WHAT ARE MY PRIORITIES?

A short while back, I asked a veteran missionary to come by so I could pick his brain. What are the key things I should know and do as I enter this new adventure in ministry? He shared many profound insights, but one really stuck in my mind. He asked "What are your priorities?" And then he told me about two approaches that people like me take with this ministry.

Approach #1 - Focus on numbers and events.
Approach #2 - Focus on people.

I guess it's really no different than the approaches we take in the rest of our lives and careers. But this wise missionary drove home his point with this story. He said:

"In the country I served in for years, it got to the point that we could attend a seminar by a visiting speaker almost every weekend. And they were all very informative and helpful. But I never really saw much of a change in the local believers in the weeks and months after the seminar. The speakers, though, had some terrific stories to tell and could reassure their supporters that, indeed, their money was being put to good use for God's kingdom. Forty people came to their seminar! They made a great impact on this trip!"

But did they? Are the numbers sitting in the chairs any indication of the lasting, kingdom impact that was made? That was the question this gentleman was challenging me to think about.

And then he went on. "The greatest impact I have seen in my many years in ministry - both in America and abroad - happens when you invest your time in just a few people. You care for them, train them, spend time with them - in short, you disciple them! Now, the problem with this is that you will have a more difficult time describing your ministry to your supporters. It is easy to write 'I taught 75 people at a seminar for a week and God really moved!' It is much more difficult to send them an email or letter saying 'I have been spending most of my time investing in 5 key leaders in Iran (for example).'"

Then he peered into my eyes and asked me again "What are your priorities?" And I've thought about that alot. And I'm going for #2! It's what God has burdened and gifted me for - it is what makes my heart beat with joy and excitement and passion. To be His agent of transformation in the lives of His children will take time and training and, well, discipleship.

So I ask for your patience and prayers as I seek to find ways to continue to keep you informed and involved with this awesome ministry. I may have the greatest stories to share - but because they are very personal and confidential, I may not be able to talk about them with you. Yet I've already found that concentrating on key leaders bears great fruit.

For example, one of my best students in Iran has already begun taking what she has learned during our group and individual prayer times and using it to help her church members. She has told me of many people being set free already.

Or in Mexico, our investment (on Skype and during our 5 days there) focuses on a very special couple. They are receiving great healing - and are now starting to use the healing prayer lessons they have learned to help others. Their stories are amazing! I will share some of these later as I get permission.

Right now, ministry is about counseling/praying/training on skype - 1 class (soon to be 2) and about 10-12 individual appontments each week. It's about training the telephone counselors for the Iranian TV ministry. It's about talking to church leaders about ministry opportunities they never dreamed of. Each of these are investments in dozens, even 100's of other leaders. Pray that God will continue to guide me to the leaders He wants me to come alongside. Sometimes they are not the obvious ones (to our human eyes).

Kingdom impact - for eternity! May God help me to keep this as my priority!