How Things Have Changed (by Matt Ramey)

Two years ago I was asked to write an article for the YLN website providing a personal testimony for how I perceive God to be at work in Denver, CO. At the time, in my small sphere of influence, God was taking us through a valley of learning. We had a group of men organizing outreach breakfasts, but that fell apart for various reasons, our Bible study dropped to only two of us, and I found myself without a Timothy to meet with. I had come to the conclusion that E2 is the job of the individual and that outreach groups, Bible studies, and the other organized forms of gathering are merely mechanisms for E2. God had stripped us to virtually nothing, but two men willing to be faithful to opportunity.

My friend Bill and I decided to start another study, with just the two of us if no one else was willing to come. Our goal was to be faithful, start small, and let God be in charge of the results. We invited anyone and everyone we could think of to our study. We had six men at our first study- five of them are still attending. Those men have invited others and today we are at nine. I have personally gone from zero to two Timothy’s and 3 other men in the group are meeting one-on-one with other men. In fact, we are having trouble finding enough Paul’s for the Timothy’s God has brought into the group. We also have an inductive study that started in March which has stemmed from the main study. Eight men have committed to meeting once a month and taking an exhaustive look into the book of Romans.

It has been amazing to see God’s hand at work and impossible for any man to take credit for what is going on. In fact, by letting go of trying to control results, God has grown a network of 2 Timothy 2:2 men with a willingness to participate in His work. I was asked recently what being involved in ministry looks like and I told the gentlemen who asked the question that application was up to him. I did tell him, however, that I think we need to ask ourselves at least two questions. First, are you willing to participate in God’s work, letting Him control the results? Second, are you willing to follow Him wherever he may take you?