Today I finished up my IT job. In 2 weeks time I officially commence as a full time pastor of the Kogarah English Congregation at Grace Chinese Christian Church.
I’ve always had aspirations to full time ministry. As a young Catholic boy growing up in an Italian Australian neighborhood I often dreamt about joining the priesthood. However that changed significantly, when in 1985, for the first time that I recall, I heard a plain and clear explanation of the gospel:
I am a sinner by nature and deed, deserving of God’s just punishment, yet in his generosity and grace, God has given Jesus to fulfill all righteousness and then endure the full force of God’s justice through his death on the cross. Upon rising from death Jesus has purchased my pardon in full and provided full inheritance to God’s love, grace, blessing, forgiveness, restoration, redemption, and eternal salvation. There is nothing I can do to add to his perfect work, whether through good actions, participation in rituals, or the like. The completeness of Jesus’ act on my behalf means that there is nothing that will separate me from him. I am now truly free to worship and live as God intended and designed us to live – in relationship with him as father and Lord.
In 1988 I heard Bob Jones II speak on ‘Men of God’, he gave a challenge for the youth listening to give serious consideration to entering full time ministry training in Bible College. I was excited about the opportunity to serve using my abilities and gifts as a teacher and the prospect of spending life in the ministry drove me to pursue Bible College immediately upon graduating High School. College gave me many things! Knowledge, opportunities to preach, exposure to a variety of teachers and ministries, a wife (!) and a huge ego!
Before finishing college I was serving in an assistant pastor capacity and even had a 3 month night-watchman stint as interim pastor while the senior pastor was away raising sponsorship support. I then joined a larger ministry as an Associate Pastor and led the teaching ministries of a Church (Small Groups etc). All the time thinking, “Well, anytime now and I’ll be doing this full time and will reach the zenith of ministerial achievement”!
In each of my ministries, I learnt a considerable amount about techniques, leadership, theology, people, marriage, customs, culture, language etc. But I also was placing or measuring my satisfaction by involvement in ministry. If you had asked at the time, I probably would have been ignorant of the fact, but in hindsight, I was seeking to be justified by doing ministry. Ministry had become an idol and full time (paid/employed) ministry became the most desired of idols. It took several years to unlearn that dependence on myself, my abilities and achievements and recover that initial “first love” and excitement about serving God as Lord and enjoying Him and resting in his generosity, goodness and greatness.
Why do I want to be “in ministry”? Because I love God. A man’s gift makes room for him and the best use of my abilities is not in IT or business management but in the area of serving the local Church by teaching the Bible. “Ministry” doesn’t mean “I’ve arrived”, rather it means, by God’s grace, he has ordered my steps and brought me to a position, where I have the privilege of serving Him and his people as their pastor. And that makes me very happy!
Willy Wonka: But Charlie, don’t forget what happened to the man who suddenly got everything he he always wanted.
Charlie Bucket: What happened?
Willy Wonka: He lived happily ever after.
(per IMBD)
Nice!
Congratulations Albert on your appointment to the church in Kogarah. I was aware they were looking for someone for a while. I am sure Allowera will miss you and your family.
Many thanks Robert. (we’ll miss them too!)