Introduction
It was on December 29th, 1999 when I decided to give my life over to Jesus at the Kings church of Christ, formerly known as the Flatlands church of Christ. I knew all the fundamental facts of the gospel, the “Churches of Christ” teachings, and about salvation (I had pretty good bible school teachers). During the latter part of the year 1999, more of my youth group friends were giving their lives over to Jesus. In addition to that, there was an enormous scare around the world. People believed that when the year 2000 arrived, that the world may “shut down and end”. Knowing what I knew about God, heaven, and hell, I walked down the aisle and gave the preacher my hand and God my heart. I knew that if I were to die then, I would go straight to hell. Therefore, I obeyed the gospel of Jesus Christ at the age of eleven.
As a young boy, listening to sermons wasn’t an interest of mines. At the age of thirteen, for some unknown reason, I decided to listen to the preacher. David Wilson being a precise, studious expositor of Scripture, preached messages that was relevant. At the age of thirteen, he was preaching on the topic of “Purpose.” Wilson’s sermons convicted me and led me to question the purpose of my own existence. For months, I found myself in tears asking God for the purpose for my life. One day, I woke up from a nap and uttered these words, “I want to be a preacher.” The following Sunday, I decided to inform Wilson of my desire to preach. He agreed to mentor me and teach me the craft of preaching. I began preaching at the age of sixteen and was on my journey to becoming a preacher.
David Wilson in a series of teachings, drills, and discussions shared with me all that he knew about expository preaching and teaching. As a result of his consistent mentoring, he allowed me to preach in his absence. The more I preached, the more my passion for preaching increased. After every sermon, I received constructive criticism that gave me an opportunity to learn from my mistakes.
Exposure to Exposition & Relevance
David Wilson created a culture of relevance for the Kings church of Christ. I remember him sharing with the congregation that he was on a mission and that he expects disciples to be a part of the mission that he believed that God was placing in his heart. As a young man studying under the ministry of Wilson, it was an experience that has had a part to place in the shaping of my identity as a minister and my perspective on ministry. Wilson introduced and executed a ministry of discipline, focus, vision, purpose, structure, and relevance. I witnessed the church grow from a sloppy and lazy structure (which was prior to his coming) to a ministry that believes in excellence. Everything that came out of the mouth of Wilson was about mission, purpose, and vision. Although I really didn’t appreciate his ministry as a young man, I was aware of the consistent transformation that was occurring within the lives of the members. As I embraced my calling and zeal for ministry, I began participating in several of the ministries of the Kings church. At the age of sixteen, I was involved in the retention and shepherding ministry. Within this ministry, the men who were training to be elders were called to do the work of shepherding. I served as an assistant to those who were shepherding the flock. One aspect of Wilson’s vision was for church leaders to mentor young men. In addition to my participation in the shepherding ministry, I was also involved in the men’s empowerment, disciple-makers, and pulpit ministries.
As stated before, I believe that the location of my birth, my ministry context, and the experiences I’ve received has shaped my thinking and perspective of ministry. The idea of a ministerial identity looks more like a disciple of Christ who has been anointed for a specific calling. I believe that the life of a consecrated individual is when one immerses themselves in seasons of prayer, study, meditation, and fasting. I believe that consecration to Christ opens the heart and mind of God. God will then pour His vision into the heart and mind of the consecrated servant. I believed this to be true at a young age and began to annually fast and diligently seek the heart and mind of God. Stories in the Bible like Nehemiah and Esther were close to my heart and served as guiding narratives for my journey of consecration. Even to this day, I schedule an annual season of fasting and prayer.
Experience in the South
It was August of 2006, where I left my home to enroll into Southwestern Christian College in Terrell, Texas. While working on my bachelors, I served as a youth minister at the Cedar Crest church of Christ in Dallas, Texas. In addition to that, I was preaching frequently in Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana. Upon graduating in May 2010, I participated in a yearlong delightful internship with the Cedar Hill church of Christ in Cedar Hill, Texas.
Throughout my travels and ministerial experience, I saw something that was dishearten to me. With much respect to my brothers and sisters in the above locations, I witnessed a lot of rituals, yet a lack of Spirit filled disciples. I witnessed various types of division among Christians. I saw churches with large facilities, but with empty pews. I witnessed popular preachers highly respected at different venues but hardly known by their own people. I saw and sat through glamorous gospel meetings and lectureships but witnessed the poor oppressed and unchurch people untouched for Christ.
As a result of my experience within the bible-belt, a greater passion grew within me to focus on the Northeast. Though my experiences in the South wasn’t completely a disturbing one, I felt that the countless number of Churches of Christ on “every corner” was enough. I felt in my heart that communities didn’t need more congestion of divided churches warring against each other for members. I felt in my heart that I needed to one day accept the environment of church politics and church battles and focus on entering into a place that has been abandoned, neglected, and overlooked.
