WHAT WERE YOU PUT ON THE EARTH TO DO?

I believe each of us is born with a life purpose. Knowing, understanding and pursuing that purpose with passion means honoring what we were put on this earth to do. I think it is easy to get sidetracked from my lifes purpose and end up drifting and accomplishing very little. When I am on purpose, everything in my past, my present and my future comes into focus and life seems to fall into place. Living on purpose begins to feel like I am doing what I love and accomplishing what is important to me. My reason for being.

I have invested many years as a Pastor ministering in a congregational setting. More recently I have discovered a need for ministry services to those individuals who exist outside the conventional boundaries of a “church”. This discovery has come as I have listened to the stories of people that believe the church has done them more harm than good. People that have come to believe the church is irrelevant and exclusive, counting themselves among the excluded. This is also relevant to me because it is part of my story.

The word “church” (ekklesia) used in the Bible is never used with reference to a building. “Church” in its broadest sense refers to a people in large group or small (two or three), “called out”or summoned by God (as opposed to man), to live and learn together what it means to be a Christ follower. In the New Testament narrative, we see Jesus sitting in the middle of His twelve disciples teaching them. What He passed on to them in this picture was that after the resurrection, wherever two or more were gathered, in His name, He would be present, sitting in the middle of them, just as he was in that day.  A traditional “church” setting, may or may not fit that definition. What is clear in the Bible is the “ekklesia” is divine in it’s origins and is not merely a human institution. The purpose of people gathering (“church”) was not for rule setting and judging, but for encouragement, healing, learning and growth.

I believe I am here to minister to individuals that desire to be a part of an “ekklesia” community, but find themselves outside the boundaries of a conventional church model.
I have been a licensed Realtor in the greater Madison area since 1986. I am a graduate of North Central University in Minneapolis, MN. Licensed to preach in 1982 and ordained in 1985, I have served as a Minister in Assembly of God and non denominational churches since 1982. I now consider myself a bi-vocational minister with a unique ministry to those who may feel disconnected from a traditional denomination or church group.

Through my life experiences and personal study I have learned to relate to people from many denominational backgrounds. I believe each of us is born with a life purpose. I want to be able to identify and honor that purpose, taking the time to understand what I am here to do and pursue that purpose with passion and enthusiasm. My hope is that when I act in alignment with my purpose, my actions will by default, serve others.  My mission is to serve… not judge.” I also understand that ist isn’t only about what I think I was put on earth to do, it’s also about what others around me have helped me see about myself. 

My responsibilities as a pastor have included the following:

To preach, teach, administer the Sacraments, and give leadership to small and large groups

To officiate special services such as weddings, funerals or childrens dedications

To give oversight and encouragement to helping others find and function in all areas of ministry to others

To provide pastoral care in the church through visitation, counseling, meditation and prayer

To make appropriate referrals when necessary and quickly respond to crisis situations which arise in the church

To teach, assist and equip ordinary people, to use their gifts to serve others

BELIEVE IN YOURSELF

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

You wern’t an accident. You weren’y mass produced.  You aren’t an assembly line product. You were deliberately planned, specifically gifted, and lovingly positioned on the Earth by the Master Craftsman.

MAX LUCADO, Best Selling Author

I believe God has given all of us something that makes us unique and gives us value. It’s a bit up to us to  determine what that divine gift is and what it does to others when they come into our path.  

After the death and resurection, Jesus, the promised early believers they would receive something beyond themselves as a gift and a witness to the resurection power that was exerted in Him when God raised Him from the dead. A spiritual dynamic (dunamis) that would impart spiritual power. It became obvious this kind of dynamic, was available to anyone that God chose, so they in turn could be a conduit of healing. This can come even through a little child.

This dynamic, may express itself to individuals emotionally, physically or spiritually. It may be manifest in peacefulness or calm, when ministering to those that are struggling. I don’t believe spiritual qualities are the result of personal achievement, but all believers can come to know and acknowledge, with gratitude the gifts God gives them.

My personal affirmation? I can be a conduit to channel healing to others. I am inspired, passionate and enthusiastic about communicating freedom and triumph in the struggle that is life. The definition of the word Enthusiasm comes from the Greek word entheos, meaning “to be filled with God.”

I can think of several times in my life when I have felt the sting of personal failure, but today I realize many of these experiences and struggles have actually equipped me to be more empathetic and understanding.  Though theological knowledge is of consequence to me, I do not consider ministry to be exclusively about theological knowledge. Life has taught me that people, especially those who are struggling, don’t care how much I know, until they know how much I care.

As a pastor, I especially enjoy being part of a wedding celebration. The first recorded miracle that Christ did was at a wedding. He turned something very ordinary (water), into something very extraordinary (wine). This was to be the essence of his life and ministry. From this point forward He would take the ordinary elements in life, like people, and turn them into something amazing.

If I can be of any help to you or your family please call or email me.