In honor of my 4 year anniversary at work, I am writing a 4-part blog series reflecting on the past 4 years. You can view all of the blog entries here on my website. Here’s part 3:
When we made our drastic life change 4 years ago, we believed that we should wait out a year before we got involved into ministry. We never intended to jump into a church and try to “put our mark” on ministry there. Our goal was quite the opposite. I came in really quiet, never really letting out my ministry background. I wasn’t ashamed of having a Masters of Divinity, nor was I ashamed of being a Pastor; I simply wanted to be treated like everyone else and go through the process of church assimilation. 7 months after leaving our old church, God called us into serving at our new church, which has been an amazing experience. Some of my greatest experiences in ministry has been in the last 4 years. This has truly been a growing experience for me. The funny part of all of this is that the most amazing fruit I have seen from serving God came after I stopped working as a pastor. I’ve come to realize that I am teacher, pastor, and leader – regardless of who gives me my paycheck. The beauty of these last 4 years was discovering God’s call on my life – regardless of what my “job title” is. Too many times Christians only see the full time pastors as being people who impact the Kingdom of God. But in fact, God has called each one of us to fulfill specific ministries. I encourage you to keep seeking every opportunity God may have for you.
Below is just a summary of how God has used me over the past 4 years….all while working a M-F, 40 hours a week job. I know that every opportunity is a gift and that I do not deserve any of it. It is only by God’s grace that I am able to serve the Kingdom.
Grace Fellowship
To be completely honest, I was a little wounded after leaving the pastorate. For my entire life I believed I was gifted by God to make a serious impact in the church. But after I left the church 4 years ago, I was wounded emotionally. The question came into my mind, “if I can’t succeed with a small group of people, how could I possibly do anything else?” With that false mindset in place, when I started attending Grace Fellowship Church, I did not think I was “good enough” to serve. God has slowly been teaching me that if I’m willing to let His Spirit guide me, it doesn’t matter what context I am in. I can still have Kingdom impact.
At my current church, I have been able to serve as a small group leader, a teacher for the 2-year olds, and a planner for large special gatherings. In between all of these things, I have the privilege of assisting and consulting with various projects in the church – both small and big.
But by far my biggest joy in serving is the ability to teach for Wednesday evening Move Classes. These classes range from 4-10 weeks and I have witnessed God do amazing things. I am humbled by the fact that I have been a part of 7 different classes, with tremendous positive feedback from people. I continue to do operate in this ministry and truly value this opportunity.
Various Churches in the Region
Ministering to other churches in the area is one of my greatest joys. I love see the Church in all sizes and forms. I appreciate visiting churches in rural areas and churches in cities. I value ministering in small churches as well as larger churches. I find enjoyment in meeting people young and old. Over the past 4 years, I’ve had the opportunity to lead worship/music, teach classes, and preach. Out of everything I do at churches in the surrounding areas I love the most is to preach. What I’ve come to realize is that I am not there simply to preach, but to minister to the people as well (slight difference). That mindset has drastically changed the way I come into a church.
Mentoring Relationships
I believe that mentoring comes in 3 forms: 1) Having someone mentor you, 2) Having a peer mentor, and 3) Mentoring someone. The reality is that we cannot do life on our own, we need others to come alongside the journey with us. God has called us into relationships so that we can help each other grow. Over the last 4 years, I have had the opportunity to constantly experience all 3 levels of mentoring. I am thankful for all the individuals who have poured their life into me and the individuals who continue to pour their life into me. I am blessed by all of the of the people who have let me speak into their lives and value the insights I bring.
You don’t want to miss the final part of my blog series: What Will the Next 4 Years Look Like for Me?
Part 1: Why I Stepped Down as Senior Pastor
Part 2: How God has Shaped Me Over the Past 4 Years
Part 3: How God Has Used Me Over the Past 4 Years
Part 4: What Will the Next 4 Years Look Like for Me?
