Sunday 18 December 2011

Preacher Mike?

Preacher (right) with translator (left)

For years I've felt comfortable sitting with the congregation, or behind a sound desk, listening to the preacher bringing the Word of God. For me it's always been the focal point of the service; I love praising God, but the sermon is the part of the service I most look forward to, anticipating hearing what God has to say to me.

So it has been way "out of my comfort zone" to be standing at the front bringing God's word to the people. It's something I approach with some degree of trepidation; I feel it is such a big responsibility; questions run through my mind: Am I going to be faithful to the word? Will the people 'get' my points? Will they respond? Will we get invited back?

On most of the occasions I have been invited, it has been during a missions conference or similar event at the church, so the theme of my talks have been somewhat common, although I have used various passages in the Old and New Testaments, to make different points.

This has been one of the big challenges that God has lined up for me since we've been out here. But it has been a great experience. I have had to rely fully on God; of course I have often been on the receiving end of bible teachings, whether through listening to preachers, studying the bible, or reading Christian books, but to be taking up the role of orator is very different. It takes me hours to prepare, and I always start unsure of what I'm going to say - but as I pray and meditate on the scripture, I have always arrived at the church sure of what God wants me to say.

This has been a great learning experience in reliance on, and trust in God. One of my favourite verses comes to mind:

Trust in the LORD with all your heart 
   and lean not on your own understanding 
in all your ways acknowledge him,
   and he will make your paths straight.

(Proverbs 3:5,6)

If I'm fixing a computer, or mixing sound at the sound desk it seems that I can rely at least in part on myself - education, training, experience. For preaching, however, I have to start and finish with God. I suppose in some ways this makes it easier - He's more reliable than me!

Pastor Evandro and wife, Nélia and Mike

My last two preaches were on 27th November at the Igreja Cristã Evangélica de Santana, and on 11th December at the Assembléia de Deus - Jardim Das Industrias, both in the city of São José dos Campos. The photos are from the latter.


I thank God for the challenges and the experiences that He has brought me, and I pray that He will continue to use me in this way in 2012 if it is His will to do so. Amen.



1 comment:

  1. Mike

    It is often the person who believes himself least qualified and is totally reliant on God - who is best qualified to minister in His Name.

    Phillip D

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