Luke 10:1-24
Dear novice,
I am personally writing this letter to you to explain why it is not safe to answer the call to pastor a church or even be a missionary; if you are a novice.
I did not know that novices should neither be called nor ordained into ministry until apostle Paul said it in his letter to Timothy and also to Titus, young ministers he had ordained to ministry to be Bishops.
In this letter, Apostle Paul charged both Bishop Timothy and Titus to appoint and ordain others like they were appointed and ordained. He, however, warned them sternly against appointing and ordaining novices. The simple reason being that, they may be puffed up and fall into the condemnation of Satan.
I must say that doing the work of ministry is like doing the work of driving; because so many people around the world know how to drive and drive their cars, they think those of you doing the professional driving are no special people with special grace; until they have to face what you face daily. Massa! The fact that you can quote a few scriptures and explain them better than me does not make you a pastor or a missionary.
The work of a missionary or pastor goes beyond singing and preaching a few scriptures. I must say that doing the work of a missionary or an evangelist include but not limited to;
1. Being sent and traveling to work in dangerous places;
When the Lord sent His seventy, He sincerely told them that I have sent you as sheep among wolves. That suggested that the mission fields are not playgrounds for children but battlefields for warriors. So, don’t come back complaining. We know that the mission field is a dangerous place, but we expect you to return with testimonies of authority and victory.
I don’t think I qualify to write this but I have been working as a missionary since 1994, some 27 years now.
2. Praying that the Lord of the harvest would send more labourers to beef up the work;
This is because the harvest is plenteous; there is so much work to be done and so few people to do it.
This also shows that the harvest is not for your senior pastor who sent you out. The harvest has a Lord and we are all labouring in Him.
Praying and fasting are also part of the work; if not a major part. You are called not just to preach but to fast and pray for many things, including praying for labourers and pillars.
3. Fundraising, literally having no life, like depending on widows;
If Elijah had to live on the benevolence of widow, what were you thinking when you were answering the call to be a missionary.
Please, I have been living like a beggar for all my adult life. After graduating from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology with a masters degree in water supply and environmental sanitation, some 17 years ago; I have been living on the benevolence of widows and peasants to do the work of ministry and missions in peri-urban Accra.
When the Lord Jesus sent them, He was kind enough to let them know that they were going to eat whatever was set before them.
4. Living in holiness and wisdom;
The mission field is dangerous. The life of a missionary can be very frustrating. The life of a missionary is as a sheep among wolves. It is a high-risk vocation; that is why it is not for novices. The missionary must be both holy and circumspect.
5. Returning to report back, and giving thanks;
The seventy returned and reported back to their senior pastor and gave thanks.
6. Rejoicing for the right reasons;
The Lord pointed them to what they should celebrate. There is only one thing worth celebrating when you return from the mission field; not the cars you bought or houses you built or even souls you won and healed; if there is anything worth celebrating, it is your own salvation.
7. Enduring hardship as a good soldier;
Enduring hardship as a good soldier is a main part of the work. Dear missionary, this is a part of the calling.
I pray that with these few words you will be exhorted. Be blessed!
Your faithfully
Simpe Bediako
