"God, I pray Thee, light these idle sticks of my life, and may I burn for Thee. Consume my life, my God, for it is Thine. I seek not a long life, but a full one, like you, Lord Jesus." - Jim Elliot
My absolute passion in life is to glorify and honor my Savior, Redeemer, Friend, and King. Since my conversion to Christianity at 14 years old and my calling to preach at 16 years old, my one magnificent obsession and one holy ambition have been to preach God's word with passion and conviction wherever he may call me. The gospel of Jesus Christ is the greatest news that could ever be delivered to a broken and sinful world. This good news of God's redeeming and unassailable love and our longing for it are depicted in microcosmic ways in society. We see evidence of it in movies, business, books, literature, sports, and relationships. It is veiled to the unbelieving heart, but it is apparent to the transformed heart.
In light of the abovementioned remarks, my approach to preaching and teaching the gospel is authentic, showing my hearers how God's word is still working in me. Even the Apostle Paul was honest about the fact that he hadn't arrived (Philippians 3:12). Secondly, preaching should be approached with relevance. The beauty of the gospel is that it reaches down to the lowest valley and simultaneously reaches up to the highest mountain. It tells the Nicodemus' of the world, the affluent, the creme de la creme, that they must be born again (John 3). However, it consoles and reassures the Samaritan women' of the world, the deject, outcast, and seemingly nobodies, that God so deeply loves them (John 4). Lastly, preaching should be approached with truth anchored in exegetical and expositional accuracy. The gospel preacher is tasked with one responsibility, to say to others what God has spoken to them through his word. On these three pillars, authenticity, relevance, and truth, I seek to make much of God through his son Jesus Christ and by the Holy Spirit, inspire the next generation to live for something greater than themselves - the glory of God.
To this end, I study, pray, mentor, counsel, and preach that Christ may be known and worship in every nook and cranny of the globe.
Maranatha, J. D. R