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Statistics, Numbers, and a Whole Lot of Grace

Some people know that I am heading back home on December first. God has revealed things deep in my heart that I get the pleasure of doing for the rest of my life. Going home will mean preparing myself to come back to the mission field as soon as possible. One thing I am still uncertain about is my education. I never graduated from Boise Bible College, and am looking at possibly going back to finish. I do not know how that will look like, but I am trying to accomplish whatever possible before going home. I am able to use my last few months as an internship for school, so I may graduate as fast as possible and get back into missions.
Part of the internship is a book report. I cannot explain how many times God spoke to my heart while I wrote about this book. One of the most heart felt passages went like this:
When we get caught up in ministry, it is so easy to get caught up in numbers. How many people came to the Lord? How many patience did we help? How many children did we feed, clothe, bathe, or educate? All of these things are important in their own way, but never should they take the spotlight. The only question that truly matters is, “are we reaching people with Christ?” Everything else is a tool to do so. When we take our minds of that question, ministry becomes a statistic. We don't always get mass results. The best way to change the hearts of those we are working with is one at a time. It may be slow, but why else would we dedicate our whole lives to such a work? It will be a slow process!
These words ring true in my heart. Since coming to Jinja, I have noticed such a deep concern over statistics. People bragging over numbers of people served, or losing focus on the people in care because of a focus on all those who have not been helped. Numbers. Numbers. Numbers... when the people we serve in the name of ministry become a number, then we become humanitarian workers. The Gospel has nothing to do with statistics, but rather love and grace. Our eyes should be on those we help and our hearts should be pouring into theirs, as we remember that we too were once in need of a Savior.
I understand that if ministry is not being fruitful, then there is no point. Yet, we must always remember there is a face connected to each number – a story in need of redemption. Our focus should live in those stories. As we faithfully serve those God places in our lives, then He has a chance to move in their lives. He should be our goal.

Now, I know God has called some to minister to thousands. What a wonderful feeling that must be! But He created me different. I might not see thousands of people coming to Christ because I stood in front to share His word. I am alright with this. I will love and serve those God places before me – whether on the mission field or home in the States.  

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