Emily Howard, Writer

Today I completed the last assignment for my very first graduate degree class. Hooray! And, whew! I feel great about how it went and I am really looking forward to what my next classes bring. It was a huge decision to quit my job and go back to school, but I believe it is what God was calling me to do. And as well as it is going so far, I feel more confident in my decision as ever.

Everything so far for online graduate school has been writing assignments, which bodes very well for me. I would like to share with you this last assignment I turned in, called a Ministry Journal. There were four of these journal entries we were tasked to write throughout the class, each with different subject prompts. I don’t know why I have not been sharing these all along, but look for more to come.

With all that said, I give you…MY GOD-SIZED GOAL.

My God-sized goal for my life and ministry is to change the hearts and minds of Christians and hopefully, in the process, win people to Christ that may not have considered Christianity at all. I want to help the church move into the 21^st century and reach those who seem unreachable.

Christians have a bad reputation in our culture. People on the outside looking in see a group of people who are judgmental but not loving, pious but not joyful, and more concerned with politics than the welfare of those less fortunate. They don’t see Jesus in us. In my ministry, I want to help people better see the Jesus way. This could take many different forms, including writing books, worship leading, speaking, pastoring, or planting a unique church. It could be any combination of these things, but it will definitely be Christ-centered and unafraid to challenge the status quo.

This is part of the reason I decided to pursue my master’s degree. I have felt for a while in ministry that the church is misguided in the way it is trying (or not trying) to reach people, but I am not sure enough in my own theology to be able to articulate exactly how we are misguided and what we could possibly do about it. I plan to study the Scriptures thoroughly to determine what it is we are truly called to do and how best to do it in our current culture. My ministry will heavily involve serving the least of these, as I believe this kind of service not only benefits those we serve, but gives us a better understanding of Jesus. When people see Christians out of their comfortable churches doing the hard work of the kingdom and making a difference in people’s lives, they pay attention.

To get from where I am to where the Lord is calling me, I need to not only complete my studies diligently but continue to put myself in situations outside my comfort zone. It is very easy to stay at home and read, study, and complete school assignments and call that good. But in my heart, I know that my strongest growth has been during times of difficulty and discomfort, i.e., foreign mission trips, situations with church staff and congregants, serving the homeless, and giving my personal testimony. My schoolwork will help me grow mentally, but I need these experiences to help me grow stronger and braver.

Churches are dying all over America. I am not even sure if a traditional church building could even be the answer at this point in history. I believe that the church needs a radical change in the way it operates. I hope to learn as much as I can, experience as much as I can, and then gather a team of like-minded believers who will help me on what promises to be a difficult but fulfilling adventure.

What is YOUR God-sized goal and what would it take for you to get there?