Glad to be Back

The School of Evangelism...

As most of you know I spent the first part of the twelve days I took off for Study Leave and Vacation, attending the Billy Graham School of Evangelism in Asheville North Carolina. I want to thank the congregation of this church for the opportunity you give me through giving me leave and funds for that event as well as vacation time as part of my terms of call. I truly appreciate it. While the setting of “The Cove” in Asheville was beautiful, quiet, and restful, the teaching was dynamic and almost overwhelming. The conference was three days starting at 7 PM Monday then Full days, 8:30 AM to 9:00 PM Tuesday and Wednesday. By Wednesday Afternoon I was ready to come back to work to have an easier schedule. In addition to the great teaching though they also gave us a stack of books and even a curriculum that PJ will be looking at with Christian Ed for use with “Tweens” (Youth aged 9-14). The full curriculum itself was worth more than twice what you paid for registration.

While I didn't necessarily “learn” anything new and life altering, I was powerfully reminded of some very important things that I needed for ministry here. You too might need them so I'll share them here. There are five and unfortunately they do not lend themselves to any easily memorizable formula. But I hope you find some or all of them helpful as you pursue your own walk with Jesus and your calling to use your gifts in service to God and neighbors.

1.God is glad in your presence.

One of the challenges of wanting to serve God is that you always see so much that needs to be done and never feel like you are doing enough. Let this attitude go too far and you might even feel like just a part of a crowd where God is the star who you can say you went to see in concert but who of course never knew or cared that you were there. The first night I was reminded that the Gospel is that Jesus died and rose so that he could personally welcome you, into his family. YOU matter to God and He is glad you are his. He is also Glad when you come to worship, pray, read scripture, sing or otherwise draw near to Him. Scripture says “Draw near to me and I will draw near to you.” (James 4:8)

Keep the Gospel First

In Various places around “the Cove” you see the motto of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, “Always Good News”. In our desire to see our church grow and to see our people happy we often try to do all things and be all things to everyone to be a “full service” church. Those things which we do, our “programs” are good things, when they serve the main purpose of the church: Telling people the Good News of Jesus Christ and helping them be effective and growing followers of Him. Our drive is not to please all people but to make sure everyone we encounter has the opportunity to hear about Jesus and to have the help, shelter, and equipping they need to follow Him, and the encouragement and opportunity to make disciples themselves.

Pray

Everything that the Billy Graham team does in all its ministries is begun, carried out, and ended with prayer and praise. I even over heard the shuttle bus drivers talking about a morning prayer meeting. Every member of the team is praying and is prayed for. I am reminded of the saying ”You cannot do more than pray, until you have prayed.” I look forward to increasing in our church opportunities for prayer and emphasizing the importance of this part of our life with Jesus.

Don't Do Life on Your Own
Scripture says “No man can serve two masters”. While Jesus was talking about serving God and Money, I believe it also applies to God and self. Tied into the need for prayer and God's Joy in our presence is the fact that we were never meant to make it on our own. For me that means Stop working to remake the life I want and start enjoying the life God has given me at this stage. It means I cannot recreate the home and ministry I had in Kansas here in Oakdale, but I can discover and enjoy the life an ministry God has given us now. Also it means that with prayer I am free to do those things which God directs to be done and stop trying to do what I think I should be doing to be like someone else. We cannot force life to happen the way we want and we can be so busy trying that we miss the open doors God is showing us.

Ask for the filling of the Holy Spirit

Cliff Barrows, 80, the youngest of the original Billy Graham team( Billy, 90; George Beverly Shea, 100; and Cliff) spoke the last night. He told of their early days and the lessons they learned and the principles they applied over the years to their ministry. The story I got the most from was the story he told of the night in London when They visited another minister who shared with them a Bible study from John 13, 14, and 15, about the Holy Spirit. After they prayed to be filled with the Holy Spirit everything changed for their ministry. That was when they began to see the thousands come to Jesus that we associate with Billy Graham crusades. It is not about us, it is about God working through us.

Surrender

Finally, the call of following Jesus is not one of commitment to Jesus but one of complete surrender. We are to belong to Him and let nothing remain our own. We do not surrender to other's demands, our wants, the world's priorities, or even the church as an institution. We live in such a way as to say “yes” when we hear the Lord saying “Go” or “Do”. We do so with the assurance that in some way or another, miraculously or through on of God's many tools, (His church being a key part) Things will work out even when they look impossible. For “ we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28.

In Christ and On the Shepherd's Path,
Mark