Stepping out in faith
Often, the courage Christians need is in dealing with their fears about how well they are serving. CMS missionary Rowan, who mentors several leaders in South East Asia, describes the courage that pastor Rikki* gained from reading the book of Daniel.
‘… some Christians had been telling him that only extroverts can be successful as church pastors. As you might guess, Rikki is an introvert!’
Do you know the children’s song sung by Kermit the Frog? The first line is “It’s not easy being green.” In my part of the world, ‘green’ is the colour associated with the majority religion. One of the pastors I mentor lives in a very green area of the city.
My friend, Pastor Rikki, serves in a church that meets in an anonymous-looking building that has no signage or description of what takes place inside, as some members of the community do not want Christians or Christian activities in their area.
Rikki and I have met regularly for a while. Recently, over coffee and a meal in a café near his church, we talked, read the Bible, and prayed together. We spoke about some of the challenges he has faced as he serves his congregation. He shared that he was feeling uncertain about his ministry, because some Christians had told him that only extroverts can be successful as church pastors. As you might guess, Rikki is an introvert!
As we talked about many matters, I felt led to encourage my friend to read through the Old Testament book of Daniel before our next meeting, and to ask three questions as he read: What does this tell me about God? What does this tell me about myself? What does this tell me about ministry?
God speaks to Rikki
When next we met, Rikki was really excited to share with me about what he had heard God say to him through the Scriptures. He identified with the struggles of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego as aliens in a foreign culture—because not only is he a Christian in a green area, but he is an alien longing for his heavenly home.
Rikki told me that the prayer life of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had challenged him. Based on his own prayer life, he asked himself, how much did he really trust God? Rikki told me that faith of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had inspired him to step out in faith. He was praying that God would put on his heart someone in his own congregation that he could mentor.
It was so encouraging to see and hear Rikki’s enthusiasm and excitement about what God had revealed to him through the Scriptures.
Not long after this, someone in his church took up his offer to mentor him. Like Rikki, this person is an introvert and has been feeling discouraged and disheartened about whether he can be a faithful Christian.
We talked together about how the big take-away from the book of Daniel is not that we should dare to be like Daniel, but rather that we should dare to trust in and be devoted to Daniel’s God.
At the end of our time together, Rikki said to me, “Thanks for listening, Rev.” Which was strange, because he did most of the talking. Please do pray for Rikki as he serves in this very green area of this nation, that those he serves would know God’s wisdom and grace through that ministry.
*Name changed for privacy reasons.
PRAY
Pray as Rowan has asked that Rikki—and other South East Asian pastors—may know and see God’s wisdom and grace working through them.
