The Story of our Calling: Coming Transition

As we prepare for a new season of ministry, I have been sharing the story of our missionary calling, which has led us to focus on a ministry of spiritual formation. The story of our calling helps provide a context for the transition coming in our future ministry.

You can hear a sermon version of that story online and view our fuller PowerPoint presentation at: http://obyrnereport.blogspot.com/. 

My calling into Spiritual Formation ministry, and now to lead the Imago Christi spiritual formation initiative in CRM is an expression and extension of the calling the Lord has had on my life since the beginning. From initial salvation and discipleship, to a missionary call and cross-cultural experience, to Bible School instruction and leadership development, our ministry focus has sharpened more and more on

spiritual formation. Through theological struggles, church experience, and personal grief and suffering, the Lord has put us in the position to minister to ministers.

We’ve been able to share that story this summer, and put our pending transition into the broader context of how God has been leading our lives and ministries. We have been asking our friends and family and supporting churches whether they can support  this kind of “spiritual formation missionary.” So far everyone is rallying around us and supporting this transition to focus on developing this ministry.

The leadership of this team will mean that we return to the US for a season of at least 3-5 years to complete the training modules, to build the community of our present members, to train our members and partners, to coordinate spiritual formation communities regionally and internationally, to collaborate with other spiritual formation ministries, seminaries and mission agencies, and to recruit more members for our team. The what’s and how’s of the ministry seem clear. Even the who’s and where’s are coming into focus. The big question now is when? When will our family and our team be ready for this move? 

Please continue to pray with us as we discern a few fleeces that we have set before the Lord, regarding the timing of a move.