Jesus said,” come to me all you that burdened and I will give you rest. I hope that the advent season has been a time of rest for you. Anita and I had the opportunity to take some time to rest at a Leadership Retreat Centre in Vernon BC to conclude the year. Generally, New Year’s Eve has been time with family and also in ministry, so this was a unique opportunity that God gave Anita and I to PAUSE and rest and repent from our striving. Amid personal ministry transition, this was a gift for our weary and burdened souls from our loving Heavenly Father indeed.
“Take my yoke upon you and learn of me”. How do we invite others into this discipleship journey and provide sufficient challenge where we can grow and flourish together? Ivan recently shared how he has been able to use the Kairos circle in his workplace, where he is a supervisor in a manufacturing plant, to help his colleagues and team in better decision making. Ivan was prone to be reactive before but now the change in his life and composure has caused others to listen to him and respect his leadership. While Ivan sees me as his coach and pastor, I am inspired by Ivan to be a better leader myself.
The Apostle Paul is thankful every time he remembered those he was called to serve, confident that God who started the work in them would also complete it till the day of Jesus. Joyfully he observed God at work and willingly embracing pain and suffering as the only way to learn from the Master.
As part of the WP team, I had the opportunity to worship with St. Clair EM church in Scarborough, ON in October 2014. After the service, many from the congregation went out into the neighbourhood for a prayer walk. It was a great opportunity to observe the thoughtful connections that the church had with their neighbours. Similarly, we do want to know about your ministry opportunities and celebrate where connections are being made as well as pray with you where challenges and obstacles exist. If you have returned from a short-term mission trip or are planning one, we would love to connect with you.
Two questions we have learnt to ask are “God, what are you saying to me (us) and what do you want me (us) to do about it”. Across Canada, God is speaking to the young and old alike to go and make disciples. Some are discipling over a cup of coffee …listening together, trusting Jesus and responding to needs of friends and colleagues locally, others are relocating out of town for jobs and other opportunities and taking the gospel wherever they go. Some of us are feeling prompted to dedicate our career and future for the sake of the gospel. A recent challenge at Lausanne Congress calls for an urgency to mobilize the 99% of the church so that the whole world may hear about Jesus at least once in their lifetime.
At the end of 2024, I had the opportunity to reflect on some ways my life (as a disciple) with Jesus has grown. How about you? what were your goals/activities and desired outcomes? What's one strength you've been able to build upon? What's one ability you've identified as requiring growth or management?
We would love to know more about your journey in mission engagement. Please share your thoughts in the attached questionnaire. Some of you have forwarded this questionnaire to your mission’s team or coordinator for their self-reflection. Click here to download the survey.
Praise and Victory to Jesus! Jae Masih
David Benjamin
EMCC WP Church Engagement Facilitator
dbenjamin@emcc.ca
