Yesterday’s e-mail from a new friend was exciting as he reported the opportunity to preach at a snow retreat and an invitation for another preaching date in the near future. My prayers are being answered.
 
I met Steve and Sam at the recent Minnesota District Men’s Advance. These two North Central University students actually believed I had something worth saying to them. Our lunch together in the dining hall was filled with questions about how to get started in an active preaching ministry. What they may not know is that I got more out of that conversation than they possibly could have. You see, a constant prayer request of mine is that the Lord would call and equip a strong wave of young, fiery, Holy Ghost preachers.
 
Please do not misunderstand me. I know that God’s call for 21st century ministers comes in all forms. The call of God is not limited to the pulpit. However, it happens to be a desire of my heart that a passion for preaching would grip this generation of leaders. I must admit personal pride creeps in when I get to hear my own son and son-in-law preach with authority and anointing. Sam and Steve stirred that same pride as they burned with a hunger to preach.  And thank God for Pastor Jeff who sat next to them as a committed mentor in the building of these preachers.
 
A new generation of young men and women are answering the call to the role of Timothy. May the role of Paul to young Timothy motivate me, Pastor Jeff and many other veterans of the pulpit to equip and empower these radical servants to fulfill their call.