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Thinking out loud on 'where will you be in 10 years?' for an hour with junior church leaders next month. Reminded of the story of Royal Charter sinking in a storm off Anglesey in 1859 because it's anchor broke.
Latif Nasser tells the story in Netflix series Connected.
Latif Nasser tells the story in Netflix series Connected.
The Bible encourages Christians: Hebrews 6v19 - we have an anchor for the soul. The storm of sin and suffering rages, we don't see the world under Christ, and yet: Christ is enough.
When I was a student, at the end of the last century, we'd sing of being History Makers. No attack on the song, but what did we mean when we sang it? Our prayer was earnest, honest and God-ward. But I think we expected fireworks...
I love this new song from @BeccaBurnMusic which gets closer to what I've found plenty of us who expected to make history have found, a simple life is enough...
Or, there's the stat on the cover of Dave Kraft's book Leaders Who Last that only 30% of leaders last... but the book really says, 30% stay in ministry. Though who says that's the goal? Resurgence blew up. Some things end. What's meant to last?
Then 'hello covid world' - thinking 10 years ahead?! We don't even know whether we can go on holiday this summer? I was asked where I'd be in 10 years at UCCF Relay Conferences in 2001, 2002. Again in 2005/6/7... How did 2011/12/15/16/17 turn out? Laugh or cry...
And, the insight of Harold Senkbeil that gets us back to the old pattern, that pastoral ministry is about helping people to prepare to die...
On which see also @gtomlin in The Times last weekend... https://twitter.com/gtomlin/status/1357990045404258305
For 20 years I've spent at least some of my week in student ministry. A stat circulates about how most Christian Union members fall away from their faith. But: the research doesn't exist. Anecdotally, the reverse is true. Evangelical churches are built of those who led CUs.
Yet, don't be complacent. Hebrews talks about your heart on every day. Graduation is naturally student ministry's horizon. With local students workers (me, the oldest by a lot), a 24yo woman taught us about going long term. The gospel isn't for 21,31,41,61, but 81 i.e. til death.
Tragically - not everyone gets that many years. I've worked with students in the past 20 years who have already gone to be with Jesus.
With scribbles of Hebrews 6 on my page, there's the Impossibility of Continuing with Christ - we're sluggardly, as Proverbs say, and we need Christ. But there's also the Possibility of Continuing with Christ because God doesn't change (he's immutable) and because God cannot lie.
Where will I be in 10 years? If not yet with Jesus, it's enough to be walking with him. I don't need career progress or reputation. Matters not if I can still run a sub20 5km nor if my kids to get good grades. Only Jesus as my soul's anchor in the storm.
I meet one of my oldest friends every term or so. After my wife this sometimes grumpy northerner is my closest friend. We've been meeting, walking, talking, eating, praying for 20 years. Over recent years especially, he's taught me the glory of "We're still here."
