Perhaps the biggest and most frequent question I have asked myself in the last eight years while studying to be a pastor has been, “Where will I go?” It is an exciting question to consider, knowing that you could be placed anywhere. The thrill of this unknown is especially useful when you need that final burst of energy to help finish a paper or study for a test. During the final year at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, the question naturally came up in conversations with fellow classmates weekly, and even more frequently within my own mind. After moving five times in five years, my wife, Rebecca, and I discussed this question too, enjoying the thought of having a permanent place to call home.
It was about three months ago when this question was finally answered: “New mission start—Cedar Lake, Indiana.” That moment sure does not disappoint! Moving preparations were made, and we finally got to see the amazing place God was going to allow us to serve.
Upon settling in, a whole new question began to emerge: “What am I going to do today?” Unlike an assignment to an established church with weekly sermon prep, teaching catechism, or attending meetings, a new mission congregation does not have these established routines quite yet.
Admittedly, this question “What am I going to do today?” was puzzling, as the things I had planned for the day did not initially feel like gospel ministry. After all, doing things like going for a morning walk, touring a local school, trying a local restaurant, and baking cookies do not exactly sound like you are a typical pastor, let alone like I’m doing any real ministry.
But if I have learned anything in these first two months as a pastor at a new mission church, it is that the best question to ask is, “What has God done today?” This question makes all the difference! That morning walk turned into a two-hour conversation about religion in a neighbor’s garage. Touring a local school led to comforting someone who was hurting over the death of a loved one because God’s Word was shared. Trying a local restaurant led to meeting new friends who are eager to help the mission. Baking cookies for our neighbors led to answering their question, “What do you believe about the Bible?”
It is amazing to see what God does when simply focusing on loving the people within the places God has you and being ready to connect people to Christ. This is not merely what our new mission start is all about, but what ministry is all about!
What a gift that God does not ask any one person to do this ministry alone. One of the greatest blessings in these early stages, which cannot be overlooked, is the amazing group of people God has moved to help start a church here in Cedar Lake. Yes, it is wonderful to finally have a permanent place to call home, but God blew our expectations out of the water with this group of people who have quickly become family! God has richly blessed our group, and we are all eager to see God work through us as we continue preparations.
Being a missionary is many things, but my recent favorite way of describing what being a missionary is all about is simply getting a front-row seat to see what God is going to do through us and our church family. Being a missionary is waking up and eagerly asking the question, “I wonder what God is going to do today?” The opportunities are all around!
Written by Micah Neumann, pastor at a new mission start in Cedar Lake, Indiana
Learn about the ministry work of WELS Missions.
Support the ministry work of WELS Missions.
