BrianIngraham.com | ASPIRE

This morning I am unable to speak. My throat is scratchy and my body feels tired, but I am absolutely loving why.

I am living the life of my dreams. Two weeks ago I had the opportunity to preach the gospel message at the University of Strathclyde during their missions week. What a gift! Is that not exactly what I want to be doing with my life- preaching Jesus to people who have not heard? Later that same evening I was teaching on holiness at our church. A powerful time.

Sunday I was the guest preacher at Renfrew Baptist Church and later that day I was preaching at Re:Hope, our church. A full week, but the joy I had in doing what I am made to do, to proclaim Jesus Christ, was so wonderful.

Yesterday, I again was given the gift of speaking in one of our local universities- The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. It was the most difficult speaking environment I have yet to experience - people walking out, kissing noises, talking in the back of the room. I was straining to speak loud enough to be heard by a group 5 times larger than expected. Afterward this guy wanted to argue with me about the theology of salvation. He was mad that I would preach faith in Jesus Christ as the only way. He was mad I would believe the Bible to be true.

I am so glad I brought Mike Libolt with me. As I was ‘trapped’ in this discussion with the mad guy, Mike was able to speak to the others who came up after. But I tell you; the intensity of the time was completely overshadowed by the Joy of proclaiming Jesus.

This intense afternoon was followed by preaching again at Re:Hope. I gave it all I had left, and wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.

Mornings like this, unable to speak because of preaching Jesus so intensely, feel so right. I am filled with joy because God has opened up these priceless opportunities.

I remember fishing. I remember salmon BBQs. I remember trampolines. I remember huge family Christmas Eves. However, the memory that stands above the rest was a rather simple moment.

Standing at the back door of his house around my 18th birthday, he casually, yet intentionally, pulled out his Bible memory cards and said to me, “Brian, this is a good one that I want you to remember. 2 Chronicles 16:9 ‘The eyes of the Lord range throughout the whole earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.”

Sometimes it is the most simple moments that leave the deepest impressions. That day I memorized those words that have become a source of continual encouragement and grounding. During the 7 years of ministry training and the now 12 years of full-time ministry (more than half of that oversees as a missionary church planter), these words have kept reminding me of what is truly important. God is searching for people whose hearts are fully committed to him. And if I want to experience the strength of the Lord in my life and in my work, then above all else I need to make sure my heart is “all in” following Jesus Christ “any time, anyplace, any cost.”

God ordains the families we are forged in. He ordains certain “legacy moments” where the wisdom he reveals to one generation is divinely passed on to the next. To have a Grandfather who loved the Word is a priceless heritage, one that I desire to pass to my children someday as well.

Grandpa Ingraham, thank you for this priceless legacy.

Well it’s now almost 4 months since I posted the ‘New Era’ blog.

We have found it incredibly easy to settle into Kelvin Stevenson Memorial Church. The congregation have welcomed us warmly and we have felt very much at home from the get-go.

Of course the current arrangement is far from ideal - we are not in a position to hold regular groups or events during the week and we are always very conscious that we are the visitors. That said, the leadership of Kelvin Stevenson have made this a very pleasant transition through their generosity and hospitality and although we are always on the look-out for a building to call our own, for the time being we are really enjoying worshipping in the 110 year-old ‘church on the bridge’.

Praise the God who provides for His people!

Since starting Re:Hope here in Glasgow, I have found myself constantly wishing there were more hours in the day. Our building situation has been a major time drainer – requiring us to be always on the look-out for a more permanent location. Thankfully, we have gained some stability in Kelvin Stevenson, but with the introduction of a mid-week service in November this has brought a new challenge for myself and the staff.  I find myself struggling to keep my head above water.
At the end of 2009, we decided to advertise a part-time administrative position to help alleviate some of the pressure.
Ryan joined us in the 2nd week of January and has taken care of a myriad of tasks - from making the powerpoint presentations for both services each week to writing text for various different websites, designing and printing announcement sheets for each service, ordering office supplies, putting up notice-boards in the office etc etc etc - all duties I was doing myself before he joined us, and duties that were zapping my time and making me feel like I was always trying to catch up!  Ryan is Northern Irish and a graduate of the University of Glasgow and has been serving at the church for the last few years.

Having an extra pair of hands on staff has been invaluable and I am finding I can now afford to concentrate more on things like the direction of the church. For the first time since we started Re:Hope we are now looking beyond a 5 year plan and are able to consider what the church will/should look like by 2020 or 2030. We have a few different websites which have been on the back-burner for months now, but which are now roaring to life - I am amazed at how much we’ve been able to achieve in the last two weeks alone.

I am now able to invest my time in certain aspects of the church which perhaps require attention. I feel that we are in a position to move quickly and effectively in whichever direction God calls us. I am incredibly excited to see what the next few months will bring!  We are so thankful for Ryan joining our staff.