Over the past few months I have had conversations with several people who are wrestling with whether God is calling them to some type of full-time vocational ministry. These conversations have centered around what characterizes a call to ministry. I have offered the same feedback and advice to each of these individuals, some of whom are college students, who are earnestly seeking God’s leadership concerning the future. While in transit in Miami today, I received an email from yet another individual who wants to chat about God’s call and where God might be leading him to serve.

The Scriptures are the best source for understanding the nature of God’s call to ministry. From the call of Abraham in the book of Genesis to the call of the disciples and the Apostle Paul in the New Testament, a call from God is a call to go beyond — to be willing to leave behind everything that is familiar and comfortable in order to serve His purposes wherever He may lead.

When Jesus called Peter, Andrew, James, and John He said, “Follow Me” (Matt. 4:19). The word “follow” implies movement away from something or someplace. To follow means to move behind someone in the same direction. In the case of these fishermen, to follow Jesus meant leaving what was most familiar to them in order to venture toward new horizons. Jesus knew that in order for these men to reach their highest potential in life and to make their greatest contributions to the kingdom of God they would have to leave the context of the Sea of Galilee.

Being willing to leave the context of familiar places is imperative to anyone who answers a divine call. We must have the attitude expressed by the words of the old hymn, “Wherever He leads I’ll go … I’ll follow my Christ who loves me so, wherever He leads I’ll go.” I have had to remind myself more than once through the years that the words of that hymn are not “Wherever I’m comfortable I’ll stay.” As A.W. Tozer once said, the kingdom of God does not advance at our convenience but at our inconvenience. He was right. Yet, in some cases the call to go beyond is indeed a call to stay where you are — but to live in a radically new way for the kingdom of God.

The Gospel of Mark records the account of Jesus healing a demon-possessed man. This man was so grateful for what Jesus had done for him that he asked to follow Jesus. He was willing to go beyond. However, in this case, Jesus told the man, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you” (Mk. 5:19). Before being told to stay at home this man had expressed a willingness to go — to follow Jesus. It was only after he had expressed his willingness to go that Jesus instructed him to stay and then charged him with a new responsibility — to tell others “how much Jesus had done for him” (Mk. 5:12). This man left the choice with Jesus. We must do the same.

Regardless of whether you are wrestling with a call to vocational ministry, each of us must be willing to follow Jesus, to go beyond. The last command of Christ was a command to go and tell — a command that each of us must obey. For some, this means actually leaving home to go to another city or another nation. One of my mentors often reminded me that we are called to follow and commanded to go but never assured that we will return — and that’s ok. Over the past thirty-three years that I have served in full-time ministry, the places where I have felt most at home are the places where He has led me. And, I have learned to not hold on to places or things too tightly so that I can continue to go where He leads. There is no better place to be.

As I look back over the years, I am grateful for how God has faithfully led me to places where I had to depend on Him and where He allowed me to serve His purposes in new and exciting ways. Living adventurously for God is all about allowing Him to place us in new and unfamiliar contexts or to give us new assignments in our present context — to put us in a position where we have to depend on Him, where He can use us to advance His interests, and where we can bring greater glory to Him. I can honestly say that I have no regrets about answering His call and following Him. I believe that life’s greatest adventures are reserved for those who have the courage to heed God’s call and to go beyond.

Each of us are stewards of a generation — essentially a single and narrow slice of time in which to serve God’s purposes. And after that, we die and return to dust. However, what we do in our generation does not have to die with us and even our dust can continue to tell the world of God’s faithfulness (Ps. 30:9). In a sermon that Paul preached on his first missionary journey, he said, “For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption” (Acts 13:20). But, what David did in his generation impacted the course of redemptive history because he served the purpose of God. And he earned the enviable distinction of being known as a man after God’s heart (Acts 13:22). Although he made mistakes along the way, David set the standard for evaluating the kings that came after him, many of whom did not serve God well in their respective generation.

