DIDN'T THINK I'D MAKE IT THIS FAR!

I’m a Pastor. 

I’m not a Pastor at a mega-church. I’m not a Pastor of a mega-ministry. My name is not on the tongues of countless fans and devotees. I don’t have 5000 followers on Twitter. I’m not in high demand to speak at camps, conventions and conferences. I am here where I am, right where God called me, and I’m doing the best I can.

I’m not a Senior Pastor, Executive Pastor or Lead Pastor. I’m an Associate Pastor, a support staff member, loyal to my Pastor over me, whom I have served for 11 years at the same church. I’ve been serving in ministry in some capacity for over 16 years. I’ve served in many various positions and purposes covering nearly every possible facet of church ministry. I’ve cleaned up messes, mopped up spills, unclogged toilets, repaired broken parts, replaced damaged elements and waded in sewage up to my waist (and YES, that IS in reference to both literal and figurative work in the church). I’ve counseled couples, commissioned ministers, corrected insolence (in love of course) and done all I could to preach the Word with passion, conviction and love.

I’ve faced victories and defeats, triumphs and challenges, blessings and woes. I’ve been built up, and torn town, and built up again on more than one occasion. I’ve seen the best and worst of people – their amazing potential for good and their limitless capacity for evil, and through it all I have somehow maintained my love for God, my passion for ministry and my love of people.

In the last several years I’ve received many questions about ministry from people, especially other ministers, all asking the same thing in many different ways: How have you made it this far?

My answer to that is, well, I don’t know… Honestly, I didn't think I'd make it this far.

There’s a moment in the Dreamworks film Kung Fu Panda 2 where Po the Panda, the Dragon Warrior, is facing his greatest challenge yet. His friends captured, wrestling with his past and facing a far superior enemy who’s already beaten him before. Po steps forward, against all odds, and somehow makes it past his enemies’ defenses to to free his friends. Immediately after he frees them they have this conversation:

            Tigress: “Impressive, Dragon warrior. What's your plan?”

            Po: “Step one; free the five.”

            Viper: “What's step two?”

            Po: “Honestly, I didn't think I'd make it this far!”

Have you ever felt like Po? Facing your greatest challenge, all of your friends and allies seemingly gone, wrestling with your past and facing a strong enemy who has likely beaten you before? What do you do now? Where do you go from here?

I’ll be honest, that’s entirely up to you. But no matter what you may be up against, you can only do one thing to get through – just like Po the Panda, take it one step at a time. What are the steps? You’ve got to figure that out for yourself. For me, I’ve found a few vital steps in the Word in the Book of Hebrews.

Hebrews 12:1-13 has become one of my life-passages in God’s Word when it comes to discipleship and lasting ministry. I encourage you to go read the passage in its entirety yourself but for time and space I will simply touch on the following verses:

Hebrews 12:1 (NIV)

…let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

Step 1: Keep Running

Run with perseverance. What that means is you KEEP MOVING FORWARD and don’t stop. Even when you find yourself on the ground and your run is not a run at all, CRAWL! Whatever happens, whatever you face DON’T GIVE UP - keep moving forward, keep pressing on and keep pursuing the path God has called you to.

Hebrews 12:2 (NIV)

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith…

Step 2: Follow the Leader

Follow Jesus as Close as You Can. Fix your eyes on Jesus. He is the Guide. He is the Leader. And when you follow the Leader as close as you can you will not get lost. He will lead you down some scary and weird paths for sure. He will take you down some trails that you may definitely question along the way. The problems come when we try to trek on our own with an “I got this” attitude.  Trust me, you DON’T got this, but He does, so let Him lead, then follow as close as you possibly can.

Hebrews 12:12-13 (NLT)

So take a new grip with your tired hands and stand firm on your shaky legs.

Mark out a straight path for your feet. Then those who follow you, though they are weak and lame, will not stumble and fall but will become strong.

Step 3: Lead the Followers

Someone is following you. You may not know who it is, but they are. And you are leading them somewhere, so where do you want them to go? Be the leader you’re called to be and do everything you can to lead them to Him. Keep running and follow as close to Jesus as you can, because HE is where they will follow you to. On this path you will get tired; you will get worn out; you will get beat up. But when you take a new grip with your tired hands and stand firm on your shaky legs you will mark out a straight path and lead those who are following you closer to the Leader.

This is the picture of true discipleship, committing myself to be a disciple who makes disciples, to fix my eyes on Christ and follow Him as close as I can, making every effort to lead others to Him and to raise up future leaders who I know may one day surpass me, all for the Kingdom of God.

I believe the greatest victory a leader could achieve is to find themselves one day following one of their former followers who have surpassed them on this journey.

What’s the next step? I don’t know. Honestly, I didn't think I'd make it this far! So, for now I’ll keep running and I won’t give up. I’ll follow the Leader as close as I can. And I’ll lead the followers to Him. I’ll do my best. I’ll do what I can, right where I am. The rest is up to Him.

Steve Withey serves as the Student Ministries Pastor at 

Green Valley Christian Center in Henderson, NV and 

serves on our Regional Board, serving the Nevada Region.