This week we will gather together on Sunday morning at Calvary Baptist Church to ordain Greg Mickey to the ministry of the gospel. This will be one of the most special services the Mickeys ever attended. Many have sensed the call of God on his life and he has shown evidence of this call through his conversion and giftedness. Greg has been examined by a group of his peers, they have found him competent to enter the gospel ministry, and now they are recommending to Calvary that we proceed. We as a church will do the actual ordination.The front line ministry of the local church is never to be entered into lightly. Vocational ministry is not just another job option, no it is a specific call from God.
Preacher Crocker and I will challenge Greg this Sunday, but time will not allow us to share everything. So, I want to take this opportunity to challenge you with a personal responsibility of prayer with regard to Greg and the gospel ministry. Paul wrote,
"And [pray] also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel" (Ephesians 6:19).
The first thing we can pray about for Greg is clarity in his preaching. It seems that everything but the Word is being preached from our pulpits these days. Too much time is spent on looking up jokes and illustrations that the truth of the passage is being neglected. Our ideas are not important, it is God's Word and His ideas that must prevail.
The second thing we can pray about for Greg is courage in his preaching. Boldness in proclaiming is important because preachers can fall into the temptation to please the audience of many and forget the audience of ONE! Paul reminded Timothy,
"For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions" (2 Timothy 4:3).
I hope you will join us this Sunday. This is the beginning of ministry for Greg and Beth (and don't forget about Meredith and Hannah!). Share in this exciting day and support them with your prayers.
Grace & Peace,
Scott
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