The Hope Question: What can we do when we're ready to give up?
Written by Ron Retherford
Wednesday, 03 March 2010 16:50
The Hope Question: What can we do when we're ready to give up?

This has been quite a week! I've been interviewing the largest group of
pastoral candidates in ten years as they seek to be ordained as pastors in
our denomination here in Wisconsin. And I have been truly impressed! As I
read through the materials these pastors have submitted, I was deeply
touched by the trials and tribulations these servants have endured along
their journey in to ministry.

They've encountered every imaginable challenge. Some have struggled with
serious family difficulties, any of which could have led them to conclude
that they were headed in the wrong vocational direction. Many of their
struggles could have convinced them that trusting God and continuing in
their hope to serve in ministry was ill-conceived. Others have faced career
issues that were so serious that any career change would seem to be
ill-advised. Still others had been in career and family situations that were
so rewarding in so many ways that to change careers would be foolish.
Abandoning their journey into ministry seemed like the most rational and
appropriate choice in almost every case!

And yet, these candidates continued their journey. Each of them found some
glimmer of hope, some seed of faith, some vision of ministry that would not
die despite the mounting evidence that this was not the right course for
their life at all. In some cases, their efforts were even entangled,
complicated and disrupted by the "Steps Into Ordained Ministry" within our
own denomination!

So imagine my delight, as I saw the tremendous faith, the outstanding gifts
for ministry, and the deep and abiding hope that these candidates shared
with us as we talked with them about their personal, professional, and
theological understanding of ministry in our United Methodist Church here in
the Wisconsin Annual Conference! What blessings these leaders will bring!
What excitement and enthusiasm they offer! And what hopes, dreams, visions,
and experiences they bring into our congregations! I could never be more
hopeful for the future of our denomination and, indeed, all of Christendom
than I am today as we prepare to approve these faithful and effective
pastors! For while it is true that some will need to continue their
preparation, the great majority of them will serve our churches very
faithfully as they lead our congregations into this new chapter of
faithfulness.

Clearly, through these new pastors, God is encouraging us to continue to
hope, pray, and work for the New Creation God has envisioned for our future.
I am so thankful for the way that God's Holy Spirit has provided us with
capable leaders who have never given up their hope for ministry despite
unbelievably complex and challenging barriers they've faced along the way.

During this Lenten season, as we continue our journey in faith to the cross
Christ accepted to help us overcome our sins, I pray that some of the hope,
perseverance, and faithfulness that empowered our newest pastors will also
fill our souls and encourage all of us to live, learn, and grow in our
readiness to serve the Lord who gives us life, the Christ who died to save
us, and the Holy Spirit who sustains us on our way to Easter. Alleluia! And
Amen.
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