You have the call of a preacher.
You have it, just don't neglect it.
You have the grace to do it.
This was said about me recently. Me, a preacher? Sounds a little bit scary and a lot crazy. I wouldn't call myself a preacher. It may not be the last thing I would say I am, but it certainly is not the first. I had to stop myself and question it a little bit when it was said. Being a preacher seems to be something that comes with a lot of responsibility. Am I willing to take that on?
2 Timothy 4:2 says, "Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage – with great patience and careful instruction."
Mark 16:15, "He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”
Welcome to Africa. On the Race, it is generally known that when in Africa you will preach. Future racers – get ready! No doubt about it, at some point on the Race it’s going to happen, and perhaps also in other places, but certainly here.
Of course, when I say “preach” it is a loose term. It doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to give an already prepared, 45 minute long sermon (although it could mean that). It could just mean you do some evangelism and tell people about Jesus. Definitions tend to be fluid in Africa. It could mean that you get to lead a devotional and give a message.
I used to be terrified of speaking in public. I hated giving speeches and didn’t even enjoy doing skits in front of people. It wasn’t ever to an extreme – I didn’t faint or vomit Princess Mia (from Princess Diaries) style – but it wasn’t my favorite. It seems so funny in hindsight.
Now? It’s second nature. Here on the field it’s what you do; you just get used to it. For example, when you are in Mwanza, Tanzania, and the pastor tells you that you have no obligations for the first service (so that you can observe) and then tells you an hour beforehand that you’re leading that service, you aren’t even surprised. You just play rock, paper, scissors and figure out who gets the chance to speak.
Here in Kigali, there’s a morning devotion, an evening service and two hours of house visits, daily. I go to church twice every day, with the exception of Saturday (which is our day of rest). If fellowship with other believers is a daily occurrence, talking about the Bible is an hourly one.
Basically, there are a lot of opportunities to speak. So speak we do.
In the past 2.5 weeks I have preached at evening services and the morning devotional. I love the gospel. I mean, it’s why I’m on this trip. Telling people about the love of Jesus is amazing. It's why I’m here – to preach the gospel. That’s what I wanted to do. And now I am. Hallelujah!
I was given the privilege of speaking two Sundays ago about God’s faithfulness. A few days later I talked about giving God the glory. Last night I simply preached the gospel. One morning I spoke with 20 women who are in sewing school about how beautiful the Lord thinks they are. I told them about shaving my hair and how gorgeous we are as daughters of God. It has been an honor to speak here and to have this congregation listen.
I’m no pastor but it has been a ton of fun to get in front of the church and tell them about what God is doing in my life, about what he’s taught me. It no longer makes me nervous. Instead, I get joy out of it. I get excited to tell people about God because he’s the best thing in my life.
I have become a preacher.
I never really meant for it to happen but I can’t say that it’s bad by any stretch of the imagination.
