A HUNGER TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
For the last three weeks I have been priviledged to speak in and exremely vibrant church in Charlotte, Noth Carolina–Central Church of God. Loran Livingston is the pastor there and I have been fortunate to know him for a lot of years and watch the impact of his minisry. A great team works with him in people like Reggie Coleman and Debbie and Paul Sebring, and so many others.
We have been doing the MADE TO COUNT JOURNEY based on a book the I had the joy of writing with my great friend, Randy Singer. It calls every Christ follower to step up to the plate and answer the call of God to impact their world—right where they are—starting now! The response has been wonderful. The crowds have grown weekly with great people wanting to better understand how to be On Mission right where God has planted them.
It really is amazing to see that Paul refers to himself as CALLED of God to be an apostle when he writes to the church of Rome. And who would argue with that? No question…that was a man, called of God. But just a few verses later Paul uses the same word to refer to all Christ followers in Rome, sprinkled in and embedded throughout the culture of Rome at every level–CALLED. They too, were CALLED to a realtionship with Christ, and a mission alongside Christ…to impact their world.
As my friend Henry Blackaby says, it is not that some are called and some are not…ALL are called. The thing that varies is the nature of the assignment. While the Reformation put the Scripture in the hands of the everyday, common person…it fell short. Now we need to get the mission and ministry of the church there. Not just that which happens inside the walls, but expecially that which happens outside of them, Monday through Saturday. That’s the work of the church…and that’s where calling is ultimately fleshed out.
And the hunger for such a move has been evident for the lst 3 weeks running. And I’m having a blast hearing the stories of the people who are putting the principles into practice.
May 28th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
When Pastor came to Bell Shoals in view of a call, one of the questions was, “what would you want to be called: Dr., Rev. or Pastor”. He answered “You may call me either one, but I studied to be a Pastor”. I thought to myself “YES, I GOT A PASTOR”! That is what I have called him, when I seen him in the hall, at the coffee pot or where ever. PASTOR, yes he was My Pastor.
May 31st, 2008 at 7:00 am
Thank you so much for coming to Central Church. I am a nurse and have wondered if I needed to go overseas to doing anything with eternal value. Just working in a doctors office day in and day out hasn’t seemed to make much of a difference that will last. But, this study of MADE TO COUNT helped me see my work in a whole new light. God is bringing patients in not only for physical healing but for the opportunity for me to be On Mission right where I am to minister to their spiritual, emotional, and personal needs as well. I had never thought of my work as a mission field!
Sally
May 31st, 2008 at 7:05 am
What a study! I travel all the time in my work and it’s hard to find a way to even think about living an On Mission lifestyle in that type of pattern. When you shared about being in restaurants and asking the waiter or waitress, “In a minute when we get the food we are going to have a blessing for the food. When we do, how may we personally pray for you?” I knew I had the answer I had been looking for. I couldn’t believe the stories you told of the doors that had opened. I can’t wait for my next trip. Thanks for being so pracitical in helping all of us know how we can make a difference right where we are.
May 31st, 2008 at 7:07 am
I have LOVED the last 4 Wednesdays while you have been with us at Central! I have struggled with wishing that God had called me to the ministry–and now I’ve discovered that He has! Please pray with me as I get more intentional about being “On Mission” with Him!
May 31st, 2008 at 7:11 am
I have always struggled with wanting to make a difference for God. I even asked myself if I should sell my business–and try to be a pastor so that I could be really obedient to God. But, now I’ve been given a new perspective of how to make a difference right where I am–starting now! I am in the middle of reading your book, Made to Count and daily using the devotional guide. Thanks so much for this!
May 31st, 2008 at 7:12 am
Being a young adult I have grown up around the church where unintentionally it has sounded like if you experience a call from God you have to head one of two places….seminary (and vocational ministry) or the foreign mission field. Thanks for making clear that while those are important callings, God calls EVERY believer to be on mission right where they are…starting now. That has given me a whole new perspective about how I view where I believe God has been directing my life–the field of marketing. I’m off to make a difference.
May 31st, 2008 at 7:16 am
The story you shared from your MADE TO COUNT book regarding how God used Karen Covell to share her faith wtih Hugh Hefner during the filming of HEADLINERS AND LEGENDS was amazing!!!! And to think that she almost quit because she, as a believer, couldn’t begin to make sense of how God could use such an interview in any way. It drove home the point that God’s ways are NOT our ways…and that all I have to do to make a difference is to be alert…be ready…and step in with faith when God opens a door! Everybody needs to hear that story!
