4th Day Talk

I gave my life to Christ in 1996…small group...

In 1998 told my pastor…no response

On April 20, 1999 I would hear God’s call on my life to step out in faith

Weekend March 2002

Story of roommate

experienced the love of God and wanted to share

Came back and asked my wife if we would do anything God asked us to…if we would sell all we have and follow him

Galatians 2:20 NIV84

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

She went the next month and she came home convinced that following Jesus was our #1 response to what had happened

We continued to serve in our church.

2003 we had sponsored our youth pastor to The WTE…in a small group…i’m quitting tomorrow

Ephesians 2:10 NIV84

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

I asked Michelle to join me in praying that applying for the position to give it some degree of commitment. We made a commitment to stay in the position for 5 years…I stayed 8.

Soon after going on staff, I came to a couple of surprises. One, vocational ministry, when it’s your job, ministry becomes very lonely work…for both the pastor and their spouse. We went from a place where our friends were in the church to it being our work. We didn’t have time for friendships in the church like we used to. It was and is one of the most difficult parts of pastoral ministry.

The second thing I realized was that I was poorly trained for the job. I had interest, and a heart for the work, but I didn’t have the tools. I loved Jesus, but I needed more, so we began to pray about what to do next.

Trip to Tennessee

God knew that I love his church…He knows how much I want to see his church fulfil our purpose…He knows that I have some God knows your heart…he can use anyone who’s heart longs to be used....

I believe that in order for the church to reach people far from God, we are going ot have to start doing things that are very different from what we are doing…because we are doing what wee have been doing for years…and it’s not working.

He has work prepared for us to do…and it’s not as far away as we like to think…it’s right here.

My prayer: I love you Jesus…use me.