Special Forces

by Dave Livermore

Every branch of the military has a Ranger division or a Special Ops group who represents the first responders called in when a need arises. I’ve always had tremendous respect for these men and women who are willing to lay their lives on the line to make a way for the rest of the soldiers to enter in.

I believe the time has come to develop our own group of “Rangers” in the church; people who will do what needs to be done, no matter the cost. We need people willing to lead the assault on Satan’s strongholds, sharing the good news of salvation and hope with our communities.

We often connect the term “front lines” with men and women sharing their faith door to door, in their office, at school, offering an opportunity to someone to sit down and open their Bibles searching for answers to life’s questions. We have heard their stories and have been inspired. And yet, have those testimonies moved us off our comfortable pews? Is there more for us in our walk with Christ?

There’s a great statement that says, “From door to door His servants are to proclaim the message of salvation. To every nation, kindred, tongue, and people the tidings of pardon through Christ are to be carried. Not with tame, lifeless utterances is the message to be given, but with clear, decided, stirring utterances. Hundreds are waiting for the warning to escape for their lives. The world needs to see in Christians an evidence of the power of Christianity. Not merely in a few places, but throughout the world, messages of mercy are needed” Gospel Workers, p. 29.

This quote from Ellen White is challenging. It tells me we’ve got to get moving! It’s time to start forming an army. But first, we need the special forces to help prepare the beachhead. We need a spiritual ranger division to train, equip and lead the troops!

Here in Upper Columbia Conference, we see our new Bible Worker Coordinators as this special ops force. Last fall, the Conference Executive Committee committed to place these special forces in all 68 church districts over the next two years. Any pastor and church district who wants a Bible Worker Coordinator can have one.

So, what does this “Ranger” look like? A Bible Worker Coordinator is a man or woman who is trained to lead the Outreach Leadership Team of each church into their community to find people for Jesus. It’s someone who, along with the local members says, “I’ll take responsibility to help my pastor lead and guide our local outreach so the message Christ has given us can go to the ends of the earth starting with our community.”

The Bible Worker Coordinator position is one of service at the highest degree. You may find it underpaid, over worked and not respected at times. In fact, you will probably be asked by someone, “When are you going to get a real job?” And yet in spite of the seeming drawbacks, Upper Columbia Conference is like old “Uncle Sam” pointing at you saying; “We want you!” In every way this is a missionary calling to America. It is a calling to save our homeland.

The current Bible Worker Coordinator plan continues to evolve, but currently there are two tracks for Bible Worker Coordinators.

The first track is like a task force position, a short-term placement where the local church district provides housing and splits the salary and basic medical insurance with Upper Columbia Conference. We initially planned this track for our young people, getting them engaged in outreach during high school or taking a year off from college. We want to have meaningful opportunities for young people to make a significant impact for Christ.

Since launching Share the Life last fall, we have been pleasantly surprised by people and families of all ages who have applied from all over the country. People are excited and committed to leading this great church of ours into an experience never before seen. Some are retired folks, some are just married, and some have dreamed all their lives of being a Bible worker and now through Share the Life, that dream can become reality.

The second track is for individuals who don’t need housing but need more income to cover their expenses. (This track is also something the task force workers can work towards, should they decide to continue for a second year or more. Under this track, the Upper Columbia Conference will pay a larger amount toward the Bible Worker Coordinator’s salary. The local church district will pay medical, FICA and retirement as well as the remainder of the salary. (The salary amount may not be less than state requirements for minimum wage. )

This position is a call, just like pastoral ministry, it’s not a position to be filled by someone who can’t find something else to do. This is an opportunity to be tested and tried like you’ve never been before, but also to find God’s Spirit so rich, so powerful, that we expect this experience will affect how you live and spend the rest of your life.

If God taps you on the shoulder, if you hear His voice speaking to you, please call me or Steve Rogers at the Upper Columbia Conference and have a conversation on how you can live out this “calling”. You can find the application form on our home page at www.uccsda.org.

“It is not always the brightest talent that accomplishes the most for God. The Lord can speak through any one who is consecrated to his service.” RH, October 27, 1910 (emphasis supplied)