In order to serve the purposes of God in our generation, we must know what those purposes are and dedicate ourselves to making them a priority in our lives. For the sake of space, I will note just three of God’s purposes. First, the great commandment. Jesus challenged His disciples to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matt. 22:37-38). Second, the great commission. The last command of Jesus was a command to take the good news into all the world (Matt. 28:19-20). And finally, the great requirement. Micah 6:8 tells us “to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.” We must embrace and faithfully live out these purposes. Our walk and our talk must match. The world will never see the gospel as good news if the messenger is bad news.

In order to serve the purposes of God in our generation, we must also understand our generation. In 1 Chronicles 12:32 we read that the men of Issachar “understood the times and knew what Israel should do.” We too, must understand the times in which we live in order to know how to serve God’s purposes, extend His kingdom, and bring glory to His name. We must never allow our zeal to leave home dressed in ignorance. Instead we must study the times, think deeply about them, and then pray for the wisdom to know what to do and the courage to do it. We live in the best of times and the worst of times that present us with both great opportunities and intimidating obstacles that can only be faced by those with the requisite courage and audacity to fulfill the purposes of God. May we live in such a way that it will be said of us that we served the purposes of God in our generation.

Jerry with one of the first kids he rescued.

Whenever plans change, I also think about my friend Jerry Smith. In the mid-90’s Jerry had planned to go to Taiwan on a short-term mission trip. But, plans changed and he ended up going to Mongolia instead. While there he discovered the plight of kids who lived in the sewers beneath the streets of Ulan Bator and decided to do something to help. Jerry and his wife Susan moved to Mongolia and have been engaged in bringing hope to at-risk kids there ever since. I can’t imagine the number of children in Mongolia who would not be alive today had God not altered Jerry’s plans and had Jerry not been willing to be more than flexible. Only eternity will reveal the full impact and scope of his work in Mongolia.

When plans change unexpectedly, I can always count on three things. First, I always learn something about myself. I must confess that there have been a few times when I was less than pleased with what I learned. Nevertheless, in every instance God has used these occasions to help me to grow in new ways. Second, I always learn something about those I lead. I am often encouraged by how fluid folks can be when things change without warning or become tougher than expected. Finally, I always learn something about God and the fact that His plans and thoughts are much higher than mine. Looking back, I can testify to the fact that I have seen God do some really cool things because things did not go according to plan ― or what I thought should happen. So, the next time things do not go according to your plan, don’t despair. Be fluid. God is up to something good!

“The French writer Jacques Réda had a peculiar habit. He used to walk the streets of Paris with the intention of seeing one new thing each day. It was the way he renewed his love for the city.”

These lines intrigued me because I am always interested in new ways to look at the neighborhoods and the people who live around me. I have previously posted reflections about how we can more carefully look at our community and about the practical steps we can take to develop peripheral compassion. So, when I read about Jacques Réda’s habit of walking the streets of Paris with the intention of seeing one new thing each day, I was challenged to consider how I could do the same in my community. Of course, I drive rather than walk to and from here and there. Nevertheless, I can still adopt Réda’s practice. Here is what I will do in order to see my own community in a new way so that I too can renew my love for the people and the place I call home.

First, starting this week, I am going to change my route to or from work each day. I have found that it’s too easy for us to become desensitized to the things around us when all we do is stay on the beaten path. In order to see and better appreciate my community I am going to leave for the office a little earlier or come home a little later so that I can drive through unfamiliar neighborhoods.

Second, I am going to drive a little slower. Now don’t get me wrong — I am not a fast driver. I drive an old vehicle that can easily make it from zero to sixty in a matter of minutes! The best thing about my aubergine-colored van is that it doubles in value every time I fill it up. But, I do intend to drive a bit slower than normal to decrease the chances of missing what God intends for me to see along the way.

Third, I am going to specifically ask God to show me something new along the way. For example, on my regular route to work I often have to wait behind a school bus that picks up a little girl in a wheel chair. Every time I pass that home on my way to or from the office I pray for that little girl and her parents. This family faces daily challenges that make life much tougher than normal. I know that there are other needs that are off my beaten path and that are waiting to be discovered.

