“And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” Ephesians 4:11-13
Over the years as I have reflected on this text I have been shocked at the role of leadership in the Church. Many times I fall into the trap that I, as a pastor, have to make all the decisions, disciple everybody, and do everything in ministry. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth. I am not called to do everything but to faithfully serve those whom God has given and point to the only One who can change everything. One of my greatest joys of serving in this land is to watch the Gospel spread in families. Ahmet, one brother in our community, began coming to services and started living life with us. I saw his life personally starting to change. Then he began to bring his two kids. After this he brought his wife and then his brother, then his brother’s wife, and now just recently his brother’s daughter started to come. My role was not necessarily to speak to all His family but to equip Ahmet for the work of ministry in his family and in the church. My prayer over this last month has been for the Lord to put His church in His order for His glory that the Gospel might spread in our lives, families, and city.
The discipleship camp started wonderfully, had some bumpy roads, ended early, and we all grew in and through it. It was an absolute joy to join every morning with the saints for prayer, worship, and teaching. God exposed our hearts, grew us up, and is now putting things in order after all the shaking. This culture is dramatic, emotional, and intense which can lead to fighting, crying, laughing, and repenting. God is our Lord and Savior and is forming us into the image of His Son. Sometimes this process is a joy and other times painful. This camp was both and very fruitful.
We have mentioned in the past divisions within the church and the need for prayer. I am excited to share that God is slowly answering prayers. This last week all the believers in the city and in near by villages came together for a joint service in hopes that it might be a step toward unity. I got the privilege to teach that night from 1 Cor 1:10-13. There is also a new willingness to talk through issues and humbly seek change. Please keep praying church that we would follow God’s process and be put in His order! The numbers in the church are slowly growing and we know that we all have a part to play in His body. Pray that the Lord would give us wisdom and maturity. I also believe the time to add elders is quickly approaching. Please fast and pray with us. We want God’s men full of the Holy Spirit, grace, and character.
Finally we as a family are continuing to do great. We are all healthy and excited to see what God will do next. It is always an adventure and in the end never disappointing. Our aim remains the same. To preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to follow Him wherever He may lead. May the Lord bless you all and keep you.