by Josh Monda | Jun 18, 2009 | Uncategorized
Apr 05
This Is Where I Am At
Posted by Josh
I was reading this blog post tonight and it really spoke to me because this is where I am currently at in my life.
Thanks to http://timschmoyer.com
Last week in a conversation with my mentee, he asked, “How do you know if you’re called to ministry?” If we’re all honest, there have been times when each of us has questioned our calling to ministry, particularly during the difficult times. My mentee is not currently in that situation, but the issue of feeling “called out” of ministry is still a difficult one. When we go into vocational ministry, we often use language like, “God is calling me to serve at this church.” Or, when we leave one ministry position and go to another, we say, “God called me away from that ministry to this new one.” Sometimes we’re clearly over-spiritualizing a situation, sometimes not. But when we start to question the calling, let’s not confuse those emotions with ones of discouragement or insecurity. For example, if you had a lot of people encouraging and supporting you, would you still feel “called out” of ministry? If you felt affirmed by key people in your ministry, would your calling change? Remember, our calling into ministry does not come from people, nor should it be retracted by people. It comes solely from the Lord. If you’re doubting your call to ministry, don’t confuse it with feeling discouraged or insecure. Deep down, we all feel that in ministry.
Affirmation and encouragement are absolutely healthy and necessary things to have in your ministry, but never should we base a calling to ministry on the praise or opinions of others. Base your calling on the Lord’s direction in your life.
Uncategorized
Mar 31
Discouraged
Posted by Josh
I admit that I rarely allow discouragement to get the better of me. I typically am the type of person that allows most things to roll off my back and then move on. God has allowed me to go through alot of challenges in my life and in ministry but I can’t think of a time where I have been more discouraged. I understand and realize that God is definitely in control of all things and I suppose sometimes that is where discouragement seems to set in. Because in the reality of everything I am in control of nothing. It seems that lately I have been continually reminded of this. God has continued to teach me humility and sometimes that daily prayer that I say “God reveal in me those things that are not of You” just gets harder and harder. There are days I don’t want to say it but I continually am confronted with those thing that are not of God that are in my life.
I am so thankful that God has given me the opportunity to intern at making and I am doing one of the things that I love most which is ministering with students. I have had the opportunity to speak on Wednesdays and Sundays and it has been awesome sometimes to see the teens response the word of God. I have had numerous teens come and counsel with me after a message and tell me what God has spoken to them. In addition I have had adults do the same thing. God has truly blessed. However I know that God has called me to full time Christian Service and I guess that is where the discouragement comes in.
I t is so hard to know that God has called you to something and yet feel like you are not doing what God has called you to do. For the first time in my life I have questioned what God has called me to do. I know God has called me but I suppose it is hard when you sit back and you wait on Gods plan to unfold. So often we want things to happen so fast.
I have given my life to christian service. In the last 14 years I have served in two churches and have seen numerous teens come to know Christ as savior. I have seen numerous teens be baptized, and have seen numerous teens live out there faith. I pray that I have effected lives in ways that I will never know and I pray that God has somehow used me to change peoples lives forever. However I continue to find myself asking God “what about now God” God amI done? God are my days of full time ministry over? Have I done all that you wanted me to accomplish in full time ministry? I feel the answer comes back no that God has more for me. Oh but it is so hard when you cannot see it. This is just how I feel.
Uncategorized
May 31
Farewell Pennsylvania
Posted by Josh
Just recently I left Pennsylvania with my wife and my 10 day old son and started the trek to Missouri.  Currently I am in Urbana Illinois staying in the Eastland Suites.  If you are ever this way I would recommend them.  One of my good friends asked me what I was going to do on my last day in PA.  I really did not know what I would do but my last day was definitely a busy one. Â
It started by waking up and finishing some things up for our move.  We had some cleaning and some other things to do.  We then took our baby to see a few people later that day and then spent some time with some friends.  It was a good time.  I enjoyed my last day just spending time with some old friends two of which I had not had the chance to talk to in awhile.  It was so nice to just catch up with people and to just sit down and be myself and hang out and act goofy with others.  One of the guys I hung with has his own site you can check it out here.  I knew all of these guys from tie in Youth Ministry together.  To be honest I could not think of a better way to spend my last day then just being me and that is what I had the chance to do.
