I want to first thank everyone for their support as I start this journey to explore a call to full-time ministry. I am trusting the Lord and counting on your prayers and support as I go forward. As part of the exploration process I met with 3 members of the Indiana United Methodist’s North District who serve on the District Committee on Ministry. I’d like to share three questions I was asked that are good for any disciple of Jesus to wrestle with.
One of their first questions was, “What is the mission of Christ’s church?” I replied that I thought the mission of the church was captured well in the Methodist Church’s and our own local church’s mission: to make disciples of Jesus for the transformation of the world. Their follow-up question was the real question: “What does that mean to you?” What a great question! It is worth reflecting on for all of us. I said that first I need God’s and others help to make me a disciple. I hope that as I grow in Christ I will help attract and point others toward Him. One of my goals as I go forward is that I might encourage fellow disciples to invest in others so more people might know the love of God and join us as disciples of Jesus. We each have a different answer to the question of what our mission means to us. What does it mean to you?
The third question that stood out for me was, “What brings you joy?” My immediate response was two-fold. First I experience joy in a beautiful day. You may have heard me refer to “ABQ blue” skies. "ABQ skies" remind me of the beautiful, clear, open, Western, blue skies I loved when we lived at the mile-high elevation of Albuquerque. The sky outside is ABQ blue as I type. This fall we’ve had many of these days, even here in Michiana! And they bring me the joy of God’s creation.
It’s my second response I most want to share with you. I said I find joy in my relationships with people at church. For many of you it’s in deep, long lasting, tried-and-true relationships. For others it’s in worshiping or serving together. I left the interview thinking I probably should have spent more time focusing on how God brings me joy through prayer, Bible reading, and service, all of which are true. But I spoke the truth when I said I feel joy in my relationships .
I’m more and more sensing the importance and need for us to pray for and support each other in experiencing the joy of the Lord. Our lives are often so busy and and at times frustrating. I know I could use more joy, and that is my prayer for you.
One of their first questions was, “What is the mission of Christ’s church?” I replied that I thought the mission of the church was captured well in the Methodist Church’s and our own local church’s mission: to make disciples of Jesus for the transformation of the world. Their follow-up question was the real question: “What does that mean to you?” What a great question! It is worth reflecting on for all of us. I said that first I need God’s and others help to make me a disciple. I hope that as I grow in Christ I will help attract and point others toward Him. One of my goals as I go forward is that I might encourage fellow disciples to invest in others so more people might know the love of God and join us as disciples of Jesus. We each have a different answer to the question of what our mission means to us. What does it mean to you?
The third question that stood out for me was, “What brings you joy?” My immediate response was two-fold. First I experience joy in a beautiful day. You may have heard me refer to “ABQ blue” skies. "ABQ skies" remind me of the beautiful, clear, open, Western, blue skies I loved when we lived at the mile-high elevation of Albuquerque. The sky outside is ABQ blue as I type. This fall we’ve had many of these days, even here in Michiana! And they bring me the joy of God’s creation.
It’s my second response I most want to share with you. I said I find joy in my relationships with people at church. For many of you it’s in deep, long lasting, tried-and-true relationships. For others it’s in worshiping or serving together. I left the interview thinking I probably should have spent more time focusing on how God brings me joy through prayer, Bible reading, and service, all of which are true. But I spoke the truth when I said I feel joy in my relationships .
I’m more and more sensing the importance and need for us to pray for and support each other in experiencing the joy of the Lord. Our lives are often so busy and and at times frustrating. I know I could use more joy, and that is my prayer for you.
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