Transitions and ministry
I’m realizing that I might be at home for longer than I had planned on… and I need to stop thinking of this time as just a time of transition. I haven’t been getting involved in ministry yet because I keep thinking I’m going to be leaving. But I have no idea what God has for me or how long I really will be here. The Great Commission isn’t put on hold because my life is. It’s good to go to church and to try to reach my coworkers, but I can’t stop there. I miss refugee ministry and urban ministry. It was so convenient at school, so many organizations to get involved with and ministries to participate in. Now it’s a little harder, but it isn’t really supposed to be easy, is it?
The reason I started thinking about this is because I was listening to my sister’s Christian rap CD by Lecrae. He has really good lyrics and theology. At the end of his song “Send Me,” he says,
The Great Commission says make disciples of all nations
Have we even made them in our own nation?
Come on Christians!
Missions exists because worship doesn’t.
People don’t worship the God who made them.
We’re ambassadors.
Let’s go!
You might recognize “Missions exists because worship doesn’t” as a quote from Piper. Anyway, I realized that just because I know in my head the truth of that, and I’ve learned it in the past, doesn’t mean anything unless I’m living in obedience today. I don’t know what it’s supposed to look like. It won’t be in the most spectacular way, and it still might take some time, but it needs to be in my heart and I need to be open to how God is going to use me.
Filed under: Christianity, Personal Reflection on June 28th, 2008
I’ve been there, Anna. I know what it’s like to feel like you’re in a time of transition, and not want to really take on anything in case you’ll be moving on to something/somewhere else…I’ll be praying that God will give you patience and direction as you seek to serve Him where you are, with all you’ve got, one day at a time.
When I took some time off between colleges, what really helped me was to get information from local community colleges about volunteer opportunities. They had a wider selection than my small church did, so if there are any colleges in your area, I suggest checking in with them to see what kind of things they offer!
And you never know - the outreach you do during your transition time could be the place and people you’re transitioning to!
I admire your willingness to obey all the teachings of God no matter where you are or what you’re doing - that is always such an obstacle for everyone! Best of luck with these next steps of yours!
Funny you mention Lecrae…a girl at my church loves his music as well as other Christian rap. I never really took any notice of it until I met her but there are some very powerful, thought-provoking thoughts in their music which is refreshing.
I remember feeling the exact same thing when I got out of college…that it was so much easier to be involved in outreach, etc while there cause programs to get involved in were so in reach and there was a constant push to get involved in them, friends around to get involved in them with, etc.
This post-college season is a difficult one in some ways but be encouraged…be confident in your very admirable passions and pursuits and do not be afraid to pursue them with all your heart and God will be faithful to lead you to exactly where you are best suited for the task. Remember that even if much of your life right now seems to be a lot of prayer/looking for God’s direction without much seemingly “real action” taking place that all this prayer/opportunity to meditate on His will will be so strengthening to you in whatever He has in store for you in the road ahead. These times are precious times and do not come that often in the Christian life.
Hmm, just before reading this I read the June 30th girltalk.blogs.com post. I think I will make the most of my home work tonight.
Thanks for the encouragement to make the most of my time whatever season I am in. That is a valuable truth.