Being Released for Ministry

 

I haven't posted in a week because it's been an eventful one. We traveled five hours last Friday for Stephen's baccalaureate and spent the night for his graduation which was at 2 p.m. the next day. What a wonderful event that was! We had great seats and I was able to get some really good shots of him.

We got home around 11 p.m. on Saturday and then got up for church the next day and we also had youth group Sunday night.  Then on Monday morning we headed out for a three day district prayer conference and arrived home yesterday afternoon.

One of the themes that seemed to run through our whole week was the idea of being released and commissioned for ministry. Both Stephen's Baccalaureate service and graduation were so meaningful, not only because he finished the hard work of earning a degree but because the students were prayed for and challenged and commissioned to now go out in the world and serve God.  

Part of a written message from the president of Nyack College stated, 

"...I ask you to look at the students lined up to receive their degrees. Then, imagine them as hundreds of small stones, each being held in the hand of the Almighty.

At approximately 4:30 this afternoon, the hand of the Almighty will literally fling this handful of stones out into our needy world. And like a handful of stones flung into a body of water, our graduates will make a splash. More than that, this handful of 'living stones' will begin to make waves. Just think of the 'ripple effect' that the Class of 2018 can have upon the world."

The president of the college was saying something to Stephen for a couple of minutes on the stage and I asked him later what he was saying. Steve told me he was giving him a blessing. 

In our service on Sunday morning, the elders and our head deaconess asked Stephen to come forward and they gave him a gift, but more importantly, laid hands on him and prayed for his coming ministry.

During our district conference there was an ordination and consecration service for the four men and one woman who had completed their coursework and passed their exams in order to become ordained and consecrated. The members of the licensing, ordination, and consecration committee, all of whom are ordained ministers came forward and laid their hands on them and commissioned them for ministry.

During our district conference it was heart-warming to hear the pastor of the church where Stephen will be headed stand up and share how he wanted to mentor Steve because he never had that himself. 

I'm so thankful that my son has been prayed for, and is part of a denomination that prepares people well for ministry. And I'm also thankful that as they release them into service, they give them a challenge, a commission and then pray for them as they embark into their ministry.

2 Timothy 1:6-7 (NIV) ~

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.