“We're Dedicated to Serving God”
Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.
Aimee C. writes:
This verse is an encouragement to me and my husband. We are youth ministers and evangelists, and we are in our early twenties. We are dedicated to serve in the body of Christ for the rest of our lives.
Though many discouraged us from it, this verse is what we use as our theme to press toward the mark of our ministry.
Please note that the views expressed in this story are not necessarily the views of the American Bible Society. Story posted on May 28th, 2008 and filed under Hope, Your Stories, Life Verse.
May 28th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Dear Aimee C.:
I admire you and your husband who “are dedicated to serve in the body of Christ for the rest of our lives.”
When I was a young Seminarian at Union Theological Seminary in New York City, and then at Yale University Divinity School, New Haven, I, too, strove to set an example in my youth ministry “in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.”
I chose to work with the disadvantaged, who more often than not came from dysfunctional families.
It was challenging and at times, I was disheartened, too. But by focusing with the young people on relationship: our Triune God, who can love us in spite of ourselves passionately enough to suffer willingly on our behalf, had brought us together repentance, grace, redemption, hope–even unto this day.
The passage of John 13:13-15 has been my most powerful “example.” “(Jesus said, knowing He was to be betrayed) You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I Am. If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.”
“In truthful speech and in the power of God,” (2 Corinthians 6:7), I shall continue ministering as a humble servant of God and of man. When I embrace the Gospel with firmness, unwaveringly, I live life here on earth joyfully with family and even ‘foes’, if any, indeed.
Thank you.
May GOD ALL MIGHTY Bless you and yours with your dedicated ministry;
GODSPEED, always and forevermore!
Mary Sun.
May 28th, 2008 at 7:37 pm
Praise God for your powerful testimony of faith. How wonderful that God has placed such a desire to serve Him and His people at a young age. Continue to encourage yourself in the Lord and allow His word to feed your heart as you go forth in ministry.
Peace and Blessings,
B. Michelle