| Two are Better Than One
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10a
Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion.
This month is the beginning of a new chapter in Jesus’ story of The Spirit of Elijah Ministries International. The Board of Directors and I have been praying since January about how we can be more effective in calling men to turn their hearts to God and their families and advancing the Live to Love with Jesus movement. We decided to take specific steps to build a better foundation for growth and the continuation of Elijah Ministries and Live to Love in the future. We have seen from the first week after our board meeting in January that God was already going before us and guiding the way. Believing the wisdom of Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, above, we began a search for someone to co-labor with me with a view to the future so that we can get a better return for our labor. We praise the Lord, and give Him glory for His love and grace to us as He has answered our prayer in finding that man to partner with us in this ministry.
The Board of Directors created a new position, Vice President of Ministry Development. Within a week of deciding to go this direction, we were introduced to The Shepherd’s Staff, a ministry that helps find staff for churches and non-profits. God has used Thilini Perera and Jake Rhoads to guide our path and help us come to this point today to introduce Paul Isaacs. I hope you’ll watch the short introductory video above and meet Paul.
Elijah and Elisha
1 Kings 19:19
So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, while he was plowing with twelve pairs of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth. And Elijah passed over to him and threw his mantle on him.
I’m not Elijah, and Paul isn’t Elisha, but the relationship isn’t lost on us. We have discussed how God provided an Elisha to take up the mantle of Elijah. God has had us thinking along those lines throughout the process of discerning God’s will. We believe that great days are ahead of us as a ministry. The next generation is ripe to be called out to be bold, dedicated, and anointed leaders in their homes and churches. The need has never been so great. There’s also a tremendous need for God’s people to be filled with the Spirit of Christ to love with Him. God is opening doors of ministry and discipleship all over the world to us, and we are positioning ourselves to walk through those doors.
Trusting that God will continue to give me health and strength, I plan to continue as the Executive Director of Elijah Ministries, but hope to pass that mantle on to Paul within the next year or so. I will focus on content development and speaking as the Lord opens doors. This year, Paul will focus on becoming fully acquainted with Elijah Ministries and Live to Love so that He can link arms with me and we can get a better return on our labors.
I believe our best years are ahead of us, and we hope you will be as excited as we are about what God is doing and will do through Elijah Ministries. We would love to network with you in ministering to the men of your churches and to provide discipleship tools to equip the body of Christ to live to love with Jesus. We will continue to do men’s retreats, equipping men with tools for life, and Live to Love Adventure conferences for churches and ministries. Perhaps God might use you to open a door in your own church.
We covet your prayers as Paul and I follow the Spirit this year to learn how God wants us to serve and develop the ministry of The Spirit of Elijah and Live to Love. If you have been financially supporting EM, we are so grateful for your continued support and encouragement. If you haven’t given to EM, we hope you will consider partnering with us in this mission of calling men to a deeper relationship with God and living to love with Jesus. We consider it an honor to serve with you in building up the local church by equipping the saints to live the gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit. |