If there was one word to describe the effect of Rise Up on me this year and on so many others it would have to be: revolution. But not 360 degrees, because that would mean right back where we started… more like 180…or 540. 540s are way more epic than 180s so lets roll with that.
Before Rise Up, I have to confess, I was tired. It had been a long semester and I wasn’t sure I was all that “effective” as a missionary on campus. Numbers were down – even though I know it’s not really about numbers – and I didn’t feel like I had enough of the answers – even though I know it’s not all about me. It’s amazing how we can get ourselves believing things we already know aren’t true sometimes.
Cue Rise Up 2011 in Vancouver and cue the truth. At Rise Up, I was in charge of the main screens, recording talks, and other assorted tech duties. Not only did I not need to be an “effective missionary” per se, my role meant that I was often unable to have conversations about faith or participate in different session because it was all about taking care of the nuts and bolts of the conference. Talk about a contrast to being on “the front lines” leading studies and doing follow-ups on campus, eh?
The truth is, though, when it comes to sharing our faith, we’re not called to be “effective.” We’re called to be open. We’re called to take the initiative to share our faith in a person, Jesus Christ, and leave the results to God. But most of all, we’re called to simply be faithful to whatever we’re entrusted with. This is what I’d forgotten before Christmas and what was tiring me out: trying to be effective meant I was acting as though it all depended on me.
At Rise Up, I was called to be faithful to my role at the computer and the soundboard. What happened? I saw lives being transformed before my eyes during Adoration and the commissioning night. I had people come to me to talk about what God was doing in their lives while I was sitting in the back and I “did nothing” to make that happen. And all the while, I saw God reminding me that the Holy Spirit is the one who is effective. It depends on Him, not me! And He blesses our faithfulness, even in the little things! As I saw Him transforming the hearts of so many others and my own as I was being faithful in such little things, I realized it wasn’t just a 540 going on in my heart, it was a backside 540 rodeo and I was being set on fire again for what GOD can do through me!*
And it wasn’t just me! Check out this testimony and so many others from the conference:
http://youtu.be/tH4UV2MfZ_I
Is it your time to become part of the revolution? Here’s the challenge from Rise Up 2011
http://youtu.be/A4FHWCbQqJk
*Here’s a backside 540 rodeo for reference on epic-ness http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08uFCGRy-NQ
Ian, God said I am the vine and you are the branches. Also, we are all one Body of Christ – He is the source and we are parts of Him. Therefore, remember that no matter what task you are given – no matter how menial or insignificant YOU THINK it is, God needed you there and chose you to do that because he thought you were the best man to get it done for Him. “Who does Jesus want? You baby, you, you , you!”
(my favourite quote of Rise Up 2011, Vancouver) And it is true, some of us (like myself) don’t know all the words of the songs the band was playing and even though the band was awesome, how could we feel and absorb and praise and experience and truly encounter God with the beautiful words of the songs, if we didn’t know what they were. You did a stupendous job Ian by putting up the songs and taking care of technical stuff so that we could enjoy and sing aloud. I mean think about that song where we sing “Raise a Shout!” How would we know to prepare ourselves to shout to God and look forward to it if we couldn’t see the words on the screen. We wouldn’t know when to shout and wouldn’t be synchronized with each other and maybe not all of us would be able to shout to the Lord. So, you see, you had a very important job to do! You are the branches of Jesus and as a body needs all of its parts to function well, and no part can function alone, you need to be part of the equation. Get it! 
So remember, God doesn’t measure effectiveness by numbers – he measures quality, not quantity and final recommendation (in a nutshell) to you is that when you pray to Him each day, ask Him what He wants you to do that day and let Him reveal his short-term daily plan for You. Then, do whatever it takes to accomplish what he has given for you. And then whether you believe it or not, you will be “effective”.
Also, if you ever feel that you are too shy or not confident etc… remember trust in the Lord, have faith in Him and he will be your strength!
Amen.
God Bless,
Melcia
Posted by Melcia D'Souza | January 19, 2012, 4:45 amRemember you are thinking like a human – because you are one – nothing wrong with that but remember we have to ask God what he wants us to do otherwise, we may not do the thing that would truly make Him happy. So we can’t judge our efforts until we obtain Divine Assistance and Intervention!
Posted by Melcia D'Souza | January 19, 2012, 5:00 amThanks ian. great post!
Posted by Eric | January 19, 2012, 8:25 pmIan, this is super great! RiseUp was definitely an amazing experience! Also I like how this is filed under awsomeness…
Posted by Dawn | January 27, 2012, 4:35 am