Fourth, I intend to act on what I see as I alter my route and look for something new each day. God may just ask me to pray or He may ask me to act in such a way that I may be the answer to someone else’s prayer. I am excited about this new way of living adventurously in my own community. And, like Jacques Réda, I hope that this will renew my love for my community each day.

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Note | For more on learning how to look at the world around us through new eyes and developing peripheral compassion, please read these previous posts:

• Heather’s Challenge
• Peripheral Compassion
• What Lies Beneath

Neel had made arrangements with a Ugandan pastor to show the Jesus Film in some villages. So, I was especially excited to read Neel’s text message that said, in part: “Hello O — showed Jesus Film tonight to about 120 and 15-20 responded despite many obstacles.” Now, that is the kind of news I love to read. And, because Neel will leave our Jesus Film kit with the Ugandan pastor, these folks who came to faith in Christ last night represent the first-fruits of a greater harvest to come. Advancements in technology are making it possible for the gospel to make greater strides toward those who live on the dry and ragged edge of existence — in the places that have little or no access to the gospel. And because we live in a connected world, we can receive news about what God is doing on the other side of the world in real time.

I once heard a missionary say that the first thing he was going to do in heaven was to ask Peter what it was like to preach on the day of Pentecost and see so many people from the nations come to faith in Christ. I think that what is more likely to happen is that Peter will ask us what it was like to live in a day when we had so many tools available to share the story of Jesus with the nations and to see a response like Pentecost every hour. We are indeed fortunate to have access to people who live in so many remote places and to be able to introduce them to the story of Jesus and to see them come to faith in Christ. I am always more than willing to lose sleep over this kind of news.

It’s hard to imagine how a woman could drown in a public swimming pool packed with swimmers and go unnoticed for two days. Six trained life-guards, two teams of pool inspectors, and hundreds of swimmers failed to see Marie Joseph’s lifeless body lying at the bottom of the pool. Perhaps if the life-guard had acted on the word of the little boy who promptly reported his concern this story might have had a different ending. It appears that a combination of unfortunate factors and distractions converged to keep numerous people from noticing Marie Joseph. She died in plain sight and nobody noticed. That is sad, indeed.

Marie’s story reminds me of how easy it is to miss what lies beneath and to not see people clearly. Mark recorded an account of a miracle that Jesus performed in two stages (Mark 8:22-26). A blind man was brought to Jesus at Bethsaida. Jesus took the man aside, spit on his eyes and laid hands on him, and then asked him if he could see anything. The man replied that he could see men, but they looked like trees walking about — an indication that his sight was blurry. Jesus laid His hands on the man’s eyes a second time and, as a result, the man could finally see others clearly. Jesus could have healed the blind man with one touch but chose instead to touch the man’s eyes a second time. Perhaps He did so to remind us that insight often comes slowly.

It’s easy to be critical of the life-guards and the others who overlooked Marie Joseph. But the truth of the matter is that most of us move through life so fast or are so focused on other things that the people around us look blurry. We fail to notice the hurt or need that lies beneath the surface of their lives. However, unless we see people clearly, we will not be able to pray effectively or to act compassionately. In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus told the story of an unfortunate traveler who was robbed, beaten, and left for dead (Luke 10:25-37). A priest and later a Levite “saw” the man lying helpless on the side of the road but did not stop to help. But when a despised Samaritan came down that same road, he “saw him” and “had compassion” and acted accordingly to help the unfortunate man. The Samaritan saw things clearly.

During the month of July, 454 Kingsland members will be on mission from Houston’s urban areas to the ends of the earth. My prayer is that each of these life-guards will ask God to help them clearly see the people they serve and to notice what lies beneath the surface of their lives. May we be sensitive to the pain lurking behind a smile, the despair peering out through empty eyes, hopes crushed beneath weights of cares, and all of the things that cause people to hurt and to long for rescue. As Mother Teresa challenged her Missionaries of Charity to do, may we look for Jesus in the distressing disguise of the poor and those in need. May God help us to see people clearly, to see what lies beneath the surface of their lives, and to act compassionately to rescue them before it’s too late.