Over my 9 years in PA it has been great.  It has been awesome to see how the Lord has allowed me to have an effect on the lives of many, many teenagers.  I had so many opportunities to lead teens to Christ and had the chance to see many teens not only come to know the Lord but to also follow after the Lord in their lives.  ore than one parent thanked me for the affect I had on the life of their teen.  I can remember one parent that spent some time talking with me and brought me to tears.  I praise the Lord for the gifts he has given me and I pray that I have made a difference in PA in the lives of those that I have had the opportunity to minister to.  Whether they were teens or adults.  I believe a legacy is not found really in what you leave behind at the church but what you leave behind in the lives of those you have touched.  When I left PA I left a part of my heart with those God blessed me to minister to.  Whether it was through a Bible class, a sermon, or just being there for someone.  I pray God bless you all and may God use you to bring others to Him.
Life, My Thoughts, Spiritual Application
May 15
Only the Lonely
Posted by Josh
I remember as a college student at Hannibal LaGrange College a professor saying that ministry in lonely.  If I recall correct he said that to be in ministry is to be in some of the loneliest time you will ever know.  When asked why he stated because you feel like you cant have any real friends.  I thought this cant be true but it is.  Why is ministry so lonely?  Does it have to be that way?  Why do pastors and youth pastors feel like they have to shelter themselves from everyone?  Why do we not let people see the real us?
I have been a Youth Pastor for over 14 years and they have been some of the loneliest years of my life.  I have often wondered why?  It seems odd that we have certain criteria that we want followed and we often do not want people to step outside of our box.  Somehow and idea has invaded the church that a pastor can not sin or can do no wrong so Pastors shelter themselves trying to live the perfect life.  I rarely have had anyone that I could just poor my heart out to and tell them what I was feeling and why I was feeling it.  Even at times when I did share struggles or problems I was judged instead of loved. Â
I can’t tell you how many times I would sit at home with my wife and wish we had someone just to hang out with.  Hoping maybe some people would just call us up or that we could just go out to eat with someone or watch a movie with someone.  This happened a few times with some people some more then others.  It is odd that a Pastor can stand in the pulpit and have people hanging on every word but outside of the pulpit no one seems to care.  I have some great friends that accept me for who I am unfortunately they are thousands of miles away some not that far but they all have their own ministries.  The funny thing is loneliest is one of the number one reasons pastors leave.  I do not like the loneliness especially right now with all that is going on.  But I think of those words from my professor “to enter into ministry is to enter into some of the loneliest time ever.”
And as I think of the possibility of getting back into ministry I am forced to ask myself this question. Â ”Do I want to be lonely?”
Life, My Thoughts
May 09
High Cost of Living Ouch
Posted by Josh
So I have had alt of churches contacting me over the last weeks which has been crazy in itself. Â The reason it is crazy is because I don’t know how alot of these Churches even know about me or that I am available. Â Most of these churches are from all over the US Texas, North Carolina, and so forth. Â I have never really looked that deep into any of these positions as far as what the towns are like and so forth. Â I especially had not looked into the cost of living into any of these places. Â
Honestly I am still undecided on what I want to do or pursue. Â I really think a year off from full time ministry is probably what is best for me and my family right now as we need to heal. Â At the same time I want to be open to where the Lord may lead and doors He may open to me.
Anyway there has been one Pastor that has been in contact with me for a little bit now and has really pursued after me.  They have just built a brand new facility completed a few months ago and are currently running about 60 kids and the church has about 280.  He asked for a statement of beliefs from me and I send it out to him and we seem to have alot in common.  Though I am still unsure what the Lord may want and even though personally this sounds like it would be a perfect fit for me as far as a church and even location though I would still be far from family.
Well here is the part that scares me. Â The pastor said I want you to look at the cost of living here as housing is very expensive and that is the downside to our location. Â I was thinking well how bad could this be I mean I live in Berks County PA and housing is expensive here so I thought. Â Anyways I began to check out realtors and and soon found out that housing was through the roof. Â The cheapest house I found was for 189,000 and that was a trailer on some land. Â Ouch you talk about expensive. Â So I did some more research thinking we could probably rent and be ok. Â There was a three bedroom 2 bath trailer for rent it was only 1200 ouch again. Â Man this has totally floored me. Â After some more digging I found that the cost of living in this place was 16% above the us average. Â The good news they are one of the fastest growing counties in the US. Â
Well to some it up there is alot of potential in this church and if God calls us there He would definitely have to supply.  Please understand names, and places have been left out intentionally.
