Dietrich Bonhoeffer writes in his book The Call to Discipleship: “If we would follow Jesus we must take certain definite steps. The first step, which follows the call, cuts the disciple off from his previous existence. To stay in the old situation makes discipleship impossible… The call to follow implies that there is only one way of believing on Jesus Christ, and that is by leaving all, and going with the incarnate Son. The first step places the disciple in a situation where faith is possible.” The following chapters of the book go on to talk about when we take this first step in obedience God enables us to grow and mature in Him, just as Levi and several of the disciples did in the Gospels.
Let me make this clear; I had no clue when deciding to go abroad that I was taking this first step in obedience. Also, in no way am I saying that everyone needs to drop what they are doing and travel to the other side of the world to be obedient. I’m also not saying that my old situation was bad. What I am saying, is that this makes perfect since to me now. I’m very stubborn, and it took me going to the other side of the world, leaving my family, friends, and old situation behind, for me to realize that I hadn’t been a true disciple. He opened my eyes by showing me the suffering, and the harsh realities of existence and persecution in a third-world country. He showed me how selfish I had been.
So you’re probably thinking, “Dude, you’ve been back from Uganda for a year. Get over it. Move on. We’ve heard you blabber about it enough!” Touché! But these aren’t things that I initially realized. God continues to show me things through my experience, and that is the reason it has taken me a year to write this blog. I went to Uganda thinking I would make an impact on people’s lives, but came home realizing God used that experience to mold me into the person he intended me to be.
Short recap on how things played out when I got home. I moved to Birmingham because a couple of my friends were living here. I touched base with another missionary whom I had met in Uganda that was now also living in Birmingham. He invited me to attend his small group through his church here. I got active in that church and small group. Through that small group I heard about a youth pastor position, with a like-minded, gospel preaching church with a passion for missions. I’ve been the youth pastor at Christ Church in Birmingham for a month now, and have been amazed at the sovereignty of God. He was sovereign over Uganda. He was sovereign over me working in an orphanage, with students who had nothing. He was sovereign over my decision to come to Birmingham. I am constantly amazed by his perfect will!!
So my reason for writing this is only to boast on the sovereignty of God. To give him the glory for everything he has blessed me with. The purpose is also to thank everyone who supported me, and made that opportunity possible. And lastly the reason I am writing this is to encourage others to take that first step in obedience. Make yourself available to God, and he will do things through your life that you never imagined possible.
"If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you...
That is the way we keep going in our personal lives. Where we are placed is a matter of indifference; God engineers the goings.
"None of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself...
I got an email yesterday that put a huge smile on my face. Matthew, whom I worked a lot with, is now walking on a walker. Glory to God!!
Here is a picture of a portion of my awesome youth group.
