Ministry From The Far Side

Missionaries are humans too! Observations from a missionary to Moldova.

What Have I Been Given? 8 Feb 2010, 5:45 am

What have I been entrusted with by God?

I read Luke 19 this morning, the story of how a master entrusted three servants with some money.  He left different amounts of funds with each servant, then when he returned home, he called for a report.  The one with 10 minas had earned 10 more, the one with 5 have earned 5 more, but the servant with 1 mina had done nothing but sit on the money. 

He didn't lose the money, but he did nothing to build on it.

So...what has the master left me?  What has God placed into my possession?  What gifts and talents has He given me to use to build His kingdom?  What resources have I been blessed with?  And am I doing anything about them?

These thoughts have been on my mind lately, partially due to my thoughts on my life and my purpose.  I am going through a workbook, True North, at the same time as Nancy, dealing with one's personal leadership strengths.  We have been in Moldova 7 years, doing plenty of ministry, working wherever we could to help build and strengthen the Church.

But with what am I personally gifted?  Am I using my gifts?  I have talents, but I don't think making great newsletters is one of them.  I don't want to include raising funds, though I do a decent job at that.  I am not a gifted counselor, though have sat with many people through marriage and family crises.

I am a decent teacher and preacher.  I enjoy writing, and my words do have a way of challenging people.  I enjoy the camera and the power of the image.  Creativity is a strength, along with vision.  I can see the future in people, and love to convey the potential of what could be (with God's help).  I am a voracious learner, not content with doing piddling work but prefer deeply transformational ministry.  I can rally the troops, but don't always remember the details to keep things rolling.  I am NOT a good manager, but believe in people.

What I am mulling as of late is a simple question: what are the 10 (or 5) things that God has given me?  NOT--what are the things that I have taken on, or gifts that others assume of me.  But what has GOD given me?  And what am I going to do about it?

What has God given YOU?

Source: Ministry From The Far Side | Raatz

The Journey

Change 26 Jan 2010, 11:29 am

At the New Year we always talk about the need for change. We make resolutions, try to lose weight and begin exercise programs. Often the change we need must be deeper. It must be a change of the heart, a change of ways and actions.

This type of change is difficult. It is scary. We see this so clearly for the women at the Home of Hope. They come and want a place of safety, but a changed life is foreign. They don't want to go to that place of change. The first months are especially difficult.

Please continue to pray for *Leah and *Ginny. There is so much that holds them in bondage. They want to leave or run from the home. They see freedom as life on their own, life in the bars, life in another country. After being held in captivity, they see freedom only as a place. As believers we know that true liberty is only in Christ. "He who the Son sets free is free indeed!"

Pray that God would set them free from the captivity of their own souls. Pray that they would submit their lives to Christ and grow in Him.

Pray for peace for Ginny. Her mother died shortly before she was trafficked. She still feels this loss and misses her mother greatly.

Pray also for one of our children. In the next few weeks she needs to get her tonsils out. Pray for safety in the operation and a quick healing for her body.

Pray also for our staff. The work is draining, and they need to see God as victorious in their lives too.

Source: The Journey | NancyR