Life, My Thoughts
Apr 27
Teens are Involved
Posted by Josh
Yesterday (4-26) I had the awesome privilege of being a room host at our Regional Teens Involved.  If you are not familiar with Teens Involved it is a competition that is hosted by Word Of Life (if you are not familiar with them then that can be another blog) anyway at this competition teens can compete in 23 different categories.  Yesterday I hosted the instrumental room which was a riot for me because I know very little about music.  What I was so impressed with was the quality of teens that were in this competition. I had the wonderful opportunity to pray with every teen before they performed and to chat with them briefly and wow.  We hear so much bout our teens doing bad things and this and that but these teens wanted to be there.  These teens wanted to give what they had to the Lord.  Specifically I remember one young lady playing her violin and I was nearly moved to tears.  My heart was encouraged being with those teens.
My heart was also encouraged as I had the opportunity to hear two young men preach.  These young men are special to me as I have had the opportunity to be a part of their life and have even lead one of them to Christ.  It was so awesome to hear them clearly lay out the gospel and clearly give a plan of salvation.  It was neat to hear that they had taken my advice.  Though I am saddened to not be their Youth Pastor anymore do to my recent resignation (thats another blog), I am excited to see them live for the Lord.  Both these guys and many others hold a special place in my heart more so then they or anyone else will probably ever know.  Guys if you read this you did an awesome job and I am so proud of you,
Teens are the church of now and into the future and it is a joy to see them serve. Â I would encourage you if you are involved in a church what are you passing on to those that are below you. Â Look for someone to get involved with and pass the things of God on to them.
My Thoughts, Spiritual Application, Uncategorized
by Josh Monda | Jun 18, 2009 | Uncategorized
It has been along time since I have posted primarily because I have been so busy. I know that is hard to believe that I have been busy without a job but I sure I have been. Rather than update about Mike Erre’s book (I will do that later) I thought I would just give some things that have been going on in my life.
I’ll start with the crusade we recently had. I meet with one of our Pastors pretty regularly and I really enjoy the time I get to spend with him. Leading up to the crusade he asked me if I would like to help with train the counselors I of course jumped at the opportunity because this is the very thing I love to do. So I spent a few nights getting things ready and going over the training and then we trained the counselors for two evenings, to be ready for the response we were expecting during the crusade. The Impact Macon Crusade was February 22-25 and I was there every night. We saw God move in a remarkable way during that week we saw over 100 decisions for Christ and over 90 0n one night. I must say I was not ready for over 90 people to respond to the gospel that night but it was wonderful. Hey they were all counseled to.
Secondly I was asked if I could teach a book of the Bible to the youth what book would it be. I replied I would go through the book of James and the response was “why don’t you teach it” of course I jumped at that any time I get a chance to teach some teens I am going to do it. So on Sunday nights I am taking our Student Overflow through James. I pray and hope they are enjoying it. I have already taught through James so I already have the messages done, but if you know me you know I spend a great deal of time with message prep even if I have already done it before and making sure I am saying what the Lord wants me to say.
Thirdly the first week in March I started taking over the Wednesday evening teaching to the Youth. This has been going great once again I love teaching the teens. On Wednesdays I typically play a game with them and then we go over prayer requests and then I teach. I desire to see both these ministries grow tremendously and I have seen God definitely working on the hearts of some of the teens that come.
Fourthly I received a call from the principal here at Atlanta school and was asked if I could come in and teach Science while the current teacher is away on maternity leave. I accepted the position. Which if you are a teacher you know the work that gos into lessons and so forth. So for the next few weeks I am now a Science teacher. I must say that teaching in the public school is a lot different then teaching in Christian School, or teaching at church, however the kids seem to like me as a teacher and some even thanked me for teaching.
Finally all of this has been happening while still sending out resumes (required for state aid) and while going through an interview process with a church that is interested me. So yeah I have been busy but hey I like being busy. Please pray I will be directed to the church God wants me at and that I will know it and so will the church.
by Josh Monda | Jun 18, 2009 | Uncategorized
Yesterday was a busy day for me. Â I spent the day seeing patients for the first time and spent the day with several people. Â I had a good day it was fun to spend time with some people yet at the same time difficult knowing that these people are in the last days of their lives.Â
I enjoyed my time with one patient in particular. Â We took time to look at an old car magazine together and I read to him about some of the cars. Â We looked at the prices of some of the cars when they first came out and I shared with him what the horsepower was. Â Even though he could not speak well enough fro me to understand him I could see in his expression and in his eyes that he liked the fact that I took the time to be with him. Â It saddened me to know that perhaps this guy had a very little interaction with men now that he was in a nursing home and more then likely he was lonely and wanted a man to just show some interest in him and who he was. Â I knew he liked cars because he had a picture of an old car hanging on his board. Â My time with him was valuable.
