Renewing your passion

Kay and I flew from Orlando to Dallas to spend a few days with our family before leaving for Pamoja Africa over Christmas. On the flight, I read something that got me to thinking about renewing passion for mission.

People love talking about their passions. Sometimes, those of us in fulltime, vocational Christian work begin to lose our passion. We forget why we wanted to do this stuff fulltime.

When someone asks you what you are passionate about, does it have anything to do with your vocation? You probably chose this vocation out of passion. What happened? How can you recover your passion?

Sometimes, we get chewed up, mangled, feeling ground to dust in the organizational gears. Here are some things I’ve found helpful at renewing and maintaining my passion.

#1: Seek out others who are passionate about our work.

Passion is infectious. It spreads from person to person. Proverbs 13:20 says, “He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.” We become like those we associate with. The greater our association, the more we become like them. Associating with passionate people stokes the fires of our own passion.

#2: Attend conferences.

Campus Crusade for Christ in the U.S. has an all-staff conference every two years in Colorado. I look forward to those times. Yes, it is expensive. Yes, it is stressful. But those times worshiping God with 4,000 people like me who have committed their lives to fulltime service is so encouraging and re-visioning to me.

Attend a Christmas conference. There is nothing like hanging out with college kids whose lives have recently changed by coming face-to-face with Jesus Christ. Enthusiasm is contagious.

#3: MPD [Ministry Partner Development].

Campus Crusade for Christ is a faith mission. That means that the organization does not pay a salary. Kay and I prayerfully develop a team of ministry partners who pray and partner financially in our mission team. Sharing the stories from our ministry, sharing the vision of everyone knowing someone who truly follows Jesus, these times with our faithful partners in mission are times that renew my passion and my vision.

#4: Re-engage in one-on-one, direct ministry.

Sometimes as we develop leadership responsibilities within a fulltime organization, we move away from one-on-one ministry. Re-engage in risky faith steps of personal ministry. Step out in faith and resume sharing your faith with others. Teach a serious Bible study in your church. Seeing lives change in front of our eyes rekindles passion.