Searching for a man of peace is not something new. Luke’s gospel records the account of Jesus sending out seventy-two of His followers to preach the good news (Luke 10:1-12). He instructed them to travel light and to depend on the hospitality of others to provide for their basic needs, things like food and lodging. Jesus talked about how to identify a “man of peace” or that individual who would welcome them into his home. Searching for a “man of peace” is still an effective strategy for making meaningful connections with people all over the world, especially in places that are hostile to the gospel. Thom Wolfe, the international president and professor of global studies of University Institute in New Delhi, has identified three key characteristics of a man or person of peace. First, the person of peace is someone who is receptive to the gospel. Second, this person has a good reputation in his community. And finally, the man of peace is able to effectively refer those who have come bearing the good news to a larger audience.

With new friends in Bangladesh. | 2000

I have had several memorable experiences searching for a “man of peace” on my travels.  In September 2002, HomeLife magazine published “In Search of a Man of Peace,” my story about searching for a “man of peace” in Bangladesh. My experience in Bangladesh convinced me of the effectiveness of walking slowly among the people and connecting with individuals who are receptive to the gospel. Since then, I have had the privilege of meeting many persons of peace on my travels — people who welcomed me into their homes, offered me their hospitality and protection, and opened doors for me to share the good news about Jesus with a larger audience. To learn more about the “man of peace,” please read “Biblical ‘Man of Peace’ Approach is Key to Effective Outreach” by Erich Bridges, one of my favorite writers.

Pakistan 2005

In a few hours I will travel to Pakistan, the country with the second largest Muslim population on the planet. Over the years, my travels have taken me to several other nations with large Muslim populations. As a follower of Christ I take seriously Paul’s words in Romans 1:14 where he declared, “I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish.” Paul considered himself a debtor to all who do not know Christ. In other words, he believed that those who know Christ owe Him to all who do not know Him. This obligation extends to all peoples, not just to people who live in safe places and pose no danger, whether real or perceived. Prayer is a key component to fulfilling our obligation to the nations. The following are my top ten strategic prayer points for unreached peoples, including Muslims.

10. Dreams | Best-selling author Joel C. Rosenberg points out: “One of the most dramatic developments is that many Muslims — including Shiites in Iran and Iraq — are seeing dreams and visions of Jesus and thus coming into churches explaining that they have already converted and now need a Bible and guidance on how to follow Jesus.” I can confirm the truth of these words, having met many Muslims who have had such dreams. I pray that Muslims and unreached peoples will have dreams that point them to Jesus.

9. Scripture | Psalm 119:130 states: “The entrance of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.” Samuel Zwemer, known as the Apostle to Islam, wrote, “No agency can penetrate Islam so deeply, abide so persistently, witness so daringly and influence so irresistibly as the printed page.” The only thing that stopped Zwemer from distributing Arabic leaflets and Bibles was confiscation. I pray that copies of God’s Word will reach the hands of those who have never read it.

8. Resourcefulness | Both ex-pats and nationals that work among unreached and unengaged people groups must be resourceful. I met a Christ-follower in Morocco who personally wrote hundreds of hand-written letters to encourage people in his country to consider the claims of Christ. This is just one of many examples of the kind of resourcefulness that God can use to advance His purposes in countries that are closed to or that restrict access to the gospel. I pray for Christ-followers whose love for Christ compels them to find creative ways to share His message.

7. Kindness | Proverbs 3:3-4 is one of my favorite passages of Scripture: “Do not let kindness and truth leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and man.” Jesus was a servant-leader who demonstrated kindness to others. John 1:14 describes Him as being “full of grace and truth.” I pray that Christ-followers will be kind and gracious like Jesus because kindness can open many doors for the truth.

