Help! I Didn’t Sign Up For This.

by | May 28, 2011 | Church Planting, Communication / Preaching, Outreach and Evangelism | 0 comments

I married a sailor.  Never in a million years did I expect to be in the ministry.  First off, we weren’t even Christians when we got married.  And secondly, we had no training whatsoever.  “But God…”– a phase commonly used in Scripture – had other plans for us.

Maybe you’re in a similar situation. Or, maybe you did plan to be in the ministry. Perhaps you expected to move into an established situation – but church planting…moving from Jerusalem, your friends, a great church – no way!

Hudson Taylor, founder of China Inland Missions, told potential candidates, “Unless you intend your wife to be a true missionary, not merely a wife, home-maker and friend, do not join us.” Wives of CIM missionaries were considered missionaries in their own right.

So what about you? Do you think you are called?  I came to the conclusion that if my husband was called, I was also called…like it or not.  We are a packaged deal. Life constantly brings about changes and adjustments must always be made.

So now what?  I had to decide whether to be an anchor or a sail to this ship my sailor was now aboard.  I chose to be a sail.  I wanted to augment, not impede God’s call in his life.

I never wanted to hear my husband say, with regret, “I wish I could have…” or, “I really wanted to…” or, “I would have…but, my wife wouldn’t leave”…whatever.  I always wanted him to consider me his partner, his ally, and his chief supporter.  I wanted him to follow his dream in whatever way God showed him, with me alongside.

Now I can truthfully say, lest you’re looking at my halo in awe, that I never wanted to move anywhere.  I was always the reluctant, cautious one.  And I always freely and firmly gave my opinion.  However, once the decision was made, despite my objections – well, I was “on board” 100%.

Boats have both anchors & sails; both are needed, wisdom in use is the key.

 

 

 

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