How do you like where you are? A question often asked when you meet friends and collegues for the first time after moving to a new ministry location. I'm not sure whether it is just a question to start conversation, or a real interest in your new location, or your general well-being. My stock answer ~ I can be miserable anywhere, if I want to be! ~ seems to change the subject.
With a few years of ministry to look back on, getting to know the spiritual climate of a new ministry location is of vital importance. That is more than the spiritual climate of the new fellowship of worshipers, it is the climate of the local community. In the past we have moved into ministry localities where the Ministers, and the Christian community, have been under vigorous oppression. In these times, you celebrate the good happenings when they occur. At other times, being deeply moved by observations of the community, your heart breaks, under the burden of ministry.
Watch, listen, and pray.
A leper came to him, begging on his knees, "If you want to, you can cleanse me." Deeply moved, Jesus put out his hand, touched him, and said, "I want to. Be clean." Mark 1:40-41 [Message]
With a few years of ministry to look back on, getting to know the spiritual climate of a new ministry location is of vital importance. That is more than the spiritual climate of the new fellowship of worshipers, it is the climate of the local community. In the past we have moved into ministry localities where the Ministers, and the Christian community, have been under vigorous oppression. In these times, you celebrate the good happenings when they occur. At other times, being deeply moved by observations of the community, your heart breaks, under the burden of ministry.
Watch, listen, and pray.
A leper came to him, begging on his knees, "If you want to, you can cleanse me." Deeply moved, Jesus put out his hand, touched him, and said, "I want to. Be clean." Mark 1:40-41 [Message]
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