This is my first paper turned in for the Ordination Process... it discusses my strengths and growing edges, plus gives a short overview of my view of the mission of the church.
Resident’s strengths and growing edges
One of my strengths is that I care about the members of my congregation and I want to help them grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ. I have been told by several people who I have counseled that I have a calming presence and relational sense about me and that I use those gifts to help them discuss what is happening in their lives and to help them see that Christ is actively working even when they may not see it.
Another strength of mine is in the area of preaching. I enjoy being able to spend time during the week looking through the scriptures to see how I can connect God’s word with God’s people. I feel blessed that I can look through the scripture and make it come alive to my congregation. When I preach, I want to bring those who listen into the scripture so they may encounter the living Savior that I am preaching about and have their lives transformed by God’s Spirit. I see the act of preaching as a way to transform and equip the church to share the gospel, while challenging and encouraging them on their own faith journey with Jesus Christ.
As of right now, I have the opportunity to preach approximately once a month. I look forward to that week of preparation, but I am looking forward to the day that I will be able to make that a part of my weekly discipline.
A third strength of mine is providing missional experiences for those desiring to be Christ’s hands and feet to the world. I love providing an opportunity for the youth and adults of the congregation to travel to a location in need to participate in home repair. Another area where I’ve provided leadership has been in the area of developing a missional relationship with a local elementary school by providing supplies, mentor relationships and other types of support. My hope is that the church will live out the words of Jesus when he said, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.”[1]
I would have to say my biggest growing edge has to be dealing with my self confidence. I know that I am a people pleaser by nature and I can get into the mindset of wanting to make people happy, which in turn causes me to doubt my own abilities. To ease this self-doubt I constantly remind myself that, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”[2] When I am able to remember that I am a vessel that God is using to minister to God’s children, I am able to find more confidence.
I am also constantly trying to find ways to have balance in my life. A difficult challenge is making sure I have quality time with my wife and kids among the tasks of ministry and other outside influences. One of the biggest challenges is balancing the day off I have without my family. I know that a day of Sabbath rest is important, but I struggle with using that day off to be refreshed.
How the residency period has shaped the resident’s understanding of the mission of the church.
My period of residency has strengthened my understanding of the mission of the church. I wholeheartedly affirm the United Methodists Church’s mission to “make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.”[3]
In my commissioning paperwork, I wrote that the Church makes disciples for Jesus Christ by proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ, providing healing for a hurting world, and equipping the laity for mission and ministry.
Throughout my residency, I believe that proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ still is primary in making disciples of Jesus Christ. This proclamation needs to come through every activity the church does. Every action the church is involved in must show that the grace and love of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is the impetus for what we do.
Making disciples doesn’t stop at proclamation; the church must then teach those desiring to be disciples. This teaching has a dual purpose. The first purpose is to allow the disciples to know the story of Jesus Christ and why we desire to grow in our relationship with Christ. The second purpose is to equip the disciples to then go out and share their story of what Christ has done for them. This allows them to share with others how Jesus Christ has made a difference in their lives.
Finally, making disciples requires the church to be out in mission to the world. If the church only exists to make those who already are a part of the church happy or comfortable, then the church is ignoring the call from God, “…to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.”[4] When people are connected with the living God and their lives are changed, there must be an action to share God’s grace and mercy to a hurting and broken world.
