Spiritual
Formation Discovery in Kursk
“Discovery” is the name of Imago
Christi’s spiritual formation seminar that trains Christian leaders to attend
to their own spiritual journey and encourage greater spiritual maturity in
their ministry context. Another CRM missionary in Kursk, Russia recently
invited me to offer a Spiritual Formation Discovery for the people he works
with most closely: pastors, Christian leaders and the staff from a Christian
orphans outreach program called the Harbor.
Thank you for praying in December about the “Discovery”
seminar. Eighteen people attended the four-day event including our Harbor
staff, staff from the Bible college, pastors and lay leaders. The response was
overwhelmingly positive as people took a look at their own histories and where
and how the Lord has led them. They were challenged to take steps of yet
further growth, seeking Jesus Himself who is able to transform them into His
image.
Here is an excerpt from
Ken’s report below.
“I
have long understood the priority of relationship with God but now I see how to
get there, I see steps that I can take on the journey.”
~Participant
response to “The Discovery” seminar
I feel
challenged to “get out of the boat” of routine spirituality and step into a
new, more real and intimate relationship with the living God. ~Pastor and
Harbor staff
We
teach others to pray but don’t listen or grow ourselves. Learning new
approaches to prayer and relationship with God is very helpful. ~Gypsy Pastor
The
Discovery opened the door for me to have meaningful conversations with the
participants. Our Harbor staff meetings have become richer as each person grows
in their faith in new ways. I am honored to be a part of such growth in Christ
and know this is a solid preparation for the staff’s long-term ministry, both
in The Harbor and anywhere else the Lord might lead later in life.
During the Discovery a pastor chimed
in and said, “Bill, I think I know what you are getting at here. You are
helping us get back in touch with our First Love” (referring to Rev 2:4).
“Well, yes and no,” was my reply. If by “first love” you mean the feelings that
we had when we first became Christians, then no. We cannot return to that
one-time freshness, when everything was new. But if you mean, as we do in
Discovery, a “First Order Love,” then YES – making love for God the first order
priority for our life with God, out of which our ministry can flow with His
love and power!
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