Saturday, September 03, 2011
Words That Have Stuck With Me
At the end of July, I attended the Legacy Disciplemaking Conference in Chicago. I attended a workshop on church planting. I figured since I was going to work for a 3 year old church plant, it would be good to hear what these pastors from Atlanta had learned and what insights they would share. One of the pastors shared a simple statement that someone had shared with him before he began pastoring a church plant. The man told him, "In a few days people are going to begin calling you pastor. They are going to assume that you have an authentic walk with God." That statement is simple and yet profound. It has stuck with me ever since I heard it. As I begin to serve my new church as an undershepherd, the authenticity of my walk with Christ is crucial. It reminds me of other words of counsel that mentors in my life have shared over the years...
After college, I served as a program director at a Bible camp for a summer. When I was heading into that experience, my mentor at the time (Kelly O'Rear) shared, "Ministry is going to drain you. It is crucial that you drink deeply from the fountain (Christ and His Word). You cannot lead others where you are not."
During grad school my urban professor (John Fuder) used to emphasize the tension of "being vs. doing." He shared there will always be a tension during busy seasons of ministry between being God's man, and doing God's work. He asked the challenging question, "if you could no longer do ministry, would you still seek God's face?"
Most recently, my mentor and friend from Christ Bible Church (Russ Knight) consistently emphasized the importance to me of "being God's man." When I shared with him that I was moving, he again stated that regardless of geography or place of ministry, that being God's man is most important.
As I enter into this new season of ministry, I recognize the importance of guarding and developing my "first love." I want to be faithful to Him and to what He has called me to do. I know that if I follow close (Allan Greig), that ministry will flow out of that.
Pray with me that I would work out of rest in Him.
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