Yesterday I preached what I called an "unapologetically autobiographical" sermon. It was about my call to preach and my own personal journey in ministry, but I hope it spoke to what it means for this congregation to be a community of faith where children, youth and adults can hear the call of God in their lives. Around here we take that seriously. We make a major investment in ministries of children and youth. We support internships and scholarships for seminary students and we are intentional about including children as well as youth and adults in mission and service opportunities. The occasion that prompted the sermon was Pastor Brian's participation in the national event for young adults called EXPLORATION 2011 in St. Louis. We created EXPLORATION when I was serving at the Board of Higher Education and Ministry as a way of reaching young adults with the call to ordained ministry. If you are interested in the sermon, you will be able to listen to it and print out the hard copy from the website later this week.
As usual, there is always good material which doesn't make it into the sermon. This comes from the great Methodist evangelist and missionary of the mid-20th century, E. Stanley Jones. He traveled the world preaching the Gospel and when he died, his heart was buried in his beloved India where he spent much of his life. In what he calls his spiritual autobiography entitled "Song of Ascents", Jones talks about his belief in eternal life and then he describes what he has in mind for when he gets there:
"If I keep my present state of mind and purpose, I will ask for twenty-four hours of rest after I arrive in heaven. Then I will ask for twenty-four hours to visit with my friends and renew old acquaintances. Then I would like to go up to Jesus and say, "This is wonderful and I do not deserve to be here. Grace has brought me home and I love it here. But haven't you a world that is fallen that needs an evangelist? Please send me." I would mean it. For I know no heaven more heavenly than proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ."
Neither do I. Near the end of his life, E. Stanley Jones said, "I hope my last breath will be "I commend my Savior to you." Those are the words we carved on my Dad's tombstone and it's my hope too.
I am so proud of this church and our commitment to nurturing the call of God in the lives of our children and youth. In the years to come, I am sure there will be congregations across the country who will be blessed by pastors who have grown up here or trained here. Thanks be to God for a congregation that nurtures the call.
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