Dusty CarlIt has been a great encouragement to read all the blogs of people who are in love with Jesus and passionate about seeing his kingdom revealed in the lives of young people. My name is Dusty Carl and I have just taken over the youth ministry at CityHill church. I moved here from Botswana at the beginning of this year. I was leading the worship and youth ministry at a local church in Botswana for the past 6 years and it is a great privilege to be a part of Gods calling he has over his people.

The statement, “Show me your friends and I will prophesy your future” has really shaped my thinking and style of leadership. As a young man it is key and important to never stop visioning and growing in your own personal life and not just your ministry. It seems so easy as leaders to forget about ME and focus a lot on US when in actual fact, if the ME element of our ministry in not in check then the US element won’t work.

Throughout scripture, we see key people being raised to take hold of the leadership calling God set over their lives. Who in turn, became powerful and effective people in History. Moses raised Joshua who led the people into their promised land, Elijah raised Elisha, Jesus raised the 12 disciples, Paul Raised timothy and so on. God laid two questions in my heart that I want to throw at you guys today;

1)      Who is raising you up?

2)      Who are you raising up?

“Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding. I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching.” Proverbs 4vs1

If you want to be a doctor, then you have to spend time with a doctor. It is hard to become a doctor when you are spending all your time with a musician. Who are the “fathers” in our lives that help us pattern our lives to fulfill the calling God has for them? When I moved to Botswana in 2001, I made friends with two local guys in the church there. Over time, we became best friends and spent most of our days together. I started learning to play guitar and became very passionate about worship. So it was not long from then I started leading worship in the local church. Because I spent so much time with those two friends and my eldest brother, by the time I left Botswana to lead in Durban, my one friend plays guitar and leads worship, other friend is a bass player and my brother is a phenomenal drummer. Why? Not because I took time to teach them or encourage them to become musicians, but because I was so passionate about music and the worship ministry that because they spent so much time with me, it rubbed off on them and they became passionate and taught themselves to play.

Who is rubbing off onto us to help shape us and get us inspired and enthusiastic about our ministries? Who is the hot coal in the fire that keeps us burning? Is it the fathers? Or is it friends around us who are also trying to find hot coals to set them on fire and help them burn. “Be slow to talk and quick to listen”, sometimes we miss this important part of growth.

And lastly when we have the privilege of leading, naturally we will have people who will rub shoulders with us and become like us. This is why Paul states a few times to become like him as he becomes like Christ. It is a bold statement to tell people to become like you, but Paul had a revelation of who Christ was and he constantly rubbed shoulders with Christ which gave him the confidence to encourage others to become like him. When we have fathers in our lives who are rubbing off on us as we pursue a Godly life rubbing against Christ, it helps us say to our flock with boldness and confidence, “I urge you to become like me”.  Remember the scripture bad company corrupts good character, well good company perfects Godly character.

I look forward to meeting you all and being able to partner in building Gods kingdom in this City. Each one of you are a blessing to me and your blogs an inspiration to continue running this race and living up to what we have already attained.

“SHOW ME YOUR FRIEND’S AND I WILL PROPHECY YOUR FUTURE”

written by Dusty Carl