Once again Go To Nations interns have descended upon our dear city of Iloilo, the Timothy Internship Program of 2011 has begun.
Once again we have a group of interns who will do things like children's ministry, medical missions, community development, teach in a Bible school, and so much more. As amazing as those things are, truth be told, these ministry activities are NOT the goal of this internship.
Yes, they will touch many lives, joining in ministry activities already going on here in Iloilo. Yes, they will help change a squatter village through community development, they will help feed hungry kids on Saturdays at the Sonshine Center, and they will each get a chance to preach a Sunday message at an area church. However, all this ministry is not the end result we are seeking. For this internship ministry is not the goal.
The goal is learning.
The goal is to see these interns step out and do something amazing, perhaps something they have never done before, like teach in a Bible school--that's coming in a few weeks! The goal is learning. Learning is the destination, ministry is the vehicle that gets them to that destination.
As I have written before, it is the belief among Go To Nations missionaries that when you raise up ministers, ministry will follow. Focus on the man of God, equip him, train him, and then he will do amazing things for God.
In fact one of our very first interns, Paulo, reminded all of us during a devotional time, that Jesus is more interested in your spiritual health than in your spiritual abilities or activities.
Christ did not die for feeding programs, or for the Sonshine Center, or for Bible schools. He died to possess our hearts and our lives. And then when we are fully His, He will do amazing things on this Earth through us.
Once again we have a group of interns who will do things like children's ministry, medical missions, community development, teach in a Bible school, and so much more. As amazing as those things are, truth be told, these ministry activities are NOT the goal of this internship.
Yes, they will touch many lives, joining in ministry activities already going on here in Iloilo. Yes, they will help change a squatter village through community development, they will help feed hungry kids on Saturdays at the Sonshine Center, and they will each get a chance to preach a Sunday message at an area church. However, all this ministry is not the end result we are seeking. For this internship ministry is not the goal.
The goal is learning.
The goal is to see these interns step out and do something amazing, perhaps something they have never done before, like teach in a Bible school--that's coming in a few weeks! The goal is learning. Learning is the destination, ministry is the vehicle that gets them to that destination.
As I have written before, it is the belief among Go To Nations missionaries that when you raise up ministers, ministry will follow. Focus on the man of God, equip him, train him, and then he will do amazing things for God.
In fact one of our very first interns, Paulo, reminded all of us during a devotional time, that Jesus is more interested in your spiritual health than in your spiritual abilities or activities.
Christ did not die for feeding programs, or for the Sonshine Center, or for Bible schools. He died to possess our hearts and our lives. And then when we are fully His, He will do amazing things on this Earth through us.
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