STANDING ORDERS

March 2

Bible Reading: Mark 16

Mark 16:15, “And he said to them, ‘Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.’”

The engine room of the Nuclear Submarine on which I served was a complex assembly of nuclear, electrical, and mechanical equipment.  An Engineering Officer was tasked with overseeing other officers and enlisted men in maintaining its safe and functional operation.  But the Engineering Officer was not always there in the engine room.  In his absence, he left to us “Standing Orders”—his specific commands regarding our responsibilities.  These standing orders were written in a “Night Order Book” and remained in effect until they were rescinded.

Our Engineering Officer was not particularly well liked by his crew.  One of the enlisted men decided t0 express his disapproval in an unusual way.  He took the Night Order book—a heavy duty, government-issue, green notebook—and worked to fold it in half.  Back and forth, for an entire night, he folded the cover and the pages.  In the end, the book was still readable, but hardly recognizable.  The Engineering Officer was none too pleased with what he found—we were all forced to stand at attention in the Engine Room until the culprit was identified.  It’s not a good idea to disdain the standing orders of an officer!

The message of Mark 16:15 has been called “the Great Commission,” and it is a fitting designation.  They are like standing orders to be embraced and prayerfully obeyed.  We have been commissioned by the One to whom “all authority… in heaven and earth” has been given (Matthew 28:18).  The Lord of the church has given standing orders to His church.  Who are we to disdain or ignore His command?  We have been commissioned to proclaim the greatest of messages, the gospel.  It is a glorious message of His glorious work bearing the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes (1 Timothy 1:11; 1 Corinthians 1:18; Romans 1:16).  It is a commission that speaks to the great need of sinners near and far.  We are ambassadors for Christ bearing to the lost a message of reconciliation to God (2 Corinthians 5:19).  Through Christ, God has provided a means of salvation (2 Corinthians 5:21).  It is a commission that is met with ample resources. The Lord Himself has promised to attend to us in the endeavor (Matthew 28:20).

The Apostles were the immediate recipients of the commission of our Lord.  What was their response?  The Spirit-filled Apostle Peter boldly proclaimed the truth of Christ’s death for sins and resurrection from the dead.  3000 souls were saved.  Then he healed a man and proclaimed the gospel again.  5000 responded.  The church was growing, and the religious leaders of the day took notice.  They arrested Peter and John and interrogated them.  They brought them before the religious council and “called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus” (Acts 4:18).  Their response? “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:19-20).  They would not be deterred from their Great Commission mandate.  They kept on preaching the gospel.  The apostles would all, except John, suffer martyrdom because of their obedience to the Lord’s command to declare the truth of salvation through Christ.

Every believer in Christ has the responsibility to bear witness to the truth concerning Jesus.  But it is more than a responsibility, it is a privilege.  In your relationship with Jesus, God has imparted to you treasure of unfathomable riches (2 Corinthians 4:7; Ephesians 3:8).  God meant for you to share your treasure with others.  It is not just a Great Commission, it’s a standing order and a privilege.

You’ve the treasure of knowing Jesus in your earthen vessel.  The treasure was given to you to be shared with others!

So send I you
By grace made strong
To triumph o’er hosts of hell
O’er darkness death and sin
My name to bear
And in that name to conquer
So send I you My victory to win

So send I you
To take to souls in bondage
The Word of truth
That sets the captive free
To break the bonds of sin
To loose death’s fetters
So send I you
To bring the lost to Me

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Author: looking2jesus13

Jerry L. Conklin was born and raised in Hillsboro, Oregon. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the United States Navy and served for six years in the Navy’s Nuclear Power Program. He was assigned to the USS *Omaha* (SSN-692), a nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine, where he served as a reactor-plant electrical operator. His military service took him to ports and locations throughout the world and provided extensive technical training, leadership experience, and an enduring appreciation for those who serve in the Armed Forces. Following his Navy service, Jerry earned a bachelor’s degree in Nuclear Technology from Thomas Edison State University. He worked at the Trojan Nuclear Plant near Rainier, Oregon, first as a reactor operator and later as a training specialist. After sensing God’s call to pastoral ministry, he left the nuclear-power industry and earned a master’s degree in theology from Western Conservative Baptist Seminary in Portland, Oregon. Jerry served for twenty-seven and a half years as senior pastor of Lewis and Clark Bible Church in Astoria, Oregon. During those years, he preached and taught the Scriptures, provided pastoral counseling, performed weddings and memorial services, trained church leaders, and served individuals and families throughout the community. He also served as a fire department chaplain and participated in a variety of community ministries. After retiring from full-time pastoral ministry, Jerry and his wife, Laura, moved to Heppner, Oregon. There he served for approximately four years as a chaplain with Pioneer Memorial Home Health and Hospice, providing spiritual and emotional support to more than 150 patients and their families. In 2023, the Oregon Association for Home Care honored him as its Chaplain of the Year. Jerry also helped establish South Morrow County Seniors Matter, a nonprofit organization created to address the needs of older adults following the COVID-19 pandemic. As chairman, he worked with community leaders and volunteers to develop a weekly senior meal program, a monthly veterans’ lunch, and other activities and services. The organization served hundreds of seniors, mobilized more than 200 volunteers, and received statewide and national recognition. In 2025, Jerry was named Heppner’s Man of the Year, and his community service was later recognized by United States Senator Jeff Merkley. International missions have also been an important part of Jerry’s ministry. He has made ten trips to Uganda, where he has taught at pastors’ conferences, preached in churches, participated in Bible-school graduations, distributed Bibles and Christian materials, and encouraged local pastors and ministry leaders. He developed the discipleship booklet *First Steps with Jesus* to help new believers understand and grow in their faith. Jerry is the author of numerous books, Bible studies, devotionals, and teaching resources, including works centered on prayer, Christian hope, spiritual growth, and the person of Jesus Christ. His decades of preaching and teaching reflect his commitment to presenting biblical truth clearly, practically, and faithfully. Jerry and Laura were married for nearly forty-two years and raised four children. They were also blessed with three grandchildren. Laura passed away in August 2025 following an eight-and-a-half-year battle with cancer. Jerry currently lives in Hillsboro, where he helps care for his elderly father. He continues to preach, teach, write, and serve others through pastoral and community ministry.

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