working your way to the bottom

Last December I had lunch with a pastor of a small church in Michigan City, Indiana. I had only met this new friend a few months earlier, but our every interaction thereafter impacted me significantly. This particular encounter would prove to be our last and most profound.

For several weeks, something had been stirring in the spiritual life of my friend, and as he attempted to speak with me about it, he found himself overcome with emotion. I waited patiently as he described some of the events that had taken place, and it soon became obvious that the Lord’s hand was moving in his life. At one point in the conversation I asked my friend what he thought the Lord was up to; why these things were happening at this particular time in his life. I’ll never forget his response.

Before I tell you what he said, I think it might help to have a little background. My friend was born and raised in South Africa, and had cut his teeth in ministry working among the poor in urban slums. He had come to the United States for Bible training and had decided to stay and plant a church in Gary, Indiana; arguably one of the more impoverished and hopeless towns in the country, and perhaps the least desirable place to live in the Midwest.

After successfully planting a church in Gary, he moved on to Michigan City, just a couple of exits away from Gary on the interstate. When I met him, his church served between 50 and 75 people, depending on the Sunday, and he was involved in caring for substance abusers and homeless folks. A man who had attended the church eventually robbed the church before serving several years of prison time. Once the man was released, my friend provided lodging for this individual as he got himself back on his feet.

The more I heard of my friend’s story and ministry, the more convinced I was that this was a man who walked the lowly road of the kingdom. But, that’s why his response to my question was so surprising. When I asked him what the Lord was up to, my friend explained that all of his life, he has longed to be ready to serve among the poorest of the poor. He explained that, years ago, he had too much pride for the Lord to be able to use him in such a significant ministry. His heart was not ready for such a high calling. But, he senses that the Lord may finally be moving him toward the kind of work that he has always dreamed of doing: serving and loving the poorest of the poor, the precious prizes of the kingdom.

In other words, my friend has, with the grace of God, been working his way to the bottom. His ambition in ministry is to climb down the social ladder rather than up. Long gone from his mind are visions of large congregations, beautiful buildings, fancy technology, book tours, speaking engagements and interviews on Larry King Live. His dream is to disappear among those who are dearest to our Lord. He has heard the high calling of the kingdom, and the call is to go low.