However, this got me to thinking.  What would it be like to talk to someone and to know that they can not understand you.  I know his mind works but it must be difficult to know you can not communicate in a way that people understand you.  For some reason my thoughts turned to forgiveness.  What would it be like to want to say to someone “I forgive you yet not be able to”.  How difficult that must be.
My thoughts have turned to my father.  My father was alcoholic and that is really all I knew him as.  In fact it was a rare moment that my father was sober.  I remember the yelling and the screaming I remember the violent way he behaved when he was drunk.  I could not stand it.  I wanted an escape a way out.  Eventually my mother and father were divorced and I rarely saw my dad.  It got to the point where I never say him and in fact did not even know where he was.  I remember when my dad first found where I was and I m in that first letter he wrote and asked if I would ever be able to forgive him.  My response was “dad I forgave you long ago”  It was barely a year later that my father was murdered on the street of Arizona for a measly 11 dollars.  But what if I had never had the opportunity to tell him I forgave him and what I he never had the opportunity to ask.
This has been on my mind. Â Forgiveness can be a powerful thing and I am so thankful that I have been forgiven by Jesus Christ. Â I am so thankful for the grace that is experienced through the blood of Jesus Christ. Â It took me a long time to get to the point where have forgiven some in my old congregation and how things were handled. Â In fact if I am honest bitterness began to take root in me. Â Do I agree with how things were handled? Â The answer is a resounding no. Â Do I forgive how things were handled the answer is yes. Â I did not want to forgive but God began to break me and I got to the point where I knew without forgiveness my life would eventually be useless in the hands of the potter. Â Now perhaps there are those that think they have done nothing wrong but regardless of the fact I forgive, and have forgiven those that have hurt me. Â I pray God’s grace may abound.
I also know that in my life I am not so naive to think that I do not need forgiveness.  I know I have screwed up many times and many times my errors have hurt others maybe those I have hurt will forgive me.  This I know without forgiveness we are not following Christ.  It would be a terrible thing to want to tell someone you forgive them and not be able to say a thing. Â
Tomorrow I will spend some time with a man that will most likely be dead very soon I am responsible for his spiritual care.  What would it be like to pass away without forgiving I pray I never know.
by Josh Monda | Jun 18, 2009 | Uncategorized
Yesterday I started a little blogging series on judging so today I will continue with that series.  As stated yesterday the first thing I notice from Matthew 7:1-6 is that there is a definite command “do not judge” I also stated the greek word for judge used is (krinite) which also means to criticize.
Often times when a person has done what others feel is wrong and fallen the first reaction is to judge that person but judgment often times misses the point. Â
When someone has messed up as we all do shouldn’t this be a time for compassion towards that person. Â This should be a time of reaching out to the person and making an offer to love on that person and to pull them in even closer, not push them further and further away. Â This is a time to speak kind words of them not bite and tear them down with destructive talk. Â (Ephesians 4:30-32)
We should take time to show loving compassion for those who have come short why? Â Well we realize that we too have come short so many times and in many cases much worse then the one we are judging.
Then why is it that people so often and so quickly move to judging and criticizing? Â Not only that why is that so often these are the what we might call “Strong Christians”. Â There are several reason why this takes place and let me say as I state these this was me and probably still is to a certain extent. Â
1.  When we judge or criticize another person it boosts our self-image.  When we tear someone else down it makes us seem better at least that is how we see it, somehow we are better then that other person.  It inflates our pride, ego, and our own self image.
2. Â We enjoy criticism. Â Think of all the successful talk shows, movies, and so forth that are based primarily on this issue we love to hear and share bad news and others shortcomings.
3. Â When we judge and criticize it makes us feel as if somehow our own life is better than the person that failed.
4. Â When we judge and criticize it helps us justify ourselves and all the shortcomings that we have. Â We begin to rationalize our own failures because we can point out failures in other people.
5. Â Judgment and criticism we think is a sign of strength. Â When we criticize someone else we believe it just once again proves our narrow minded beliefs by the other persons failure to live up to that standard.
6. Â Judgment and Criticism gives us a chance for hurt and revenge. Â We feel that somehow that person that we are judging and being critical of deserves it. Â Our reasoning go’s like this “if he hurt me, he deserves to be hurt.” Â So we look for ways to hurt them.
I am going to close with reasons why we should not be so fast to judge and criticize.
