Through the marvel of online streaming, last Saturday my wife and I participated in the ordination of a dear friend to the Anglican priesthood in Sheffield Cathedral, Sheffield, UK.
The preacher at our friend’s ordination told this story.
Imagine you are out walking one night when you come upon a house on fire. You rush toward the burning house and discover 12 firemen deeply asleep near the fire. Nearby you find a bucket of water. How will you use the one bucket of water? Will you throw your water on the fire? Or will you use your bucket of water to wake up the firemen?
To me, the visual is striking! One bucket of water will do nothing to quench the fire but could do a great deal to galvanize more help by waking the firemen.
The Gospel and Epistle texts for this ordination sermon were these
Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” (Matthew 9:35-38)
The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ. (Eph. 4:11-13)
The preacher went on to ask the ordinands (and me) to think about these questions: when the story of your ministry is written, what do you hope will define it?
- Will you have helped people? Yes, he said, and most of the many people you help will be grateful–for a while.
- Will you have started new things? Yes, he said, and some of the new things or programs you start will flourish–until they eventually subside and then inevitably end.
- He then brought his sermon home with a final question:When you stand and give account to the Lord, He will not ask what great things you have done, but who have you helped to grow?
Besides the joy of sharing in this milestone in our friend’s life, it was an opportunity to reflect on the last 40 years since I was ordained at our home congregation in Minneapolis, MN in 1980.
Shortly after I was ordained in 1980, “equip the saints for the work of ministry” became my lifetime ministry verse. My goal has always been “building up the Body of Christ” as the best (and most biblical) way to advance God’s mission and Kingdom in the world.
I wish I could say I’ve done it as well as I hoped I would back in 1980. Many times I’ve been distracted or lost sight of my larger equipping goal. Many times I’ve lowered my eyes from “laborers for the harvest” to running a church organization.
However, God willing, I still have some time left to focus on where my heart has been (if not always my head and hands). In this regard, I have exciting news to share with you.
My ministry coaching Christian leaders took a major step forward last week.
I accepted a new staff position of Coaching Coordinator with The Antioch Partners.
The Antioch Partners (TAP) is a dynamic Presbyterian mission agency that recruits, trains and sends missionaries all over the world into long-term cross-cultural, incarnational ministry opportunities. Two important priorities for TAP are working among unreached and least-reached peoples and strengthening the missional capacity of global partners. Read more about their work here.
Joining the TAP staff team is a wonderful win/win!
- For TAP, it offers a new resource serving their worldwide missionaries and staff through coaching support. Their priority “strengthening the missional capacity of global partners” perfectly fits my desire to grow leadership capacity in missional leaders, wherever they are.
- For me, it provides a monthly financial stipend to support my now almost fulltime (30 hours/week) work equipping African church leaders through personal and team coaching and coaching skills training. By God’s grace, multiplying my impact by investing in global Christian leaders can expand as I become a resource person for TAP’s worldwide missionaries. Take a look at where TAP missionaries are currently serving.
As I look forward with anticipation to this new chapter for me, I want to thank all of you who have supported me during the past year through your financial support and prayers. I know I’d never have reached this point in my journey without your support.
I also want to express my deep gratitude to Exec. Director Rob Weingartner and the Outreach Foundation who sponsored me this past year and processed my fundraising. As soon as TAP is ready to do so, I’ll let you know.
The preacher ended my friend’s ordination sermon by challenging him (and me) to be a “multiplier of God’s grace to others.”
Christian ministry is not about being ordained, not about having certain spiritual gifts, talents or abilities, and definitely not about an organizational position like “pastor.” Rather, it is about relationships and how God’s grace might simply flow through you or me to build up others.
“Equip the saints for the work of ministry” is a calling for ALL of us who are Jesus’ disciples, not just the ordained clergy!
How is God using you to multiply His grace to others?
I’m excited about these new developments!