[God Stuff] Minister or Missionary?

In 2004, after being a participant of the Nieucommunities program and once my year internship with CRM was completed prier to leaving for the missionary field in Scotland, I was issued a certificate of ordination with the title, 'Minister of the Gospel.'

I was a little confused, because I signed up to be a missionary, not really a minister. Not wanting to get caught up with words I accepted yet at the same time all sentimental ideals of formal Seminary and a grand Ordination Service went out the window as I was handed this piece of paper. I paid little attention to the four words of this new title.

Later, as I filled out all the forms and underwent the stressful process of obtaining a UK visa, I saw those words again. Only revised to read, 'Minister of Religion.' I chose instead to tick the box labeled, Missionary.

Almost two years later God granted me the opportunity to take a short missionary trip to India. I was excited, and full of awe as I pondered all that God would do, and I experience. It was not long after that I realized how difficult it is for someone who had a, 'Missionary' visa to even enter India. However, it was in India that I came face to face with the urgent reality and importance of baring the title, 'Minister of the Gospel.'

Up until this point my missionary experience was full of teaching, training, volunteering and only a few raw conversations that presented the gospel. Here in Scotland, the 'Good News' was already heard, and many people have chosen to reject it. Presenting the gospel in a new 'fresh' way was my job as a missionary in a Westernized 'Post-Christian' country.

In India, this good news has not been heard, and yet everyone who caught a glimpse of it accepted. It seemed to be almost, (dare I say) 'easy' to be both a missionary and minister of the gospel. This thought stayed with me as I boarded the plane back to the UK.

'How can I be a minister of the gospel here in Scotland?'

I have avoided this title for many reasons, and it seemed that missionary work had lots of other, easier things wrapped up in it, but there simply is no getting around the core importance as a missionary to be a barer of the Gospel, the bringer of good news!

It was Gods timing, and symbolic that in April the UK government agreed to renew my visa for 4 years! This time I had no choice but to be titled Minister of the Gospel. After my India experience I finally became proud, and held with utmost importance and respect these four words and all that goes with them.

Despite a simple informal paper saying I am ordained
Despite the lack of a seminary degree
Despite the lack of formal credentials

I proudly adopt the title, Minister of the Gospel!

It could be due to my calling,
It could be due to my experience, (as limited as it is)
Or perhaps it is like Paul when he says,

'Does it sound like we are patting ourselves on the back, insisting on our credentials, asserting our authority? Well, we are not. Neither do we need letters of endorsement, either to you nor from you for you yourselves are all the endorsement we need. Your very lives are a letter that anyone can read just by looking at you. Christ himself wrote it- not with ink, but with Gods living Spirit; not chiseled into stone, but carved onto human hearts- and we publish it!' 2Cor.3:1-3 the Message

Am I a minister or a missionary?
I am both!

And as I work hard to define and create what that looks like in this Westernized Post-Christian culture, I will not neglect the letters of endorsement I have received thus far. The amazing changed lives of those here in Glasgow whom Christ has written on their hearts, His eternal & wonderful Good News!