1. Â We never know all of the circumstance and all of the facts. Â What happened and why it happened are never really known. Â So often there are all kinds of things that have taken place behind the scenes that are not seen by others. Â Think about just these relationships Children and parents, wives and husbands, employer and employee, friend and friend, in all these relationships things happen behind closed doors so often. Â In addition to that things are seldom remembered and when they are remembered the facts are messed up. Â Usually the person that does the talking does not reveal the true fact but many times reveals only the fact that make them look good. Â The one that is in a hurry to tell others the problem is the one that seeks self-justification. Â The one that desires to be silent is the one who is caring and compassionate. Â The spirit of silence is silent because it does not desire hurt for others.
2. Â The second reason we should not be so quick to criticize and judge is that all people it does not matter who you are or what your position is come short, all fall, and all fail. Â In addition to that we all sin (1 John 1:8, 10). Â No one at any time is ever exempt from sin. Â When we are quick to bring out the whip of judgment and criticism we have a big problem; we have forgotten that we are also sinners. Â It is only when we acknowledge our own condition that we act with care and compassion to those that fall short. Â We must realize though they may be failing now we failed before and we will fail again. Â Sin is a cycle that is continuous and no one is exempt it started in the beginning when Adam and Eve ate of the tree and it will not end until Jesus returns. Â Those that believe in Christ have His righteousness imputed upon them and we are dependent upon that (2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 3:8-16). Â We must always be seeking after God’s forgiveness and forgetting those things that are behind us.
I want to make it clear that I am not saying that we have a license to go out and sin all we want neither is our sin just excused.  We are not to continue in sin, not by being quick to judge and criticize nor by doing evil.  We all have weaknesses and shortcomings the person that really knows God is the one who is constantly seeking God.  ”And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6)
3. Â Everything that there is to know about a person is never known. Â How then can we judge and criticize? Â Think about all the things that mold us into who we are. Â Think about our parents what are they like, how were we treated for the 18 years we lived at home. Â What did our fathers or mothers teach us? Â What kid of friends did we have or do we have? Â There are many factors that influence the person that may be failing. Â Do we know what it is influencing them? Â What kind of genes has this person inherited? Â Are the loving, shy, strict, arrogant, strong, fiery? Â There is so much that influences the human life that only Go can know a person well enough to judge him. Â We can really never know someone well enough to pass judgment on them.
4. Â Judging others usurps God’s authority. Â When someone is critical and judges of another they are saying they have the right and are worthy to be the judge over other lives. Â They are in essence claiming the right to be God, which is absolutely ridiculous. Â Yet I believe most people including myself have laid claim to the right at one time or another, and some claim the right o exercise a judgmental critical spirit all the time.Â
Lets not forget what the Scripture says “Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master [God] he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.” (brackets added by me) (Romans 14:4, James 4:11-12)
Tomorrow I will look at verse 2 and how it is made very clear that we will be judged with the same judgement or criticism we use and we will be judged with the same measurement.
Let me also make it clear that this series is not talking about specific occasions when value judgments must be made, nor is it speaking of the careful discrimination that has to be made at times, finally it is not speaking of the moral judgment that we at times have to make either. Â It is speaking of the harsh judgmental, and often critical spirit that has invaded our churches and our lives at times.
by Josh Monda | Jun 17, 2009 | Uncategorized
I know that is seems that there is controversy over Rap Music in fact I know of some people that would hate rap music no matter how Godly the lyrics might be. However I do not fall into that camp. In fact I love Rap Music. That reminds me of an old DC Talk song that said ”I luv rap music, I always have, and I always will”.
A little over a year ago I started listening to Shai Linne and was immediately blown away by the lyrics. This guy’s music in one song typically has more then you hear in one year of some churches. This morning while exercising on of his songs came on the ipod. The name of the song is Atonement Q and A. I have to tell you as I was going through my exercise and listened to the song I could not help but think how often our churches are failing at teaching any type of theology from the pulpit yet in one song a lot is taught. I may not agree with every minor point but at least and attempt is made. So look at the lyrics below and perhaps learn some Theology from a rap song.
Verse 1
Who is God? God is the universe’s Creator
And Sustainer plus the only Savior, there is no one greater
He is triune, holy, omnipotent, omniscient, absolute
Loving, sovereign and righteous are a few of His attributes
How do we know this? Well, we know this from the Bible
Where God has revealed Himself- anything else is just an idol
What’s the Bible about? Man’s complete ruin in sin
And what God has done in Christ to bring us to Him again
What is sin? Sin is the breaking of God’s law
Plus our condition, which means from birth we all got flaws
What’s the result? The result is by nature we’re God’s enemies
And must pay the penalty unless God provides the remedy
What’s the remedy? The remedy is the cross of Christ
Where He suffered all the strikes for the lawless type
I’ve been rescued by the Lamb, I’m convinced that He’s risen
And blessed is the man whose sins are forgiven!
