Personal Mission Statement

Based on knowing who God has made me to be and through my relationship with Him as the one who calls, I believe that I am called to honor and love God by making disciples through religious leadership and pastoral ministry. As Christians, we are all called to obey and honor God in all that we do, and this is certainly at the core of my personal mission statement. Whatever my occupation, whatever circumstances I face, my goal is to honor and please God. “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Col. 3:17).

That call to obey and honor God in all that we do is common to all Christians, but as we know ourselves better and better, and as we seek the will of God who calls us, we can discern more and more of our specific call. What am I, as a unique individual, called to do? Through time and experience, I’ve seen that the Lord has gifted me with the ability to teach and lead well. I find that I have a passion to see people grow in their understanding of the Lord and His Word. And, I see one of Jesus’ final commands to His disciples before His ascension into heaven in Matthew 26:18-20, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” I believe that I am called to make disciples through religious leadership and pastoral ministry.

Right now, in the day to day, this means being a missionary. I live cross-culturally, interacting with and making disciples among people from many different nations, all located in the city of Iasi, Romania. This involves being social, meeting new people, and showing hospitality—showing the love of Christ and what it means to follow Him through sharing life with others. This also involves studying the Bible with others, either one-on-one or in groups. But part of honoring God in all that I do and living in light of the responsibilities in front of me means that part of my calling is to do fundraising and write newsletters to keep my supporters and prayer partners informed.

I also serve on the mission field as a pastor of Eclesia International Church. This role is right at the heart of my vocation. It allows me to equip, teach, and care for a relatively large group of people. This again involves living life with people, caring for them and praying for them as they have need. It also means that I need to give priority to the study of God’s Word, not only for the purpose of preaching sermons on Sundays, but for any opportunities I have to teach.

Finally, in pursuit of this vocation, I’m seeking to be better equipped by taking classes with the Moody Bible Institute Distance Learning Program. My goal is not simply to get a degree, but to gain knowledge and experience that I can use. I will honor God in my studies by doing it to the best of my ability and with integrity.

It is by these things that I have come to my personal mission statement as I understand it so far. I’ve begun to know myself better through time and experience, helpful personal inventories and test, and the study of God’s Word and through prayer. I’ve come to understand God’s role as the Creator and Sustainer of all things who calls each one of us uniquely, and I believe He is calling me to honor and love him by making disciples through religious leadership and pastoral ministry. Understanding this will help me to define my priorities and organize myself around those things, making the most of the time I’ve been given.