By Jenny Young
A few months ago, I and another SOAR staff member attended the NewSpring Leadership Conference in Anderson, SC. Perry Noble is the Senior Pastor of NewSpring Church where they have multiple campuses throughout South Carolina. This conference was packed with six pastors and leaders from across the country who spoke in six sessions. We had the opportunity to hear from each leader and each brought
In one of the sessions, we got to hear from Judah Smith, who is the Lead Pastor of The City Church in Seattle, Washington. He spoke on the title of this blog, “Matters of the Meantime.” This particular talked rocked my world. He shared a story that many of us can relate to. He like many families went on road trips when younger and asked a typical question of any young boy or girl to their dad, “Are we there yet.” He knew that they weren’t where they were supposed to be, but had done all he knew how do while being in the car hoping his dad would say to being at the final destination. I can relate to this in so many ways as I know I ask God many times in ministry, “Are we there yet.” This question may be in regards to the fulfillment of our mission and vision, outreach, training, equipping, and many other areas of ministry. I want to get to the other side, but not sure of what this time is all about. We are in the meantime. I was reminded that I need to trust Jesus with the meantime as He is the one who helps us get to the other side.
Here are a few points that I took away from his talk:
Judah Smith: “Matters of the Meantime”
- “I’ve done everything I know how to do God! We ask the question, Are we there yet?”
- What do you do when you are not where you used to be, but not where you’re supposed to be? This is called the meantime
- “The meantime is important to God”
- “What you do in the meantime shapes vision.”
- “How do we get to the other side?” God takes us to the “other side.” “We don’t take ourselves there with knowledge or planning, but by His grace.”
- “Just stay in the boat. Stay where God has put you and don’t give up.”
- “You need a friend in the boat to say to you, stay in the boat.”
- “When the disciples were in the storm, they didn’t jump ship—they stayed in the boat.”
- “Just because your dream is delayed does NOT mean that your dream is denied.” Gal 6:9
- “What do you do when you’re not where you used to be, but not where you’re supposed to be? “Trust Jesus. Where He is, that’s where I’m supposed to be.”
You can listen and/or watch to Pastor Smith and the rest of the speakers online here. You can also download the talks on iTunes by searching Perry Noble at NewSpring Leadership Conference.
Have you asked the question in ministry, Are we there yet? If so, how have you responded? Don’t lose heart friends. Stay in the boat!
