Dusting for God’s Fingerprints

Two of the things about serving in a home mission I've had to get used to again are the statistics and reports. There is a ditch on both sides of that road, and I need to be careful not to fall into either.  On one side of the road, I need to avoid becoming annoyed by these reporting requirements or blowing off these reports and statistics as being "unspiritual." God's people are putting serious dollars to work in this aspect of kingdom work and it's only right that we make sure we are being good stewards of those offerings they dedicate to God's glory and the spread of the gospel. On the other side of the road, I need to keep these reports and statistics in perspective so that I don't conduct my ministry a certain way in order to make these reports and stats look good.  I need to be careful that they are reflecting what is happening in ministry and not let them drive my ministry. 

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I like to consider these reports and the stats and stories they contain as God's fingerprints. They are evidence that God is at work among his people and through his people. It's exciting to "dust" for those prints and find that evidence, and these monthly reports give me the opportunity to do that.  It’s good that I take the time to dust for his prints.  I could get so busy with the work of ministry that I don’t take the time to see and celebrate the good things God is doing through his Gospel.   And let there be no mistake – God is doing good things.  The evidence of that is there if one only looks:  new faces in worship, strong and steady involvement in Bible study, a growing children’s ministry, and offerings that reflect the thankfulness in the hearts of God’s people.

At the same time I know that mission work is not always sunshine falling on fields of roses. There are setbacks and disappointments and challenges. The key will be to remember that God gets his work done at his pace, where and when he will. All in all, it's a real blessing to be serving in this time and place. Every week seems to bring some wonderful surprise, some evidence of God's power at work, and some invigorating (or perplexing) challenge. That's good! God's fingerprints are all over those things, too!