Ordained to the Gospel Ministry

This past Thursday was one of the most special nights of my life as Vision Baptist Church ordained me to preach the Gospel. Here are some things I am immensely thankful for:

• The Gospel! As much as this night meant to me, ultimately it was not ABOUT me: it is about God’s amazing redemptive purpose in the world. It’s easy sometimes to get numb to how earth-shattering the gospel, but I was reminded again of how amazing God’s grace is. God called me by the Gospel to know Him and be reconciled to Him, and His grace just continues in letting me preach it to others.

• My family and godly heritage! My father (Allen Newton) flew in from Portugal to attend, and to preach the charge at the ordination. I am thankful for how God has used my parents in my life: I heard the Gospel from a young age, I saw the Gospel at work in their lives, and I saw the Gospel work through their lives to change the world around them. Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection changed the entire course of their lives, and so when I accepted Christ as my savior, that radical life to me was the “normal” thing to live for. I am also thankful for grandparents that have faithfully served the Lord in the ministry for many years, and have always encouraged me to love Him.

• My church family and leadership! Over four years ago we came to Vision Baptist with a desire for more training for the mission field, and for a church family that we could learn from. As far as training goes, my pastor and the other leaders of Vision have loved, invested, and believed in me more than I deserve, and I am extremely grateful for how they keep me accountable, challenge me, and constantly point me to Jesus in ministry. My church family has done the same, and have modeled what ministry is all about: the people of Vision are SERVANTS! They may not always get the credit, they may not be on the stage, but they live out Philippians 2:5-7….

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant…”

 

I wanted to say a special thank you to all those who made a special point to come to the ordination, and to those who were unable to come but were an encouragement by phone, email, FB, etc, I am a blessed man to have so many great friends. Thank you pastor Howeth and pastor Warren for making a special trip, you were a huge encouragement to me, and a big thank you to pastor Eric Davis who was willing to drive 40 hours round trip from NH had circumstances permitted. You are a wild man!

I am so grateful to be allowed to be in the ministry and preach about the One who loved me and gave Himself for me, God is so good. I’ll close with one of my favorite verses:

Ephesians 3:8 “Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ”

 

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