In the Arena

6 September 2026

By Pastor John - Senior Pastor

Theodore Roosevelt, former president of the United States, was renown as a leader of tremendous energy and high spirits. I came across a quote from him that struck a chord with me.

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, and comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; who does actually try to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion and spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly.

Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though chequered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the grey twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.

I do not know if Roosevelt was a believer, but these words speak the truth. Whenever you take a risk and step out of the comfort zone, somebody will criticize you. What’s more, they might be right. But are we content with the status quo? As Christians we have been called to the greatest cause on this planet. I want my face marred by dust, sweat and blood so that others may hear about Jesus. Will you join me?