An exciting new ministry opportunity has been presented to us this week and boy, has it provoked a lot of thought and discussion in this house! Last week we decided to strongly pursue a tribal church-planting ministry because that is what continues to tug at Miguel's heart...this week, leadership has asked us to consider working in a new support ministry. This new ministry would put us in the center of creating a sending organization for Mexican missionaries (or other Latins). This ministry is undoubtedly something that highly attracts our attention because we also have a heart for building and strengthening the relationship between ex-pat missionaries and their Latin colleagues. Miguel would be working with promotion and representation (among other things) and I would work part-time out of the home office (me? with an office?! I think I'm still in shock!) in a secretarial/coordinator type role. I think I even found a good childcare solution already! :)
But...our question is, is this a crossroads or a bridge? If we decide to take this ministry road, does it mean we are turning our backs on the tribal ministry role? (We aren't getting any younger, you know!) Or would working in this ministry for a couple of years be the bridge that carries us into a tribal church-planting role further on down the road? Is this God's provision of a dynamic ministry for us at this time or merely one of those ministry opportunities that come along and would be good to do, but are to be declined? Like one of my sisters said, perhaps this is a glimpse of God working on our behalf behind the scenes while we were still in such doubt and discouragement regarding our future...aarrgghh! Why does this have to be so hard?!
I think that our conclusion is that for now, we will join this new venture (perhaps re-evaluating at the end of the school year) and continue to ask God to lead and guide...all the while continuing to pursue unity and cry out to God together. I pray for clarity of thought for Miguel, he's the one with the burden of these decisions, anyway. All these questions still swirl in our minds, however, as we continue on the adventure of life.
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6 comments:
Praying for you. Interestingly, I just came home from a lunch meeting where we were seriously discussing a change, too. Not so much a change in what we do, but a change in location and building a new team from the ground up again. Pray for us, too, although our decision and transition would not be sudden, but over some time if we did it.
Remember our conversation a while back? And you said a year and a half at least? Well, here you go. God is answering your prayers in a very exciting way. :)
I'm so happy for you guys!
@Ellie...will be praying for that, big changes, while exciting, can be interesting. :)
@Angela...I have been thinking about that particular conversation and I have been very excited to see these things unfold...however, there are still wrinkles and I'm still being challenged in my faith...but then again, when are we not 'in process'? :)
Lord I pray that You would fill this couple with Your wisdom and direction. Be that still small voice that tells them.... this is the way, walk in it.
Nice to stop by your blog! Praying for your ministry too. : )
All for Jesus,
Julie
Becky, you know we never went to live in a tribe. We really wanted to. but, each time we thought hard about it leadership had other ideas...so we were in the dorm for three years...Billy worked in Leadership roles for 13 years...then the Bible School and Later at the Ranch...we loved it all...and in the midst we got to visit nearly all the tribal locations...some more than once.
We loved what we did...but we still feel a tiny bit sad about not living in a tribe. I'm not saying this to discourage you at all...but to say...whatever ministry you do...I pray you will love it and be glad for the time God has given you to live for HIM.
@Julie...thanks for stopping by! I took a look at your blog, looks interesting! Your daughter is beautiful, btw, so neat you can give her a family! Bendiciones!
@Cindy...I didn't know that you wanted to be in a tribe! Interesting the path that God took you down...and yes, it is good to live for Him in whatever ministry we're in. Thanks for the encouragement and your prayers!
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