Risk Factor
Posted by Tiffany Cooper
Ministry involves risk that is unique to the position. Some risks are calculated, others are inherent. Whether it’s building relationships, making tough decisions or stepping out in faith, risk is involved. So how do we live with this ever present element of risk? How does it affect us personally?
Risk is present when…
- we invest our time, feelings and personal life into a friendship or group of people.
- we make leadership decisions that have an unknown outcome.
- we leave the comfort of what we know for God’s plan.
- we stand firm in God’s call versus popular opinion.
- we live authentic lives and not the life others expect us to live.
Risk can grow us, making us stronger and wiser. It means saying yes to something even though …(you fill in the blank). For me, it means saying yes to friendships knowing that they could end abruptly. It means making decisions that may not be popular. It means I will stay committed to the call God has given me even if others think I’m foolish.
Yes, risk can result in pain and disappointment but it can also produce the most amazing results. Risk can take a ministry from just surviving to fully thriving. It can result in enjoyable friendships for the pastor’s wife who was isolated. Risk pushes us to place full faith in God while trusting Him to do what we can’t do on our own.
What risks have you taken in ministry? How has this affected you personally? We would love to hear about a risk you took for God!
My husband and I just risked by moving to a tiny town in SW Kansas to be senior pastors. This move was contrary to our personality types, our preferences in location, me being 7 mon pregnant, and having a 3 year old that was very comfortable where we were at. This risk has been wonderfully liberating for me as I lean fully on Christ, almost for the first time. This risk has also been completely terrifying as I worry over all of the unknowns that remain unsolved. Yet, He gently reminds me that He is big enough, and I keep depending on that.
Prayers appreciated as we still search for daycare option both currently for the three year old and then when baby comes (non existent at the moment), discernment for ministry decisions and as I finish up this pregnancy.
Jonae
I’m not a pastor’s wife, or even in the ministry. Just a normal girl loving Jesus… My parents have risked heaps during my lifetime, trusting on God’s goodness – moving half the world away, pouring finances into ‘risky’ situations. The lot.
But me. I’ve always been a bit scared with risks and the Holy Spirit’s promptings. It’s nothing major, but this last weekend I was at Colour Conference.. And the last session of the conference, as soon as the last songs started playing, I had this vision, maybe, this picture in my head of a woman in a red dress with a certain pattern on it. And I just felt that this woman, she needed to be told God loves her. After the session finished, I saw that woman, that same woman, in that same patterned dress! And like I said, I’ve never really done anything ‘bold’ that the Spirit’s told me to do. But I felt I had to. So I risked it, and went over and talked to her (and pretty much peed myself, I was that scared). I told her, God had put her on my heart, and He wanted her to know He loved her. And she started crying. And I started crying. It was a really beautiful moment. She told me her story, and that she was glad I had listened to what God had said, because she really needed that.
I’m actually so glad I listened to that prompting, even though I was scared I almost peed myself!
It was so moving, and just an amazing end to the conference. And to God be all the glory for that moment.
x