Even when the world is locked down, the Gospel has a plan.

Today’s keyword is PLAN.
After six weeks of sharing different aspects of the ministry, I would like to talk about the future.  “Where do we go from here?”

These weeks together have been particularly enlightening in that regard. 
To go forward I would like to go backward.
The first place I need to go is to a mountain in Galilee, where Jesus gave us the Great Commission:

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.
Matthew 28:19-20

The lockdown did not surprise Jesus, nor did it mess up his plan.
Our calling as disciples is still to make disciples of all nations…disciples of Jesus Christ.  That’s the big picture.

Then there is our small piece of the puzzle.
In ministry there is always a tension between DOING ministry and EQUIPPING OTHERS for ministry. 
Most of us have a tendency toward DOING probably.  It’s easier…it’s more predictable, it assures greater job security.

Unfortunately, in the long run it is also very short-sighted.  We get old, we get sick, eventually we die.  And what is left when we’re gone?

I remember during my college days when I heard our friend, missionary Al Cuthbert speak about developing leaders.  All of a sudden it all made sense…we can continue the great commission by investing in others that will invest in others!

In a sense that is what all servants of God are called to do.

11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds[a] and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
Ephesians 4:11-12

Sometimes we get caught up in doing.  And that’s not all bad…but at the end of the day, at the end of our life, it’s when we invest in developing others that we can make the greatest difference.

That’s why our personal mission statement, even twenty years later, has remained:
Equipping the Italian Church of the Next Generation to Reach the World for Christ.

There is something exhilarating, there is something right about seeing younger men and women developed in their gifts to serve Christ’s church into tomorrow.  After all, isn’t that what Jesus did?

Pray that we may continue to do that everyday more and better!

We look forward to seeing you soon! (But not too soon!)

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