It only seems appropriate in a month that the 5th lands on a Sunday that we ask a Pastor why they SERVE.
In verse 4 of 3rd John (The Bible), you will find these words; “I have no greater joy than this: to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” Levi is my oldest son. He and his wife, and our two grandchildren, reside in Syracuse, NY where he serves as a Pastor/Elder at Missio Church. Levi attended college at Florida Gulf Coast University where he was first introduced to Ignite, a college ministry. He attended, got involved in and eventually led that ministry and it was there that he found his “calling”. He graduated from FGCU with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication 2007 and then from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity. He and his family were “called” to Syracuse in 2014.
So, here’s the big question that I asked him: Why Do you serve?
I’m a Pastor. I’m a Pancake. Put them together and you get…Pastor Pancake. It’s ok to snicker, it’s pretty ridiculous. That’s why when polite newer people in our church ask, “What should we call you?” I say, “Levi.”
Why do I serve as a Pastor? Well, besides the very Christian answer (We all exist to glorify God and enjoy Him forever), I could say I serve because I want to care for people’s souls (that’s true). Or because I really like people (this is also true…sometimes). Or because I like to teach or because I want to help people. True and true.
But in a much broader sense I serve because the Bible says the task of leadership in the church is to mobilize all of Christ’s people in the life of faith and the mission of the church. The task of leadership is to equip the saints for the work of the ministry. Each and every person is called to be in relationship with God and to represent God. I serve because I want to help others grow in relationship and representation. Relationship: to see people mature in wisdom, grace, and knowledge of God through Christ. Representation: to see all of Christ’s people represent Christ in every town, village, and street, etc. of Central New York. We want to make the opportunity to know God through Christ accessible to every man, woman, and child.
We were created to work. And I pray that however you serve and in whatever you do, that you would serve others (the guest, co-worker, supervisor, colleague) as fellow image-bearers of God. Each and every person has dignity and value and worth because they are made in the image of God. And when we serve others gladly, joyfully, energetically, and diligently, it honors others and allows us to participate in something much more significant and in something much larger than just our little world.
#SERVE
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