Chorus
Just fall back, and with the eyes of faith
Behold the beauty of surprising grace
Because the Lamb has died, third day He had to rise
He’s magnified- God’s wrath is satisfied
Just fall back- there’s an atonement now
The cross of Christ is holy ground
Because the Lamb has died, third day He had to rise
He’s magnified- God’s wrath is satisfied
Verse 2
Regeneration- the Holy Spirit’s true work in His love
To the elect, who receive new birth from above
Expiation- expiation means God’s removed my filthiness
The old testament type was the goat into the wilderness
Redemption- we’ve been freed from slavery to sin
And His very own blood is the price He paid, my friend
Propitiation- Propitiation means since the Lamb has died
His work is finished- God’s wrath is satisfied
Adoption- adoption means God is now my Father
I got the hottest Poppa and by the Spirit holler Abba
Reconciliation means there’s no more enmity
God is now a friend to me, we’re no longer enemies
Justification- God declares us righteous
Sanctification– we’re being made into His likeness
Glorification– that’s what happens at the finish
When God conforms believers perfectly to Christ’s image!
Chorus
Verse 3
God’s grace is magnificent, He slayed His innocent
Son- through faith and repentance we get the benefits
What is faith? Faith is a gift from God- when we receive this
We trust and treasure the person and finished work of Jesus
Repentance? Repentance is turning from your sin
And trusting Christ as the Spirit cleanses you within
What is grace? Oh, grace is unmerited favor
Our inheritance major ‘cause we cherish the Savior
Right, and if I may quote again, we were doomed with Satan
But believers get Jesus’ righteousness through imputation
Imputation? God takes Jesus’ righteousness amount
Through faith He credits it into the Christian’s account
Anything else? Well, I guess this overview must suffice
But none of this is possible apart from union with Christ
And finally, once you know the ways of the Lord than the
only thing that you can say is Soli Deo Gloria!
Chorus
by Josh Monda | Jun 17, 2009 | Uncategorized
It was a long time coming. I still remember the early days in my ministry after I had been ministering at First Baptist Church in Atlanta MO and right before I went to Exeter Bible Church in PA I was going to be ordained. However Exeter wanted to ordain me so I held off. The problem came when 9 months after I arrived at Exeter the pastor left and we began a rather long search for a pastor. We did find a Pastor and a few years after that I thought it might be a good time to go through the ordination process. Once again it was halted by my resignation and my subsequent move back to Missouri.
This all leads me up to where God may possibly be leading me. After moving back to Missouri I began to try to find a church to minister in as a youth pastor with little success. During this this time of looking for a youth pastorate I had many friends and family ask me if I had ever considered beign a Sr. Pastor. To be honest that has never even really been on my radar. So often my response has simply been no and God has called me to youth ministry. However that began to change for me over time.
I became a member at FBC macon nearly a year ago. I needed a place where my wife and myself could find healing and a place that we could call home. We found it at FBC macon. I have had the priviledge t osit under some great teachign while being there and have had the awesome privledge to have to pastors I consider friends. I know these men love me and I feel the same way about them. It was at this church that God began to change my though process. It was here that God let minister. It was a few months ago that I had a conversation with Pastor Tim and we began to talk and he said “i believe God may be calling you to be Sr. Pastor” and htough I had heard this many times before this time it was sinking in.
After that conversation I began to pray even harder and seek what God could be saying to me. Though I did not feel I had a clear answer from God I did feel that if God wanted this He would reveal it to me. So I decided to pursue it a little farther and I submitted my resume to a couple pf church that I felt would be a good fit for me. I really did not expect to get a call. One of those churches called me within minutes after receiveing my resume, in addition I have been contacted by other church that received my resume from others. Could htis be the Lord’s leading? Right now I believe it is indeed God’s direction. God has given me a peace about this which I never though I would have. I pray for god to lead me to the right place.
To top all of this off I had a wonderful ordination service this past Sunday night. The encouragement I recieved form the deacons and other pastors was overwhelming to me. I am honored the FBC Macon has seen qualities in me worthy of Ordination. I want to be where God wants me and nowhere else and if that mean I am a Sr. Pastor that is what I want. Please pray for God’s direction.
