It’s with great excitement that Danielle and I get to announce that we have officially been ordained!

 

 

We’re big proponents of each member of the body being a part of the royal priesthood (see 1 Peter 2:9 and In Christ, In Ministry), each individual being called to minister the gospel of Jesus. Because of that, we have never thought to seek out ordination.

Until recently, that is…

Though we’ve been in ministry, as a married couple, for over eight years, we, for the first time, both felt the Lord leading us to get ordained. Shortly after the idea came, the Lord showed me the time, location, and with whom we would be ordained. With the passing of a few months, it happened exactly as I had seen it!

We feel so tremendously honored to have had Danielle’s Aunt and Uncle, Drs. Heidi and Rolland Baker, Will Hart, Shara Pradhan and the entire Iris Global team in Redding, CA ordain us!


“Why? What does ordination mean to you?”


There’s a few specific things that we feel are important, for us, about ordination:

Family (natural)

We strongly believe that the natural family unit is God’s intentionally designed structure of relationship, accountability, and community. Though I love the idea of “spiritual parents” and have seen how much these types of relationships have benefited myself and others, I often feel the Holy Spirit say the goal is instead to have parents that are spiritual. Ideally, one shouldn’t have to go outside of their natural family to find parental care, physically or spiritually. Unfortunately, the world struggles in both of these.

Danielle is a fourth generation missionary. Currently, her father, mother, and two brothers are serving in Mozambique, Africa and have been there for over eight years! Many other family members regularly travel to many places across the world, preaching and teaching as well. We both cherish the family legacy, and I’ve always felt deeply honored to have married into it. During the ordination, Heidi, who also married into the Baker family, had some very encouraging words over me about that very thing!

For us, committing ourselves in ministry with our family is an amazing privilege and we believe it to be very significant in carrying that legacy forward!

Family (in Christ)

We’re not alone! A friend once said to me that “having community available and not taking advantage of it sounds stupid.” I couldn’t agree more. One of the natural difficulties of following the Spirit is the regular changes of scenery and, of course, the goodbyes that come along with it. Granted, technology makes this so much easier for the missionaries of today. Jesus said that…

“The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” John 3:8 NIV

Having been blown around a lot, we’re very excited to be part of the Iris Global family, who we know will love and support us wherever we are. Pursuing this formalized relationship, to us, is wisdom that will benefit everything we do. Having been so warmly, and openly, welcomed into this family has meant so much to us!

We’ve felt so incredibly blessed, trusted, and honored by all of the Iris staff during our recent time in Redding, and are excited to meet more of the Iris family and get to know each of you better!

Open doors

Getting practical, ordination provides a solid base of trust and recognition. We have value for that, and for the accountability, relationship, and support that should come with ordination which I described previously.

That said, we’re committed to preaching the gospel, making disciples, and equipping the saints, and will make use of any means that help us do that.

This past week, following the ordination, I’ve felt like a pinata that was stuffed just a little too much. One good poke and I’ll burst. Of course, I’m not talking about being stuffed with candy, but something even sweeter! Starting at our ordination, there has been an incredible measure of the presence of God that has yet to lift. Looking at the pictures, or thinking about the ceremony, brings back the deep, weighty presence, helping convince me that I’m going to pop.

We are so excited to see what the Lord brings next, and are expecting amazing things! Danielle and I are leaving for Japan, to minister, teach, and love on some amazing missionary friends this Friday for two weeks. We’ll post more on that soon!

 

“Be ordained!”

As always, we love you all, and thanks for sharing in our good news! If any of you, in the words of Heidi, need any “marrying or burying” let us know! 😉

Blessings!

2 Comments

  • Team B

    Congratulations on being ordained!! We are excited to see what God is doing with you in this season and are privileged to have you as friends. Praying for you every day while you are in Japan and the work you are doing and people you will be with. Thanks for being available, encouraging us on and your gentle yet powerful ministry.

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