I have had many unique speaking opportunities in my life. There was the time I was thrust in front of
the camera with no warning, script, or time for rehearsal to do a commercial
spot. On another occasion, and with
plenty of rehearsal, I led a Fearless Speaker Clinic for children ages 5 to 16
for 2 hours, and losing the audience’s attention was not an option!
But I have to say the most unique opportunities have come
because of my life as a Minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
In 2002 I became a card-carrying licensed Minister under the
apostolic covering of Foundations International Ministries (FIM) thanks in no small part to an initial
referral from my brother in Christ, Steve Brown. Just 18 months later I was part
of FIM’s delegation to the All Nations Conference of Ministers in Cape Town , South
Africa
The Founders of FIM, Rob and Melinda Brondell, are an amazing
couple who had apparently ‘preached’ me up to the South African Host
Committee. Two days before leaving a
call from Rob let me know that after landing I would have time to shower before
preaching that night. Except that I had
not so much as led a Bible Study in more than 25 years I was ready… not! Turns out I was not only preaching, but
closing a revival. A revival. In Africa .
No pressure!
Fast forward 10 years.
In February of this year I got a call to deliver a word – except this
time the call came through Sisters in Harmony, founded by Edmund Herman. The call was not to preach but to participate
in an Author’s Workshop and Roundtable with my second book, Be Known for Your
D.E.E.D.S., one of the featured texts.
The location for the workshop and roundtable? Rodney
Bay in St.
Lucia , West Indies ! Can I have an amen on that?!
It was just a few weeks later on 6 March that Ed asked
if I would be willing to preach on a Sunday during our stay on the island. My thought?
Are you kidding me? Absolutely, I want to preach in St. Lucia
Talk about unique opportunities? Instead let’s talk about unique funds. I didn’t have the money to go! All available cash was already committed to
bills, a few repairs to my classic ’95 Bronco, and being smart about saving and
spending. So ‘want to go’ was very much
tempered by ‘money to go’ and ‘money’ was winning, so to speak.
My prayers about the opportunity became reason sessions as I
reasoned through whether or not this was in fact a call of God to preach in St. Lucia
I could only cover my face as tears streamed down my face when Steve handed me a check for an amount that caused me to no
longer question Who was inviting me, or why I was to go. When you see the love of God manifest so clearly, emotions will get the better of you! I was being called to St. Lucia Cape Town
Two days later I would preach to another congregation, and
in between I would be invited to attend a Prayer Meeting, and once there –
without advance notice – be asked to lead the meeting. Three unique speaking opportunities all to
audiences I did not know before stepping in front of them. All ordained by God to speak His Word to
those He loves so very, very much.
When blessed to represent the Christian faith, in the pulpit,
at a prayer meeting, in a Bible study or some other venue, the responsibility to
disseminate the truth of Scripture is not to be taken lightly or
ill-advisedly. And concerns about
adequate time to prepare can be filed away!
I had started developing a lengthy discourse on paper which would have
become the foundation for a few sermons – until the Lord had me abandon the
project, and leave the work behind.
When the Lord calls you go where you are led to go, stay
where you are led to stay, speak where you are led to speak, and say what you
are given to say. And for my brothers and
sisters in Christ you’ll get a kick out of the following:
The airfare to St. Lucia St.
Lucia
You see, in this realm of being a mouthpiece
for the one, true Living God - fearless is the norm.
Fearlessly,
JD
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