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Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Hebrews 13:20-21
Jesus is the Great Shepherd and all who are called (who don’t merely see it as a job) to be a pastor, serve Him and ought to consider it the greatest privilege to serve His flock!
Qualification
I have been to Bible college, if you count the one unit I completed and ignore the fact that I haven’t been back since. For those of you who are shocked and can’t believe I would dare to call myself a pastor, I ask you to please read the Word of God and then ask the LORD why I would do that and if I am being ungodly in any way. For those interested, I’ll share my “Christian resume” here so you can see for yourself how God has used me in the past and is using me now. Over the years, I have had the privilege to be involved in kids, youth, young adults and men’s ministry and I am still involved in many aspects of it even to this day.
Calling
So, if I haven’t graduated from Bible college (seminary) and I have neither the recognition nor the endorsement of a governing body, who died and made me a Pastor? Jesus did!
I believe the LORD has called me to be a pastor, but not surprisingly, in all these years that I have been a faithful (but flawed) follower of Jesus, I have yet to be offered a pastoring role by any church.
When I reflect on it now, I realise that for over 12 years (since 2003, when I ended up in Dubai), the good LORD was preparing me to be a pastor by challenging me to step up in my Christian walk and my relationship with Him. God knows I am not a perfect Christian and when I think about the many mistakes I have made since coming to know Him, I begin to get a glimpse of His grace and mercies because I am still here!
I am a pastor and there is no denying that calling, even if people (especially some Christians) don’t acknowledge or recognise that God has His hand upon me.
Ministry
Then I will give you shepherds after My own heart, who will feed you on knowledge and understanding. – Jeremiah 3:15
My desire is to be a shepherd that not only pursues His heart, but also serves His people by teaching them His Word as well as challenging and encouraging them to live and love like Him by relying on His Holy Spirit.
To that end, I am grateful that I have the opportunity to volunteer at Fishers of Men and also preach/teach His Word there. As a volunteer leader at the Fishers of Men Stage 1 Discipleship House, I have the opportunity to be a pastor to men who are broken in many ways and need Jesus to heal them physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. I am truly grateful to the LORD for this incredible opportunity because of the many ways He uses me there.
I’m also excited to be starting a home church with my wife Amanda and look forward to all that the LORD is going to do in and through us, this church and in the lives of everyone who will join hands with us in this ministry. I am eager to preach and teach His Word and be the pastor, the shepherd, the servant leader He has called me to be.
If you would like to get in touch with me about speaking at your church, be it to your youth, young adults, men or entire congregation, please feel free to use the contact form below to get in touch with me. I consider it a privilege to share God’s Word and am always eager to do so with anyone who’s willing to listen.
Thank you for reading. God bless you
I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
2 Timothy 4:1-5 (NASB)
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