Issue link: http://denverseminary.uberflip.com/i/736680
"God cares as much for the messenger as He cares for the message," said Elliott. "He cares as much for the missionary as for the mission. We remind missionaries that God cares deeply for the wellbeing of His children and that Jesus modeled a rhythm of ministry and rest. He instructed His disciples to live similarly. This, of course, never meant that Jesus or His disciples were free from suffering, but rather that they would—and we will—experience God's blessing even as we participate in the suffering of our Savior. In fact, from the call of Abraham onward, God has demonstrated congruence between the blessing of His people and the blessing of the nations. After all, He is on a mission to accomplish both." "God cares as much for the messenger as He cares for the message," said Elliott. "He cares as much for the missionary as for the mission." With some hindsight and insight, Elliott now views the mission of God as a joyful parade of movement initiated and led by the Lord. All believers have the privilege and call to join in. However, its direction, speed, and destination are not the responsibility of those in the parade, but rather the One leading it. They can take on the easy yoke of Christ in knowing that, as Elliott puts it, "We are not the leaders of this parade." Hans Caluwaerts/iStock Elliott Drake MASTER OF DIVINITY Elliott Drake received his MDiv from Denver Seminary in 2015 and currently works as a trainer at Mission Training International in the Debriefing and Renewal ministry. His wife, Lindsay; daughter, Avery; and sons, Lucas and Linton, know him to be a nature lover and a mountain biker. RECOMMEND A FRIEND FOR A LEGACY SCHOLARSHIP THE DENVER SEMINARY LEGACY SCHOLARSHIP IS AN INITIATIVE WE INVITE OUR NETWORK OF ALUMNI TO PARTICIPATE IN AWARDING. YOU KNOW TALENTED, PASSIONATE PEOPLE WHO WOULD BENEFIT FROM THE SEMINARY EXPERIENCE. YOU KNOW THOSE WHOSE HEARTS BREAK FOR THE BROKENHEARTED AND WHO WANT TO COME ALONGSIDE THE SUFFERING TO USHER IN REDEMPTIVE HEALING. THE LIVES YOU TOUCH AND THE CONNECTIONS YOU MAKE ARE INVALUABLE. WE WANT TO STEP TOGETHER WITH YOU IN THAT LEGACY. ALUMNI, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND SOMEONE FOR A $500 LEGACY SCHOLARSHIP, CONTACT THE FINANCIAL AID OFFICE AT FINANCIALAID@ DENVERSEMINARY.EDU. ENGAGE 19