6. Pain | C.S. Lewis wrote, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks to us in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” I spoke with many people in pain in Pakistan while doing relief work there after the 2005 earthquake. Many where thinking deeply about what they had experienced and were asking important questions about God. The recent earthquakes in Haiti and Japan forced many people who had otherwise ignored God to think seriously about life and death and the existence of God. I pray that people in pain will think deeply about the brevity of life and the existence of God.

5. Miracles | I met a man in a remote village in Bangladesh in 2000 who had been waiting for years to speak to a Christian. Four years earlier some Christ-followers from another nation had visited his village and prayed in Jesus name for his dying daughter. His daughter was healed and he wanted to know more about Jesus. He was receptive to the message we shared with him and he and his family became followers of Christ. I pray for God to demonstrate His presence and power through miracles among the nations.

4. Persecution | Jesus told His followers to expect persecution: “But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you” (Matt. 5:44). In 1999 I met with a small group of Muslim-background believers in South Asia. One man showed me the scars on his body as he described how the people of his village had physically abused him because he had become a Christ-follower. The others in the group all came to faith in Christ because this man had chosen to love those who persecuted him. I pray that those who suffer persecution will demonstrate the transforming power of Christ’s love to those that hate them.

3. Safety | I have met many Christ-followers in other nations who live under constant threat of persecution. Some have been forced to leave their homes and have found refuge in displacement camps. Others live daily in fear and deal with insults and intimidation. I pray for the safety of those who live in dark places and among people who are hostile to the gospel.

2. Relationships | It is important for Christ-followers to build relationships with unreached peoples and to show God’s love to them in practical ways. Many unreached people have never met a Christian or had an opportunity to develop a close friendship with a Christian. The gospel travels best over the road of personal relationships. I pray that Christ-followers will develop meaningful friendships with their neighbors.

1. Workers | Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest” (Matt. 9:37-38). Ultimately, the kingdom of God advances when Christ-followers are willing to go beyond — to step across the line that delineates the farthest they’ve ever been and the most they’ve ever done for God and His purposes. I pray that more Christ-followers will be willing to forsake comforts and security in order to advance God’s purposes in the world today.

March 2011 India Team

Having led hundreds of volunteers to serve the interests of God’s kingdom in dozens of locations around the planet, I believe in the value of travel. The past week in Kolkata reminded me once again of how God can use travel to transform the lives of those who are willing to go beyond. Although some of the folks who traveled with me last week have traveled to other international locations, this was the first time for each of the team members to visit India. We enjoyed our time together and had lots of great conversations. Those conversations gave me insight into how God was using our time in Kolkata to impact the lives of each team member. Here are a few of my observations about the value of travel gleaned from years of leading volunteers to serve around the world.

Travel Impacts Perspective | It is not possible to travel to a place like Kolkata and not be impacted. From the moment we arrived our team was assaulted by everything Kolkata — the sights, sounds, smells, traffic, teeming humanity, and extreme poverty. We were there through the Hindu observance of Holi — a celebration in which people throw colored powder at each other to welcome the coming of Spring. These are the kinds of experiences that give greater perspective into how the rest of the world lives.

Travel Informs Prayer | Being on-site exposes travelers to the harsh realities of life for those who live in difficult places. Kolkata’s streets are home to thousands of broken people who beg for alms in order to survive, dig through rubbish piles in search of food, and sleep on filthy sidewalks. Kolkata’s sex districts boast populations of thousands of girls and women who sell themselves to support their families or who weep quietly because they are victims of sex trafficking trapped in a dark world far from home. Being on-site in places like Kolkata enables travelers to pray with greater insight.

Travel Clarifies Purpose | Purpose is powerful and can change everything. It impacts the decisions we make and the directions we take. Seeing the plight of the poor, the faces of the distressed, and the context in which terrible things happen can strengthen our resolve to act and clarify our purpose for living. God placed us on the planet to do more than consume every resource on ourselves and our own comforts. He expects us “to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly” with Him (Micah 6:8).