The Calling
The more I ponder on my experience in the South, the more I began to see why I was born in the Northeast. There is a reason why I was born and raised in the Northeastern parts of United States. I saw firsthand the constant spiritual drought that has plagued the entire tri-state (NY, NJ, and Conn.) area including the various neighboring states. I saw firsthand the extreme difficulties to do ministry in this highly populated, highly expensive, and highly regulated part of the United States. I saw why many Christians didn’t want to serve here because, it was and is easier to prosper and be fruitful in ministry in the South. In the South, the seeds of some sort of spirituality have already been planted within the hearts of most of its citizens. In other words, the South is already filled with “religious” individuals of some sort. A disciple, then will simply have to water that plant and God will give the increase. Though that may seem ideal, from my observation, there wasn’t many churches that were doing this. I’ve seen lectureships that were designed to confined people to a set of rules and teachings rather than lectureships that focus on learning more about effective ministries. I’ve seen churches split and fight over pity things while the surrounding neighborhood left without any hope.
The Northeast
Ever since I decided to give my life over to the ministry of Christ, I’ve always have had a passion and desire to serve in the Northeastern area. As my passion grew for the Northeast, I began to study different ministries that were targeting New York City. I noticed that many churches and academic institutions where focused on the New York City area. I was impressed and encouraged by the vision of many who saw and knew the need for ministry in that area.
In witnessing a growing desire by many to serve in New York City, there was something inside of me that desired to pick another area that had a need. I knew that my personality fit more in a multi-ethnic diverse metropolitan area. Therefore, I began to look at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia has a rich history that is filled with art, music, and diversity. I prayerfully looked into Philadelphia and made a commitment to visit the area once a year to get more familiar with the area.
The summer of 2011 was my first visit to Philadelphia. I heard and saw the calling of God to serve in ministry in this city. As I was touring the city, I thought to myself: If I was to come here, serve, and disciple people to Christ, then I will have to come with a missional mindset. It was at that moment, that I concluded that God has placed me on a journey to plant a church in Philadelphia. Ever since I plugged my eyes on Philadelphia, I have grown to have this burning desire to be a servant there. I truly do not know what my ministerial identity will be in Philadelphia. I believe that is it through consecration to Christ and being immersed in the context of Philadelphia, where I will begin to see the identity that I must have in order for me to be effective.
My constant struggle
I sometimes struggle with my passion and ‘calling’. I often wonder if my passion and calling has been tainted by selfishness; my “buy-in” to believing that the Northeast has an enormous need for ministry; and if “just picking Philadelphia” was the best way to go about deciphering my calling. I often ask myself questions like: 1. Is this truly what God really want me to do? 2. Aren’t I too young to know what I’ll be doing in life? 3. Why does it seem like everyone else says they’re “not sure what God wants them to do in the future…” but they’re open to His calling? 4. Why do I seem so sure that I’m going to Philadelphia? 5. Why am I struggling with this “calling”? I have decided therefore to be more humble and “slow to speak” concerning God’s calling for my life. Is this the right approach or is it a lack of trust?
As it relates to my ongoing struggle, I will continue to immerse myself in an intentional community like Agape. Agape is a community of Christians who are restudying and rethinking what is means to be the church. I believe with paying close attention to God and to one another, the community will help me discern who I am in the Kingdom of God.
Journey through ACU
I am currently completing my third year in the M. Div Missions program. During my second year, I was fortunate to study under Dr. Kent Smith who has had a profound impact on my calling and identity. The idea and concept of being missional, according to Dr. Smith is the notion that a missional Christian believes that God is on Earth working in the world, right now. Therefore, a Christian should actively pay attention to what God is doing and participate in His work. This understanding of what it means to be missional has shaped my perspective in regards to church planting in the Northeast.
Prior to taking Dr. Smith’s classes, I have had preconceived ideas regarding how I would plant a church in the Northeast. I had everything mapped out from the first day of starting the church plant to the first day the church entered through the door of its church building. The ideology of being missional does not discount planning; however, it promotes paying attention to what God is up to in and around you. Therefore, as Professor Smith would say, Christians should be “attention payers.”
Conclusion
I believe that God has positioned my birth in the Northeast; revealed an enormous need for ministry to be done in the Northeast; led me to experience life and ministry in the South; and allowed me to have a burning desire for Philadelphia for a reason. I believe that the Lord positioned me at Abilene Christian University to learn, grow, and earn a Graduate School of Theology Masters of Divinity with a concentration on Missions degree so that I will be exposed both to academia and the practice of ministry. While I struggle from time to time with my “calling” and my “identity” as a minister, I believe that the journey here in Abilene has added variables to my transformation as a servant of Christ. I will strive to be humble and open to God’s calling for my life. I look forward to life after ACU. I believe that God will continue to shape me to be a missional “preaching” servant.