Why would someone leave a job they love, working with people they love, and move into a space of uncertainty? Well, dear reader, as you may have read in The News, that is what I’ve recently done. But why?
Phil Strong
For the last 10 years I have committed my life to serving the church family at Zion while engaging in the Waipa community to provide ideas and solutions that lift people into a place of hope. Not every crazy idea I have makes it to execution, and not all succeed. But there is plenty of evidence to say we’ve had fun trying.
Earlier this year I felt that my season leading Zion had come to an end. There was no drama (or melodrama), no moral failure or legal discrepancy, and no fallout. Just a realisation that some assignments are for a season.
When we announced this change to the church family there was a level of shock in the room as none of us had seen this coming. After all, life is going well and we’re seeing some amazing things happen in people’s lives. So why make this decision?
Friends, it comes down to obedience. As a person who has publicly dedicated my life to serving God and others, I’ve predetermined that my answer is “Yes” as I wait to hear the question God would ask of my life. My study of the life of Jesus leads me to declare “My life is not my own” as I do my best to live in the shadow of His example.
To confess to having faith is to accept being led by another to whom one ascribes faith. That’s a complicated way of saying; faith is proven by the evidence of submission. Or even simpler; Jesus is Lord. A W Tozer famously said; “Either Jesus is Lord of all, or He is not Lord at all.”
As someone who runs toward change, I must say I’m a little excited at the prospect of a new assignment. Even in the absence of clarity, I can still walk with confidence. How?
Again, friends, faith is the evidence of things hoped for. As I believe I am being led by God, Whom I trust as my Heavenly Father, my confidence is in His character, not my circumstances. For as much as God loves and feeds the birds of the air, so, too, will He take care of my needs and my success. My responsibility is my response to Him. His responsibility remains His.
James, the half-brother of Jesus, writes; “You believe in God? Even the demons believe that and tremble!” He then concludes his thought with; “As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” The point is this: belief is not of substance unless it leads to the right action.
And so, I choose to follow God in faith, trusting every step to Him, confident that He who has begun a good work in my life will carry it to completion.
I am hoping to continue to serve this region and come up with more crazy ideas that help people find hope, strength and purpose. Watch this space!
Zion People senior leader Phil Strong and his wife Kathy, centre, are blessed by Tom Watson as they leave the church after 10 years.
