The Lord saved me when I was 6 years old and called me into the ministry when I was 9. Not only did I receive my call to ministry at that early age, but I was already well guided in the direction of Brazil. The Lord had put 2 Brazilians in our church at the time and used their friendship to pique my interest and warm my heart to the great need here. I praise the Lord for the opportunity to grow up in a godly Christian home. Though I was not a ministry-brat (not PK, MK, APK–I was a lowly CSTK [Christian school teacher’s kid]). I had perhaps a different perspective of ministry growing up. The Lord allowed me to get involved in ministry (camp and evangelism) when I was in my teens. I can see how the Lord has been preparing me for a life in His service even from a young age. Preparing is never a waste of time. We see Moses “preparing” for nearly 80 years. I can see through the years the Lord working in my heart and I’m so grateful for the preparation.
Certainly, Bible college was a vital aspect of this preparation. I went to a small Bible college based out of our home church. I recall hearing time after time that Bible college was an easy place to backslide and get away from walking with the Lord. I heard it. Frankly, I experienced it. Bible college was busy. Ministry. Work. Social life. Studies. Work. It was 3.5 years of blur. The Lord blessed that time of preparation and ministry. Then, I got married and started working a secular job for 3 years. I was still extremely active in ministry–soulwinning, discipleship, and bus ministry (picking up families in a city about 45 minutes away from where we lived). Again, I am extremely grateful for that time of preparation and ministry with which the Lord blessed my wife and me.
Then we started the process of deputation in September of 2017. I resigned from my full-time job on August 31 and a week later we had our first meeting. Just over 2 years later we were fully supported and arrived in Brazil in February of 2020. Again, I am extremely grateful for the time of preparation and ministry while on deputation. Often, deputation is decried as a necessary evil. I sincerely never felt that way. Exhausting? Certainly. But utterly wonderful to see the Lord’s work in various corners of the United States. Completely challenging to see our faith tested and Father proved as faithful, time after time.
When we arrived here in Brazil, we had no idea the tidal wave of change that was headed for us. Aside from the obvious culture shock and language barriers, just 6 weeks after arriving here, we were inundated with the world of COVID-19. Just like the rest of the world, we were in a state of uncertainty and incomprehensible fear gripping our societies. We quickly realized that we would need more than just a mere prayer time and cursory Bible reading to be able to continue on. All the while, the Lord was preparing us. The Lord allowed us to begin a work in 2022. It has been an amazing, at times frustrating, experience. We’ve seen God move. We know there’s much more He will do. Again, an amazing time of ministry and preparation.
But here’s a quick observation from over 4 years here on the field: the easiest place to substitute a personal devotion for public ministry is in the very ministry that God has graciously given us. It’s easy to allow soulwinning, evangelism, discipling, sermon, or lesson preparation to BECOME my walk with the Lord. But that’s not it at all. Public ministry is no substitute, although it’s an alluring substitute. We see that though Christ was inundated with substantial needs and opportunities, time after time we find Him alone. Praying. Communicating with the Father. Submitting His will to Father’s. We become so busy in the work that we fail to see our own need for personal devotion and repentance. This is not sermon prep. This is not merely an academic study to help someone else grow. This is not a quick 5-minute time for me to rid myself of guilt for not communicating with my Father as He would desire. This has to be something I crave and desire. Something that I thirst for daily. We’ve seen far too many casualties in the Gospel ministry. The sin that should not even be named among God’s people is found in the pulpits and leadership of Christian denominations. Perhaps we’ve lost our way. Perhaps we’ve become so motivated and driven to see ministry go forward that we’ve forgotten our great personal need to adore, worship, receive, and repent. The temptation to do more is the temptation for spiritual leaders. The antidote always is and always will be “I will give you rest.” Christ alone offers the satisfaction and fulfillment that too often we seek in public ministry. At its heart, its base pride. And while God wants to work through, first He must continue to do His work through His Spirit IN us. Don’t fall for the allure. The trap. It might take you far, but it may not take you in the direction that Christ would desire us to walk. It’s a substitute. Don’t substitute your walk for public ministry. There is no substitute–regardless of how alluring it may appear to be.