Taking risk in Ministry

"If you’re not taking any risks in your ministry, then no faith is required to do it. And if your ministry doesn’t require any faith, then you are being unfaithful." - Rick Warren

Three years of adventure is coming to an end. In less than one month, I'll end one phase of my life and move into a new, albeit uncertain new stage of life.

I've learned much, grown in understanding and character and have been deeply blessed by the days that I spent in living springs fellowship. How interesting it is that I entered with a target time of six months to assist, yet it prolonged itself into another six months, then one year and before I know it, three years have been clocked. For every extension that I agreed upon, I did so with a clear divine instruction and found the days ahead to be of a newer purpose and purposefully laid out.

The initial days spent teaching the majority of indoor-based,  introverted teens were daunting and some days exasperating. Didn't help that it was also intertwined with one of my worst phases that I had in my career and my personal life on weekends went into a major transition because I no longer had the regular schedule that I enjoyed before. Change is indeed an awful feeling and I recall the lonely days that I walked home, reasoning with myself if I was going to live such a lonely, pathetic life the rest of my days.  Yet, because I knew I was meant to be there, so every Saturday I went to serve with enthusiasm and a sanguine nature because I wanted to be in faithful obedience. In my worst days, there were individuals called Joseph, YongEn and Amanda who crossed my paths and were a blessing to me because of their energy, eagerness or faithfulness in coming weekly.

As with every season of life, the rough season of work passed and the ministry began to reach the next phase of growth. With more ERs, there were more interpersonal issues. Did not help that I was just a helper who was figuring my way out on how much I could assist and intervene. The wake up call came when Joseph left and stopped attending church. Many months later I got to touch base with him to find him doing well in another church. It was time for me to do what I felt was right, in-spite of the uncertainties of my boundaries in the church.

This last year has been memorable because when it was clearly communicated to me of the need to stop by the end of the year and move on, the feeling of leaving a ministry and lives that I've devoted myself suddenly felt as if I told that I had 1 year left to live.  Even though I was frequently exhausted and stretched thin, I told myself of the need to accelerate my pace and dedicate more time than ever to spend with whoever I could and to do whatever I had. As time ticked, I'm now left with less than a month before the new year starts. Soon, I'll say goodbye to everyone of the ERs that I've grown to love and cherish, in-spite of their annoying quirks and character flaws.

Rick warren is right to say, when we take risks in ministry, faith to trust God for each step is needed. I've spent 3 of my best adult years and it has brought me more meaning that I've had imagined.

What's up in 2011? It's all quite uncertain. I'm approaching the new year with trepidation because once again I'm moving into the unknown and wondering what I'm doing with my soon-to-be free Saturday weekends. I've some inkling of what to do in the latter half of the year, but the first half of the year is a real blur. Knowing that I won't want to enjoy too much aimless time at home on Saturdays, I know I'm placed at this juncture because I know God wants to do something in me and get me to realign my new purpose and life's journey.

For His honour and glory. May it be achieved in me and everything I choose to do.
M.       

You're uniquely positioned

Exodus 31:2-6

“See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts- to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of craftsmanship. Moreover, I have appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, to help him. Also I have given skill to all the craftsmen to make everything I have commanded you:”

Over separate conversations with two individuals, it dawned upon me, as I was pushing across the point of positioning, that we are all uniquely positioned by God to do something. 

We’re not blessed with the same gifts or called to the same types of ministries. Often we aspire to do something we see others do because they look good or seem to be in a position of growth. However, what others are doing with ease may be something we end up striving uphill to accomplish because we aren't meant to do.

Wherever God places us as we seek Him, will result in us reaping much good for His kingdom because it is something we’re uniquely positioned/born to do. So, today, what are you doing for His glory?

M.

We must bring change

1 Peter 4:10

Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.

Benjamin Kwashi, the Nigerian archbishop said “Whenever and wherever the gospel is truly lived, it must bring change in behavior, etiquette and character; it must bring change in health, in the environment, in education and the economy; it must bring progress and development to people and take the lead in community life and conduct for peace and justice.”

Yesterday as I attended one of my R.A’s 21^st birthday party, it gave me an opportunity to catch up with another R.A instead of wallowing in meaningless talk with the regular bunch. It was a kairos moment for me because it was a moment to pour out and I enjoyed the heart-to-heart talk. Like a breath of fresh air I was renewed.

Even after so many years of releasing rangers to stand on their own feet, it was good for me to have moments like this to regroup and have the opportunity to reconnect with honesty and openness.

Of late, too many individuals seem to be lackluster. If you do a simple dip-stick survey of the spiritual health of many, you may feel like I do: something stale and of decay is in the air and there aren’t lives that are alive. Does not help that suddenly, I witness many Halloween celebrations over the past week and it triggers alarm bells as I feel the insidious intentions masked behind novelty and fun of a spooky party theme. Yet the church is silent and has not chosen to correct and instill Christ-like values to its young.   

I strongly believe that this is just the start of the rapid decay of Christian lives as the end times accelerates. For all the great accounts of a Christian’s past encounters with God, it’s how we end that matters and many are starting on a downhill spiral. So it is imperative for us to arise and administer God’s grace into lives.

Today, we must take heed to live the gospel and hold higher Christ’s light of hope to all. That through us, we will bring positive change to the many sickly, lackluster and decrepit lives. We need to care more for them than we have ever cared. We need to heighten the alertness of our spirit-man because the battle fought in this new age of the millennial generations warrants an upgrade of our traditional counter-measures to address their compromises.    

We must live the gospel and bring renewed change in the lives of those around us and in our churches today.

M.

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden." (Matthew 5:14)