Luke 18:29 says, "Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times as much in this age and in the age to come, eternal life." The people of God have always had leaders, some of whom were called to wander. Like Abraham, who heard the call, "Leave your country, your relatives, your father's house, and go to the land which I will show you" (Gen 12:1). In the New Testament, the apostles were all over the place. All of them experienced hardships, but all of them also received blessings beyond what they would have had otherwise, and in their obedience they became blessings that blessed the entire world.
I know that, as an itinerating pastor's family, we will probably not experience the same good as we would if we were settled "in the land of our father's." But the promise is that as we follow God in Christ, we will experience good, a different good, an abundant good that will be many times as much as we would otherwise ever have known.
3 comments:
Well said. There is a grief in itinerating that those outside it find hard to understand. I have know a lot of military families to do the same for their higher cause, and some corporate families who move freq for "the job." But while they have to move, they aren't told, this house is where you will live, and this will be your church and these people will be your friends.
One reflection about wanting the best for your child: with one move we we concerned of the affect on our daughter and yet she "blossomed" in the more challenging situation. So you never really know what's "best."
I do think that the UM church seriously needs to look at the whole process and pray for discernment. Itineracy AND guaranteed appointments may be harmful to pastors and churches.
If you haven't already read Donald Haynes' comments on the topic, they're here:
Itineracy
We are seemingly getting ready to experience this in our life for the first time. My wife and I are adults and we knew what the system was going in. My youngest son is 13 and always "knew" moving was a reality but is now experiencing this for the first time. It is scary for all involved and we just continue to pray that the Spirit is involved and in charge of this process.
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