This section begins to introduce me, one of many ordinary pilgrims trying to follow Jesus, and describes something of what it means to say ‘Yes’ to God’s call. It’s a celebration of the ordinary…
A very reasonable question for you to be asking at this point is, “but who are you?” At the Emirates and I guess many other stadiums too, when a relatively unknown player from an opposing team is announced, the crowd of 60,000 Arsenal[1] fans respond disparagingly as one, by shouting, “Who?!” It’s quite possible that on hearing that the author of this book is ‘Andy Poultney’, literally finger-fuls of people will murmur: “Who?!” What’s more, I’m conscious of the irony of using the world changing events of 1989 as a means of introducing the story of God’s call on my life (see ‘A Couple Called’). I can really understand if you’re asking, “Who are you?” and “Aren’t you a bit bold in placing your micro story in the context of those macro events?” Fair questions. For the truth is I am not a ‘famous Christian’ by any stretch of the imagination. In that regard, I am a ‘nobody’. Before you loving pastoral types get concerned on my behalf and cry, “Oh no Andy, you are somebody”, it’s ok, I do know who I am in Christ, I know I’m not a ‘nobody’ in that sense.
But who am I? As the title of Chapter One suggests, I am just ‘A Pilgrim’. One of the many hundreds of thousands of ordinary people, journeying with Jesus. I’m also one of the many who have responded to a call to serve God in ‘full-time Christian ministry’ in some way, whose names will never be known, or whose ministries are unlikely to be regarded as high profile. Those who are just getting on with the business of being faithful followers, by offering their packed lunches to Jesus, believing he will transform them into something altogether more…well, just something more.
“This book, my story, is a celebration of the ordinary”.
To clarify, I am not embittered or suggesting that “I am just a poor boy” as the song goes – far from it. I often feel overwhelmed at the ‘embarrassment of riches’ that is my life, not materially but in what we call #richlife terms. I am blessed in more ways than I am even aware. What I am saying is that there are many thousands whose “story is seldom told”, as the same song goes, because it is just so commonplace. There are many people who go into ministry and who are, and will always be, extraordinary in their ordinariness. To know that could be a possibility from the outset, is a form of empowerment. It’s a releasing, permission giving thing as it prevents striving after an illusory ‘greatness’. To that end I think there is so much that can be learned from the ordinary saints, by other ordinary saints, embarking on such a journey. This book, my story, is a celebration of the ordinary. I hope that it will offer some helpful advice, and in its ‘ordinariness’, suggest tips on how to stay the course for twenty five years and beyond.
And yes, my story is very, very humble compared to the world events of even the most mundane year. However, there is no doubt that my response to God’s call in 1989 has completely determined the shape of mine and Linsey’s life together. And that of our children. And that of our parents. And that of our extended family and friends. The ripples go on. We had no idea what we were signing up for then – it’s possibly a good job we didn’t! On one hand it was a completely insignificant event, it would never have made the local newspaper, let alone Time Magazine as those events of 1989 did. But on the other, it was absolutely seismic for our world – that moment became our life defining headline.
So take note, if you are contemplating ministry it’s really worth knowing what the potentially huge impact of saying ‘yes’ can be, before saying it! I hope that this book will help you to be as sure as possible, in knowing what you could be signing up for. Whilst encouraging you to step into the unknown, by faith, at the same time. To that end, before I tell you something more about me, let me introduce an ordinary but hopefully helpful tip, on this theme, which will develop as a motif throughout.
Saying ‘yes’
Some time ago I was having coffee with a great youth workery type person, let’s call him John. He wanted some advice about where in the country he and his fiancée should live, as they contemplated beginning married life together. The location would have a great impact on how his and her ministry would begin to be worked out. If it was in Bristol it would enable her to start working out her calling, but if it was in Cambridge, it would enable him to begin in his.
“…in us saying a somewhat innocent and naïve, but nevertheless, soft- hearted, open-handed, life-surrendered ‘yes’, to that BIG question, it had made saying ‘yes’ to every subsequent, smaller question so much easier”.
As we spoke, it struck me how significant it was that Linsey, as well as me, had said ‘yes’ to that initial call, way back in 1989. And how in us saying a somewhat innocent and naïve, but nevertheless, soft- hearted, open-handed, life-surrendered ‘yes’, to that BIG question, it had made saying ‘yes’ to every subsequent, smaller question so much easier. I realised, way down the line, that the initial call of God, was just the first of many callings and questions to us. Unless we had both been in agreement about the foundational ‘yes’, to the biggest question of all, every other question would have been much harder to fathom.
I’m not suggesting that Linsey had no choice but to say ‘yes’ to my (male) calling. Neither was I saying that John and his fiancée’s home had to be based around his, or her calling. What I am saying is, if you’re single, know from the beginning that saying ‘yes’ to God’s initial call, is just the first of many opportunities he will give you to respond. And if you’re married or hope to be, the foundational issue is about you being in agreement over that initial ‘yes’. Every subsequent decision, including where you might live, if and when you have children, etc. flows from that one. I think John appreciated this thought, it seemed to help him in the decision making. And it was certainly a new insight, and an encouragement to me too.
[1] Apparently there are other teams which are worth supporting.