Giving My Life

Today was my first full day in Ryazan, Russia. I am traveling with three other people...David and Jeannie Bess from First Baptist, Nitro and Jon Viller from Philippi Baptist. We are here for one week to do some training and encouragement of pastors in the region. I have been here in Ryazan most every year since 2001. What a joy to be connected to my brothers and sisters in Russia.

Today, we had lunch with Pastor Valery Severin from Novomirchurinsk. This is a small town about one and a half hours south of Ryazan. Pastor Valery has been in Novomirchurinsk for several years and has been working to make good connections with leaders in the community. Doing this gives him much credibility and stability in the work of ministry. I listened to his story of their ministry and marveled at all that they can do with so little resources. He spoke of there needs and wants in the ministry and he also spoke of God's constant provision for their needs. They are trusting God to provide what they need.

As I listened I couldn't help to think that we have the opposite problem in the United States. We tend to lean too much on our resources of money and programs, etc. and get lazy in our approach to ministry. We have to learn to give away and put away what can be a distraction and learn to trust and depend only on God. When you boil to down, we both must trust in God and God only in our ministry.

In the end, we both have the same resources...the Holy Spirit that lives and moves in our lives and our very lives. We are called as believers in Jesus Christ to give our very lives for the gospel. No matter where we live....what language we speak...we are called to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ through our lives.

The Apostle Paul wrote:

There is one body and one Spirit—
just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—
one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all,
who is over all and through all and in all.
Ephesians 4:4-6 (ESV)

I am compelled by our God...encouraged by the example of our brothers in sisters in Ryazan and energized by the presence of the Holy Spirit to continue in giving my life to the Lord's work.
What a joy to serve my God in this world. Thanks for your prayers for our continued safety and fruitful ministry here in Russia.