Discipleship pastoring

After I had the conversation with Heather, I realized that I already was a pastor.   I care for the spiritual development of others in formal and informal contexts.  I regularly hang out with a couple college kids, intentionally investing in their spiritual development.  Friends agree I have the spiritual gift of shepherding or pastoring.  I am working hard to follow the Lord's lead, being faithful to the opportunities that the Lord puts in front of me and making disciples at work and at church.

"Huh, I guess I already AM a discipleship pastor," I thought to myself.  Who knew?!

No idea what the Lord means when He says I'll be a discipleship pastor.  Maybe it will be in a formal context, like a category 3.  While I don't think it will be in IE, it could be in another vocation where I am a category 1 or 2 discipleship pastor.

The bottom line is that I have no idea, and ultimately -- at least for now -- it doesn't matter.  I am just working to stay close to Jesus and follow Him on each step of this incredibly confusing, nonlinear path.  He will make things clear in His timing. I do know that, in this season of waiting and transition, that the Lord is building into me character, stamina, and an ability to hear His voice.  That will be invaluable regardless of what comes next.

Be Faithful to the Opportunities God Puts in Front of You

I wrote just a little bit about some of the things I'd learned on my trip to DC.  Probably the biggest thing I learned was to be faithful to the opportunities that the Lord puts in front of you, and to make disciples in that context.

Refreshingly simple.  Deeply challenging.  If done with the Lord's help, incredibly fruitful.

I loved (and continue to love) this simple mantra for several reasons.

First, it is what Jesus did and I can't think of an example I'd rather follow.  End of story.  Second, it's incredibly practical.  When God puts an opportunity in front of you, it is generally either in your sphere of influence or it's something wild and crazy that He's going to partner with you to put resources behind.  Finally, it's just something that boils down many of the instructions we are given in scripture into something that is concise and powerful.

This phrase has been on repeat in my brain since returning to Fayetteville.  It is helping me to finish out this school year.  It has provided meaning to my days and to my interactions with friends, students, and coworkers.  It has helped me see that this season of waiting and preparation for whatever lies ahead need not be fruitless.

So, as the Lord continues to challenge me in ways that I didn't anticipate and I'd be really tempted to say that I cannot handle, I pray that the Lord would give me the strength and grace and resources to be faithful to each and every one of the opportunities that he puts in front of me.  I pray that He would bless me with the opportunities to share and model the light of Jesus, and that I would be able to make disciples wherever I go -- whether it's sharing Jesus with a domestic abuse victim or teaching a renewable energy course or just having coffee with a friend.

Discipleship

I remember last spring when I was considering what to do about my job -- should I go up for tenure?  Should I not?  If not, what would that mean for where my life was headed?  That time was chaotic, uncertain, and extremely confusing.  I was desperate for answers from God.  In the midst of the chaos, I felt the still small voice of the Holy Spirit whisper something to me that caught me extremely off guard:

"Discipleship pastor."

Being honest, I didn't know what a discipleship pastor was.   I thought it was extremely bizarre and random.  It was out of left field, and no one was more surprised about this prompting than I was.  Nonetheless it was random enough that I thought that it just might be a God thing so I began to consider it and pray about it.

For the last six months, I have been seeking God hard -- begging for His direction, unsure of which way to go.  He hasn't been loud, but He has been there reassuring me with His presence and overwhelming me with peace.

Trust me.

I haven't forgotten you.

I am preparing you.

Wait for me.

Be still.

Listen.

Cease striving.

Trust me.

At the same time, I've been working to learn as much as I can about what it might look like to be a discipleship pastor.  Digging into the word.  Reading as much about discipleship and spiritual development as time allows.  Reading blogs upon blogs.  Getting involved in writing curriculum with a team of folks at my church.  Meeting with people from my church and from folks at other churches as well who can teach me about discipleship.  Spending a ton of time in prayer, and learning better to listen for the voice of the Spirit.  In short I am working like it depends on me, and praying like it depends on God -- because it does.  Period.

Last night I was at my community group, and we were praying for each other.  Though I've kept them in the loop as everything has happened, I asked last night that they would pray that I would have clear direction and that I would have wisdom in how I spend my time in this season of waiting and preparation for what's next.  They did pray for me, and I was encouraged.  Then my friend Linda got a word from the Spirit.

"The Lord has given you this dream -- you need to pursue discipleship."

She and others went on to pray that I would walk in faith like Abraham and Sarah, and that the Lord would fulfill His promises to me.  Most of them had no idea how significant that was, but this is something the Lord has been showing me and speaking to me since March.

And that was it.  I knew in my spirit that I had my answer.  Through Linda, the Lord had confirmed the direction I should go. I've had my yes on the table for awhile, letting the Lord know I would do whatever and go whichever direction He wanted me to go -- but I haven't known which direction that was.  I've been praying alone, with friends, and in community for six months or so that He would make His direction clear to me, but I just didn't have an answer.  I prayed and prayed and groaned and waited and was trusting the Lord He would make it clear in His timing.

And His timing was last night.  And His answer was to pursue discipleship.

And my answer to Him is yes, I will.

But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.  What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.  I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ. ~ Philippians 3:7-8