May 31st, 2008 at 7:20 am
I work in a job most people wouldn’t see as important…or able to impact many people–building maintance. God showed me during this study that he can use people everywhere to make a difference for Him–not just in the ministry or the foreign mission field. I loved when you shared about the guy who said, “I’m a folllower of Christ brilliantly disguised as a tow truck operator! It is an easy step in talking to people who have a broken down car…and moving them to talk about their broken down life. I’ve led move people to Christ that way.” If that guy can do it…so can I!
May 31st, 2008 at 7:24 am
Thanks so much for coming to Central for four super weeks of teaching on Making a Difference for Christ….Right Where You Are! The 8 principles of your book MADE TO COOUNT made so much sense to me in living out my mission, right where I am. I can’t wait to dig into the book…and apply the principles right where I live and work!
May 31st, 2008 at 7:31 am
Thanks for sharing the prayer from David Livingstone as you ended the 4 week teaching session on Taking Our Faith To Work. That prayer rocked me, and I want it to be true in my life…
Lord, lead me anywhere….just go with me.
Lay any burden on me…only sustain me.
Sever any tie in my heart…except the tie that binds my heart to yours.
That’s my prayer
May 31st, 2008 at 7:34 am
Thanks for sharing the 2 key questions that can help any of us determine what God may be saying in the midst of circumstances we do not understand…
What does God want to teach me in this?
What does God want to change in me through this?
Those helped me in the midst of some challenging issues I am walking through right now. It reminded me that nothing is life is wasted. Thanks!
May 31st, 2008 at 2:51 pm
Dr. R,
Next time your in Charlotte give me a call. I’d love to buy you a Starbucks.
June 2nd, 2008 at 6:20 am
Bob,
Just a “few” lines to say just how much your visit to Central was appreciated. Through a series of divine appointments God brought us to the neighborhood we now live in. When my wife and I were moving in, we sat on the steps and prayed, “God make this your house and use us here to make a difference in our neighbors lives”. Little did we know how biga difference we would make. A few months later, as I was coming home from a Wednesday night prayer service, I was directed at the Lord’s urging as I was coming down my cul-de-sac to pray for each household. I did and afterwards each household began to “ask questions” about the Lord, each needing something different, each needing the Lord. God has saved 2 of the homes in my neighborhood and we share Jesus regularly. The 3 homes jsut discussed (mine and my 2 neighbors) had a pig picking this past w/e and we invited others of our neighborhood, we had about 40 in total counting kids. I asked for us all to gather around the tent where I prayed the blessing on the food and shared Jesus where possible. I definitely want to make my life “count” for Christ. I do not want to fall into His arms when I see Him and say “I’m sorry I let you down, I didn’t tell the story enough”… I say all this because I too felt at times maybe I need to go on a mission trip, but my mission trip is in my own back yard, and I drive to my job to proclaim Him as a missionary in disguise!!! It only stands to let me know I am doing the right thing right where I am at and the Lord sent you to tell me that! Thanks Brother!!!! Stay in touch and may God richly bless you in your journeys to tell the message to others….
June 2nd, 2008 at 3:35 pm
Jerry
Thanks for Answering God’s Call to be on mission right where you life…your neighborhood. WOW, that had to be great to see some 40 folks coming together. It is amazing how things happen when we actually pray about specifics! Like you, I have a friend who started to pray for the folks in their cul-de-sac as it was being built out. Within 3 years every home except one had come to enter a relationship with Christ…or, had made a significant renewed commitment of their faith and was actively involved in a local church. When that happened…do you know what they did? They moved to a new street, and started on that one!
Being on mission is what life is all about. Thanks for living that out!
June 9th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
Hey Bob,
Thanks so much for saying yes out of your busy schedule to spend time with Central Church Family in Charlotte, NC. We really did have a “Blast”.
The teachings on “Making Your Life Count”, right where you live will forever ring true in our hearts. I am still hearing how thankful others who attended were that you came, and more so that they came to the Made to Count teaching sessions. We so needed to hear and receive the kind of encouragement, teaching, and life applications you gave. It was great seeing you and your dear wife Cheryl in action together.
We look forward to other great opportunities.
Pastor Reggie