Entering the room, I didn’t know exactly what to expect. I knew that it was a wonderful opportunity to be able to meet and talk with some fellow ministers concerning what it means to follow Jesus Christ and lead others in this path. Young in ministry and in my overall walk with God, there is so much of which I am unaware. Programs, leadership styles, methodologies, conflict resolution, vision casting, spiritual guidance, family nurture, spiritual warfare, biblical exposition, mentorship, communication, time management, ecumenical perspective, organizational facilitation, and the list goes on and on. So many things to consider in the direction of pastoral ministry.
In many ways, and oftentimes, the how tends to overshadow the why. To me, the why is a given. God loves us and made a way for persons to be restored to Him. By faith in Jesus, we enter into a relationship with God. This relationship is empowered by the Holy Spirit (God), so it is a matter of trust and obedience as opposed to simple will power and personal piety (although both are involved). As we grow in this relationship, God calls us to a life of influencing others to enter his Kingdom, thereby embracing his lifeline to rescue us from eternal sin and death. The why seems much clearer than the how. Thus, in my mind I think I was more focused on learning the latest info pertaining to the how of ministry. You know, that which makes things more “effective.”
And as I’m walking into the room, I see an older lady who appears sweet and hospitable, yet somehow firm and resolved.
“Hello, my name is Shannon.”
With a gentle smile, she replies, “Hello, Shannon. I’m Margaret Gaines.”
My mind considers the name somewhat familiar. However, it doesn’t fully dawn on me until we’re all seated and the meeting begins – Margaret Gaines…(trying to remember)… She is the missionary to the Arabs of whom I have heard tremendous accounts of miracles in ministry. In a short while, Sis. Gaines is asked to share with us some things on her heart concerning ministry.
Of all the things which she shared, the one thing that resonates in my mind pertains to the simplicity of walking with God. We must be willing to walk with God. And in walking with God, his love draws us into a loving relationship (with Him and others). Such a relationship entails a sincere trusting God with our lives that finds expression in faithful obedience to God’s Word. So, beyond novel methods, models and means, the word shared was one that called us back to the simplicity of faith – as a child lays her head upon the shoulder of her father, we can trust our Father to take care of us in spite of the storms.
Arriving home later that evening, I thought of the many wonderful things learned throughout the day. However, some things slipped through… They slipped through the note-taking, concept-oriented rationality which is definitely a necessary component, and they began to percolate in hidden places of my heart. No matter how well versed I am in the methods, models and means of ministry, the heart of my influence stems from walking with God. Am I walking with God, day by day, place by place, conversation by conversation? Have I pledged devotion to Him, even when I don’t fully understand life, death, the world, the church, salvation, sin, people, pain, etc.? For it is in walking with God that I find myself joined hand in hand, heart in heart, gift in gift with other brothers and sisters of like surrender who know that without trusting God, we are left to our own devices. Such a picture underlines the gravity of being disconnected from God (by sin) and the gracious redemption offered by a loving Father determined to rescue his children.
Pondering her call to walk with God,
Shannon
