Wednesday, December 6, 2017

Ministry Call?

Read more here about the oldest known (3rd century) purpose-built church, located in Jordan.

My role in promoting biblical parenting in the Arab world became more clear after my 12 days in Lebanon. I taught at an Arab church, attended a conference for the church of Sudan, and had individual conversations about parenting ministry with approximately 50 Arab church leaders. For now, it seems that my role is to have as many of these conversations as possible, asking leaders how they think God wants them to train believing parents, then offering suggestions if appropriate. I was able to begin the conversation further down the road with those who were able to fill out this parenting questionnaire prior to our meeting. While most of the past 20+ years of full-time ministry I have been very task-oriented, please pray that I learn how to be a faithful friend, especially to younger, up-and-coming leaders.

I've been thinking a lot lately about a "call to ministry", either locally or cross-culturally. I don't see it in Scripture. I see a "call" to Christ. In that "calling", all believers are spiritually gifted and "called" to bring God as much glory as possible. If a believer, along with his/her church and by the Holy Spirit living within him, discerns that he can bring God the most glory by being "freed up" financially to invest most of his time serving the local church(s) through evangelism and/or discipleship, he should do so. No special "sign" is needed. This would be confirmed through a season of fruitful volunteer service, as well as through God's provision of finances through his church and other believers. If a believer discerns that his life can bring God more glory by continuing to financially support himself and others through a job while volunteering in ministry, he should continue to do so. He earns income to meet the needs of his family, to support financially those who are "freed up", and to buy himself time to expand the Kingdom himself. Neither our job nor our ministry should be our source of significance and identify. Our relationship with Christ is our significance and identify. Please ask the Lord of the harvest to send more "freed up" workers into His harvest field, especially among the unreached people groups of the world. This very short article expands on much of what I have just said using Scripture.