Leading From a Life Message
The used equipment manager at the dealership where I was working came to me one day and said, "This faith thing really works for you, doesn't it?" I said, "Yeah, it really does."
People watch your life. Some people in my hometown knew the erring traits of my teen years and my effort to engage in Christianity. They saw both sides, and in the "immature" years, it wasn't all pretty. More maturing had come about by the time I worked in the farm equipment dealership. Gordon had watched our marriage, my values, and my life direction, which prompted his question.
Saints and Sinners
Every Saint Has a Past, and Every Sinner Has a Future.
Paul had a past:
Ananias answered, "I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem." (Acts 9:13)
Zaccheus had a future:
All the people began to mutter, "He has gone to be the guest of a 'sinner." (Luke 19:7)
Dealing with a "Hall of Shame"
Paul once opined that he, the worst of sinners, was shown mercy so that people who knew that they also were "real sinners" might be encouraged by God's unlimited patience and would then dare to believe that they weren't "too bad to be saved" and choose to believe on Jesus (1 Timothy 1:15-16).
Your Story
You don't need to have the most terrible past in the whole world to have an effective ministry. However, to convey "Jesus the Hope of the World" to people, you must authentically explain how you came to understand that you couldn't make life work without the transformation that Jesus' Gospel represents.
As God brings you in contact with garden-variety Canadians, somehow, it needs to become understandable to them that you are a person who needs a lot of forgiveness, a lot of discovery about God's purpose for you, and supernatural help to free you from self-directed living.
Your Ministry
We're not salespeople. We are saved sinners whose spiritual journeys are testimonial evidence. God providentially gives us an orbit of influence. The Holy Spirit grants hearers of the Gospel saving faith, often using our story of life change to inspire them to take that step.
Half Century Later
So yeah, this faith thing is still working for me—more than ever. It wouldn't be inaccurate to say that everything that is currently priceless in my seventy-plus years has been touched by the spiritual rapport, spiritual wisdom, and spiritual conscience that resulted from the conversion of an eleven-year-old.
Gary led in one of our growing metro churches for 36 years, then transitioned to be our District Superintendent in 2017. His hope is that your District team will be your single most helpful resource in leading and growing your church. His goal is that 80% of our churches will be experiencing incremental growth within the next three years.