Travel Fuels Passion | Passion follows purpose. Those who traveled with me to Kolkata have a passion for helping the victims of injustice. That’s what motivated them to travel half-way around the world in the first place. However, walking through the streets of Sonagacchi, Kolkata’s largest sex district, and meeting many of the young women who have been rescued deepened the resolve of our team members to work on behalf of these unfortunate victims. They have returned home with greater understanding of the issue of injustice and more capable of speaking with conviction and authority on behalf of those who have no voice.

Travel Realigns Priorities | Travel confirms that life in America is good — it’s very good. But for those of us who witness the realities of life in other places, travel forces us to examine, reevaluate and, in some cases, to realign our priorities to more accurately reflect what matters to God. And, that’s a very good thing because those who return home generally begin to see needs that they had previously not seen. This is important because recognizing needs is the first step to acting compassionately on behalf of the least of these.

Travel is Fatal to Prejudice | It’s easy to buy into all kinds of rhetoric that disparages other people or that promotes distrust by painting them with broad strokes. Mark Twain understood the value of travel. He wrote: “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness — all foes to real understanding. Likewise, tolerance, or broad, wholesome charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in our little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.” Traveling and interacting with people in other places not only helps those who travel, it can also help those they meet to abandon their own prejudices or misinformation about others.

Travel if you can. But, regardless of whether you are able to get on a plane to go to the nations, remember that the nations have come to your own community. Every trip to the store or to locations in your own community can allow you to experience some of the benefits of travel. Take the time to meet others and to ask them about their countries of origin and how you can pray for the people who matter most to them. Allow your heart to become your passport to making meaningful connections with the people of the world wherever you happen to be.

With the new year only a few days old, I have been thinking deeply about the year ahead. Once again, I have resolved to live each day aware of the line that defines the farthest I’ve ever been and the most I’ve ever done for God and His purposes. And, I am determined to consider ways in which I can go beyond that line and, by so doing, allow God to redefine my personal spiritual landscape. I don’t want for the map of my life to look the same one year from now as it does today. But, in order for things to look different, I need to continue to go beyond, one step at a time, and to live adventurously for God. I need to continue to make certain that my dreams outnumber my memories — that I am always striving for what is ahead of me rather than allowing the satisfaction of past accomplishments to lull me into complacency and comfort.

In reality, it’s not that difficult to tolerate complacency or to find comfort in comfort. Staying on our side of the line that defines the most we’ve done for God and His purposes is like a ship remaining in a safe and comfortable harbor. However, God did not create us to stay in the harbor but instead to lose sight of the shore. The danger of choosing to play it safe is that eventually we begin to pray it safe — to order our prayers around what we think is best for us and asking God to minimize or eliminate any kind of pain or discomfort. Rather than pleading with God for the strength to make it through the storms, those who pray it safe ask God to help them find an easy way out of their difficulties. Instead of asking God what He wants for them to get out of their circumstances, those who pray it safe ask God to get them out of their circumstances. Instead of praying for what only God can do, those who pray it safe ask God for little things that they can easily manage and control without Him.

In the long run, playing it safe and praying it safe are the worst things we can do. A couple of years ago I posted a blog entitled Goldilocks Christianity in which I wrote that “many people find the commitment of Goldilocks Christianity to be just right. Goldilocks Christianity is fueled by lower-shelf commitment. It is powered by a commitment that is within reach but that does not require one to strain in order to grasp. It is characterized by a just-enough kind of commitment that makes no unsettling demands and stops short of being painful. It produces no martyrs, inspires no great deeds, and leaves no memorable legacy.” Goldilocks Christianity is all about playing it safe, praying it safe, and allowing our personal comfort to trump God’s purposes and plans for us. Determine that you will not pray it safe this year. Instead, ask God for the courage to step across the line that defines the most you’ve ever done for Him. Step across that line and experience what only God can do in and through you.