This past year at school I learned a lot about how business and ministry can go hand in hand. I have heard many times that we shouldn’t go and built something but we should find a way to help employee locals to do the labor. This will in turn will result in more economic stability for the village, which is better for their future. This process though takes time which is one reason God has placed long-term ministry on my heart.Then…why am I building houses in India? Why is there a strong possibility that construction projects will happen every month for the next 11 months?
Please here me out, I don’t think I’m to good for this style of ministry but it doesn’t rest easy in my soul. I realize that learning about something and actually doing something can be very different things. I also realize that you can go into a situation and do what you want to do. You have to start somewhere and build/progress the relationship brick by brick.
The kind of ministry project we have been involved with are very simple and almost anyone could do them. It reminds me a lot of the way Jesus washed his disciples feet. Even though these things are simple tasks they still have a huge impact on Gods kingdom. As long as you have the bigger picture in mind your heart should rest easy about the work you are doing.
One way I have been challenging my team is to talk to each other and the locals we are working with. If we go into a project and focus only on the task at hand we are missing 90 percent of the impact God can make through us. We need to talk to each other to build relationships and community. Anyone can build houses, Christians or non Christians. We are called to share Gods love, so let’s do just that. Love is also something that transcends language and culture. John 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
I know this blog might seem like is is going in a few different direction, well that is because over the past 10 days in India my mind has been going in a million different directions. There has been so much to process through. God has done some amazing things in my life over the past 10 days. I have lead worship, played football, taught math to 5th graders, moved brick and dirt for constitution of churches, prayed for the sick in a local hospital, the list could go one for a long time so I’ll stop for here for now.
The main point I’m trying to make is when you live your life for God you are going to be uncomfortable. Your going to do things that you might not like to do. God has taught me time and time again to focus on the things that are in my control and let Him deal with the things that are out of my control. I hope to one day be able to use my business skills in my ministry field but for now I’ll just keep pressing forward and let God guide me.
What are some ways you can start building relationship more and focus a little less on the task at hand?
What are some things that are out of your control that you have been focusing to much time on? Do you need to give God control of those things?
Thanks again for reading! Next month I’ll be in Pokhara Nepal. My team will be doing ministry on a Yak farm high up in the Himalayas.
Shout out my boys back in Wannakee, Wisconsin! I think about you all often. Make sure you listen to Brandon and give him a hug for me the next time you see him!
