Timothy Retreat 2009

I had the opportunity to attend the Timothy Retreat at the Iowa Regular Baptist Camp on March 20-21. There were around 16 young men that believed that they are headed to full-time ministry or were very open to the possibility of heading into full-time ministry.

Our speaker for the retreat was David Whitcher, who began by challenging us to a commitment to the sufficiency of scripture on Friday evening. On Saturday he walked the guys through the rules of interpretation and then the process of crafting a sermon which concluded with the guy putting together their first sermon outlines. The two guy from our church did a great job & I was very proud of them.

I am convinced that the ministry to which I have been called is the greatest calling in this world. Get this...I get to study God's Word, the Bible, craft sermons and get to preach them to folks who are truly desiring to know God better and live lives pleasing to Him. Do one on one counseling/discipleship and watch as God through His Holy Spirit work in and change them into the image/likeness of Jesus Christ their Savior! On top of all of that I get paid for it!

To quote Paul in writing to his son in the faith: "And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen."
1 Timothy 1:12-17

PS...My life verse is 1 Timothy 1:16