Devotion

On the first weekend of June, a group of Evangelists gathered from across CEM to spend a weekend with Presiding Evangelist David Brock. A few spouses joined them and two younger couples who came to provide ministry, plus support with KP. In all, 21 people gathered together. It was a good weekend. As the weekend progressed, something began to tug at the edges of my consciousness. It was not until the retreat was over that I was able to put my finger on what it was.

The order of Evangelists is made of up mature ministers who have the earned wisdom and experience to reflect God’s grace to others as ministers of blessing. Most of the group that gathered has reached retirement age, some recently through retiring early, and some many years ago. Most people look forward to the retirement years with an eye to taking things a little easier. Perhaps we hope to spend more time with family, or on a beach somewhere. Perhaps we want to travel, have stacks of books we plan to read, or boxes of photos we hope to label and organize. Sometimes we hear people suggesting that they have done their part, and now it is time to sit back and relax, perhaps a little like Jesus’ parable of the barns in Luke 12.

I heard no such comments this weekend; not once. Oh there were questions asked, or statements made about possible superannuation, but not so those considering the possibility could take life easier. The few such comments that were made were always in tandem with questions about the capacity of the minister to continue to offer high quality ministry in their advancing years. “Do I have the stamina to be able to offer people the support they need? Is my memory or ability to think clearly still acute enough to do my job well? Is my ministry still current in relation to the age in which we live?”

To be clear, we all like to sit on the beach some times, and there is nothing wrong with that. Several of the Evangelists who gathered this weekend spend at least some time in Florida during the winter. But even there they seem to have been offering ministry in the places where they were. Further, from the constant stream of emails I saw, many of them used that time to firm up their plans for ministry when they got home. It is refreshing to be with a group of ministers with such devotion to God, the church, the people they serve. It is inspiring. They truly are ministers of blessing.

This post is in honour of the dedicated women and men who lovingly watch over the church, always looking for an opportunity to be a blessing to others. God’s Spirit graced our gathering this weekend. Your love and devotion ensured it would be so. May you continue to be blessed in the ministry you offer to all God's children.

Posted by Carman