GOD HAD PLANS FOR ME (Lessons Learned From India)
(I have been going to India yearly since 2006. By God’s grace we are making an impact on some of the pastors and churches there. I’ve written many blogs about what God is doing there. However, these blogs will be about the impact India has on me. I pray God uses me to impact them as much as they have impacted me.)
When I first went to India I felt totally unqualified to minister there. I felt I had nothing to offer Indian pastors. I discovered God was preparing me my entire life. It is an amazing and humbling discovery.
I’ve always loved to teach God’s Word. God trained and graciously gifted me for this work. In India I train pastors and love doing it. Also, I’ve always had a burden to mentor other pastors but had limited opportunity in the USA. In India there is enormous opportunity. As a long-time pastor of a small church I understand their struggle to build a church.
Electricity is unreliable in India, so no one uses PowerPoint or other visuals to teach. I decided to use the Christian ’magic’ I use with children at home with the pastors in India. I can’t tell you how successful it has been. It has become a “calling card “for me. Magic tricks illustrate key points and help them to remember. It is a great source of entertainment for them also. God knew this when He first gave me a desire to use tricks in ministry decades ago.
Twelve years ago I went back for a doctorate to keep fresh and growing in the later years of my ministry. It has been extremely helpful in India. Higher education is greatly respected in India. It helps me gain trust and credibility quickly. There are many unbiblical teachings and teachers, so this helps validate my teaching.
There is more I could write about: a church that was behind me and willing to give me the freedom to spend a lot of time ministering to others, a wife who was very supportive and even travels with me, a life-long dream to write books that finally came true, training in spiritual warfare, good health, financial provision and a group of loyal, faithful prayer supporters.
Clearly God had His hand on me from the start. He planned and brought all this together. He groomed me for ministering here and in India. He had plans long before I ever imagined them. The good news is He’s not done .As long as He keeps me alive; He has plans for me and is working all things in my life for His glory.
My productivity as dropped since I’ve gotten older, but God still uses me. That’s humbling and encouraging. The good news – He does the same in your life! Take some time to think and you’ll find He’s been working in you to bring you to this very blessed point as well.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Romans 8: 28-30 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
Where do you see God’s hand working in your life over the years? What has He brought into your life to make you the person you are today? Thank Him for that, and trust Him for your future.If you are still alive, He isn’t done with you yet!
cto Rev. Dr. JERRY SCHMOYER
Christian Training Organization ©2019
Jerry@ChristianTrainingOrganization.org
(India Outreach, Spiritual Warfare, Family Ministries, Counseling, World View)
Copyright © 2019