A pastor’s courage can reform a city, and his tenderness can revive a village.
This is the sacred calling we pray for today — and the kind of leadership the Church desperately needs.
A Prayer for Our Pastors
Lord Jesus, Good Shepherd of the sheep, raise up Ambroses who will speak truth, and Baxters who will shepherd with patience and tears. Strengthen our pastors. Protect them from error, discouragement, and fear. Let them feed Your sheep with wisdom and love.
And may Your Church be built up in unity and holiness until You come. Amen.
Discussion Question
Which quality of Ambrose or Baxter do you long to see more fully in the Church today — and how might God be calling you to embody that same spirit?
“This hymn by Ambrose of Milan, written in Latin in the 4th century, is one of the oldest Advent hymns still sung today. For those unfamiliar with Latin, here is the full English rendering. It is a powerful confession of the Incarnation — the eternal Son of God taking flesh for our salvation.”
Come, Redeemer of the nations,
Reveal the birth of the Virgin;
Let every age marvel —
Such a birth befits our God.
:
Not by human seed,
But by the Spirit’s breath,
The Word of God became flesh,
The fruit of the Virgin blossomed.
The Virgin’s womb grows heavy,
Yet her purity remains;
The banners of virtue shine,
And God Himself descends to His temple.
He goes forth from His chamber,
The royal hall of purity;
The Mighty One in two natures,
Rejoicing to run His course.
His going forth is from the Father,
His return is to the Father;
His descent reaches even unto hell,
His ascent returns to the throne of God.
Equal with the eternal Father,
Yet bearing the trophy of the flesh,
He holds power over death
And rises the Victor from the grave.
Now Your manger shines,
And the night breathes forth new light,
Which no darkness can overcome,
But shines in the enduring faith of Your people.
To You, O Christ, most loving King,
Be glory with the Father,
And with the Holy Spirit,
Now and forever. Amen.
----Ambrose of Milan
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