Alright, I apologize for the bombardment of blogs and such on this “next step” and “new season” of my life that I have been plastering my blog with. But the truth is that my heart is bubbling over more intensely than it has ever before. To really explain what this place is here in Spain has been tough for me. First of all G42 is not a traditional scheme of a “school” nor is it a place for people to escape to for another 3-6 months to put notches on their belts.
The heart of the matter is that G42 is a training center! It is a place for true, solid ministry foundations. If you are extremely theologically minded or traditional this may be stretch to understand. We’re not here to learn the 5 things about biblical history, or the 3 steps to evangelize, etc. This is a place of character building, community living, and purposeful plan making. The Lord has me here to fine tune a godly character within me. I’m here to redefine what a life of integrity and honesty is all about. I’m here to LIVE AMONG and sit at the feet and listen to men and women of God who know Jesus and his message of LOVE and VICTORY! I’ve done the bible school thing. I’ve got the notches on my belt from ministry experience. (heck, I traveled around the world) I have everything I need to die happy now, or do I?? NO, of course not! There’s something more! There’s a stirring in my spirit that is restless and overflowing right now! I have a crazy message on my heart that once offended me because it wasn’t found coming from the pulpit I listened to….and I can’t hold it in anymore. I’m done quenching my god-given purpose here on earth.
At the school here we budget our food and supplies, we cook for ourselves and guests (pretty much every night), clean the house, have classroom discussions, go to the pub to watch sports, and love on the community. Andrew Shearman, Dave Hearn, and Dave Friedricks make up our core staff along with many pastors and missionaries who come in to pour themselves out to us for days at a time. Andrew, Dave, and Dave along with their families live here in the community and have dedicated their lives to us as interns. There is an “open door” policy which means we are always welcome to live life alongside them.
In the coming months outside of “class” us interns will be seeking out personal ministries in the local community. A couple of times we’ll also be heading internationally to follow around a pastor or missionary in their life for a few weeks. This is all practical, hands on, no holds barred training. No do’s and don’ts. Either we’re here to squeeze as much out of this as we can or we’ll miss out. This is life for us now! We are called by name to go and serve the nations. Here we go….Spain and beyond!
I pray this gives you a better understanding of the heart of me being here. I’m an exceptional different case than most heading into this kind of thing. Obviously I love to plan and organize, however this time it’s not the case. I’m here because I was called. I had no idea this place was so intentional until yesterday during our orientation session. If you know me fairly well you may say, “what the heck Matt, just go for it….jump into ministry”. But in all my heart’s honesty my friends I’ve been a scared little boy deep down and the Lord has finally had enough of me and called me out!!
This stirring has started to become intense. I can’t control it anymore. Here I go….MY HEART’S ALL IN!!
