This past Sunday evening, I had the privilege of presenting a mission report, a summary my 2012 mission and ministry activity, at the Main and Oklahoma church. It was a special blessing to return to this church that has been so much a part of our lives and our work in ministry and missions over the past 10 years. The reception was warm and the words of encouragement were especially meaningful. It was also good to have the opportunity to share, in part because it gave me the opportunity to put some numbers and summaries to the work God has placed before us thus far this year.
Thus far in 2012 through nine months, I have spent 128 days teaching and preaching, including a few travel days for seminars and mission work in distant locations. (Although September is not quite over, there are no more events scheduled for this month.) The average is just over 14 teaching and preaching days each month.
There have been 15 baptisms on the mission trips, although that is not the primary focus on the seminars. Nonetheless, when a church asks for a gospel focus in the seminar, we gladly assist, and have opportunities along the way to teach evangelistic Bible studies and participate in small group studies.
Stateside, I worked with five different congregations in leadership and training seminars. I made four extended foreign tours of about three weeks each–to Guatemala, Honduras, Chile-Uruguay, and Ecuador-Colombia. A couple of other overseas trips and additional stateside work kept the schedule filled to almost overflowing. I have found that this level of travel for teaching and preaching is very near the limit, both in terms of personal energy and strength, and in terms of balancing preparations for seminars and the other mission and ministry work I am involved with.
Many of the locations where I present seminars or teach and preach ask for special lessons or topics. Preparing these materials requires additional study and time. Not only is there the seminar and training work that is done through EVO and through my own personal contacts, I am also actively involved in the work at Baxter Institute and in my work as board chairman. The work of updating evangelism materials in Spanish for the use of ordinary members is progressing. Teaching an adult Bible class at Park Plaza is a joy. The opportunity to be involved with Iglesia de Cristo–Park Plaza is a work in progress and will accelerate in coming weeks, especially with the upcoming leadership development seminar November 1-4.
These activities and more, along with various writing projects, keeps the plate filled and overflowing! I consider that the opportunity to be busy and blessed by God so that I can pass forward the blessing is a gift from God. Thank you, Lord, for blessing our lives with fruitful, productive busyness.