Pastor's Page

Serving to Know

When I was about 11 years old, the association missionary at our church asked me if I would like to go with him to deliver Christmas baskets. I did not know the old graying man very well but I was glad to help, so I did. We went to the very poor of our community and delivered turkeys and food boxes. I learned a lot on that outing.

I did not think of my family as being financially affluent, but I learned what real poverty looked like. I learned the reward of serving people who could do nothing in return. Through that experience and many others, I discovered I was created to serve. I discovered the sense of fulfillment one has when engaged in kingdom purposes.

I am told that John Wimber, the founder of the Vineyard, often said, “In God’s kingdom everyone gets to play.” When I read Ephesians 4:11-12, which basically says that a pastor’s job is to equip the saints for ministry, I suspect that John got this idea from the Bible.

One of my favorite quotes from the Vineyard National Conference this week was by our national director, Bert Waggoner. He said, “There are some things that we cannot know about God until we are involved in ministry.” I believe that to be true. In Acts 10, God sends a reluctant Peter to serve a group of Gentiles who had requested he come and speak at their home group. In Acts 10:34-35, it is recorded what he learned about God while being an obedient servant.

³⁴Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. ³⁵But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him (Acts 10:34-35). This was a radical revelation to a Jewish fisherman turned preacher.

Since our primary quest is to know God, then committing to serve in His name is necessary if we desire to grow in our knowledge of Him.