Set The Captives Free |
Nov 20, 2009 |
I had a phone conversation earlier this week with my friend, Daryl, the Executive Director of a ministry focused on gang prevention and inmate reentry. He had emailed me about an upcoming training as well as some significant decisions facing his board.
While his email was positive and God-focused, it nonetheless contained jarring news. A cash deficit could force closure of the organization within the month. I immediately picked up the phone. We talked ‘details’ for a couple of minutes and then I asked: What is God saying to you through all of this? Are you hearing anything from Him as to how to proceed?
Daryl’s reply was something like this: “Actually, yeah, I am. There’s a verse that’s always meant a lot to me personally but also to our ministry. It’s from Isaiah 61, verse one. You see, I’ve always felt that the Lord anointed me to preach good news to the poor and to set the captives free. I don’t know what will happen with this ministry or even if there will be a job here for me in the near future. But I do know that the Lord has called me to work with the poor and to set the captives free. I have peace about that and know that God has a place for me to do this, even if it’s not in my current job.”
The ending to this story is unclear. God, however, has presented a surprising plot twist – an opportunity to continue the ministry work through a merger with a larger non-profit. The irony is that a merger would bring greater resources and expertise to impact the cause yet Daryl’s smaller ministry would be disbanded and he would lose his job.
His update this morning was as follows: “So, I am being more aggressive in my search for another job; and most of the time I am confident that I am “God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” And the Isaiah 61 passage, too.”
Daryl’s steadfast faith and honesty are an inspiration to me. I will be praying that he sees God’s provision and plan for his life as he fixes his eyes on the Lord during this transition.
