Staying Focused Isn't Always Easy

We’ve been in full-time ministry for a little over 18 years now and have served as associate pastors, youth pastors, in supportive ministry and now as lead pastors and missionaries. So, over the years, we’ve done a lot of good things but we’ve also made a lot of mistakes along the way as well. 

One of the biggest struggles has always been staying focused. For some reason staying focused on what God’s called us to do has always been a serious challenge. There’s always a temptation to lose sight of our call- even with supposedly good things. Here, let me explain:

When we founded Hope and Life Brazil we had a clear vision of what we felt like God wanted us to do- "Reach the people of Brazil with the Gospel." And particularly the children and teenagers of Brazil. And, as it goes with any vision/mission/purpose statement, sometimes it’s easy to become distracted and even get off track when ministry actually begins. 

On paper mission statements always look good. But once ‘real life' kicks-in it’s easy to lose focus and get away from what you initially set out to accomplish. And that’s especially the case when you see so many things that need to be addressed. Whether it's something morally, educationally, economically, physically or most important of all-  spiritually. We can’t meet every need or be the catalyst for change in every circumstance (even though we’d like to). 

I think that sometimes, as christians who want to truly follow Jesus, we have a tendency to try and do too much by trying to meet too many needs. Not that ministering to people and meeting needs is a bad thing by any means. No, it’s actually quite the opposite. We do need to minister to people and we do need to meet needs. But first we need to determine which needs are the ones that God is specifically calling us as individuals (or as a church/ministry) to meet. And then once we know where God wants us to focus our attention (from a ministry standpoint) we need to run 100mph in that direction fulfilling what God’s called us to do. 

One thing I’ve noticed in almost 2 decades of ministry now- "if the enemy can’t get you to do nothing, he’ll try to get you to do everything.” I know that sounds weird at first but think about it… "If he can’t get you to do nothing (i.e., just sitting around twiddling your thumbs while people all around you are in need and some are even dying and going to Hell without Jesus), he’ll try to get you to do everything- which eventually leads to burnout."

We’ve had to learn that lesson the hard way. But over the last couple of years we’ve really endeavoured to try and stay on course. When we first moved to Brazil, as rookie missionaries, back in 2011’ it was really hard to do that too. There are so many needs here that it can be overwhelming.  And trying to stay focused has been difficult at times because there’s always something or someone who has a need that needs to be met. 

So, to avoid getting off course, one of the things we've tried to do is run everything we do through two filters before we even consider doing them (concerning ministry). Because if you don’t have filters in place it’s easy to become distracted and get off course. 

The first filter is the same for anyone who is a follower of Jesus (or at least it should be):

Filter #1 (And the most important filter)

Does it allow us to proclaim the Gospel?

Some of the kids at one of the outreaches we did last month 

There’s a quote that's usually attributed to St Francis of Assisi. You’ve probably heard it before. It’s, “Preach the Gospel at all times and if necessary use words.” While I understand what he was trying to say it still doesn't change the fact that he was 100% wrong! You can’t preach the Gospel without words. It’s impossible. Read Romans 10:13-15. It says,

“For everyone who calls on the name of The Lord will be saved. How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in Him in whom they have not heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?” 

You see- Buddhists, Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Hindus, Muslims, Scientologists- you name it… they can all feed the hungry, help the poor, drill a well, etc. but they don’t proclaim the Gospel. They don’t have the Spirit of the living God dwelling within them that brings real life- the life that’s only attained through the hearing of and the responding to the Gospel. That’s what separates us from every other religion in the world.

The proclamation of the Gospel has always got to be the end goal. It’s got to be, period. So, for us, if there’s not going to be an opportunity to proclaim the Gospel we have to pass. That may sound strange but it’s just what we feel like we have to do. 

To just swoop in somewhere and give someone food without also offering them ‘the Bread of Life’ wouldn't be right. To only give someone a bottle of water without telling them about ‘the Living Water’ that’ll quench their real thirst would only be offering them the temporary and not the eternal- and that’s just not right. 

I can remember, several years ago, organising an outreach in a local park for our church during the Summer. It was super-hot that year. So we decided to go and hand out bottled water to the people in the park for free. We had a special label on the bottle that had our church name and logo on it. I think that it may have had a scripture on it but I don’t think so… I can’t remember. But, in retrospect, the one thing that I do remember is that there was no intentionality in sharing the Gospel that day. There was intentionality in promoting our church in the community that day but not Jesus. It’s like we did a good thing but we neglected the best thing.

If you look throughout the Gospels you’ll see Jesus doing a lot of good things for people but it was always in conjunction with the proclamation of the Gospel. He was always teaching and pointing people toward God and the good deeds (i.e., the healing, the deliverances, the provision of food, etc.) were just an extension of His proclamation of the good news of Kingdom of God.

But it’s difficult sometimes. When there are so many needs out there you have to make the decision beforehand or it’ll be easy to get off course. We even did a few ‘good things’ early-on here in Brazil, that, although were great things, they weren’t Gospel-centered. They didn’t allow for the proclamation of the life-changing Gospel that people so desperately need to hear.

Filter #2

Does it fall in line with our mission/purpose statement?

The kids we're trying to reach in Villa Zumbi live in conditions that break your heart

The next filter that we run things through is “does it line up with our mission/purpose statement.” That may sound elementary but it’s harder than you think. For us it’s reaching the children and teenagers of Brazil with the Gospel. Although we haven't been perfect at staying on course we’ve actually remained pretty steady.

And that’s only because we’re constantly looking through the lens of our mission/purpose statement and asking ourself the question, “are we reaching people (children and teenagers in particular) with the Gospel” by ____________ ?” If we’re able to further the Gospel by fulfilling a particular need or if ministering in a certain way furthers our mission/purpose (reaching the children/teenagers here with the Gospel) then we do it . If it doesn’t then we don’t. It’s pretty simple. 

And we’re constantly critiquing ourself and our ministry to make sure we’re doing what God has called us to do. How about you? If you took a hard look at all the activity in your life and in your ministry, how precise are you in your mission? Are you proclaiming the Gospel (which is the mandate given by Jesus to every follower of His) and are you staying within the parameters of what your mission from God (i.e., your purpose) actually is? If not, the time is short. So get back on course: )

Trying to Stay On Course,

Jim and MJ

“If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross (i.e., his assignment from God), and follow Me.” 

                                            Jesus- in Matthew 16:24