As we draw close to Christmas time and the end of 2015 I can confidently say that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. Our first year of full time, traveling evangelism has been one of the toughest, yet fulfilling, seasons of my life (I speak for both Mika and I). I always dreamed that traveling full time would be full of adventure; I wasn’t completely wrong about that.
Between the last week of June and the entire month of July, I was (graciously) given the responsibility of preaching over thirty times in a span of forty days. Aside from frequent pulpit supply and a few (four to five service) revivals from January to May, this was my first taste of itinerant evangelism in its exhausting entirety. God was certainly faithful throughout that season and the Spirit was moving tremendously during our meetings and also during times of secret prayer and intercession. However, at the end of July our opportunities in ministry started to taper off. A couple of pulpit supplies were scattered throughout August and September, finances weren’t great, and we were living in my dad’s attic. I would be lying if I said that I wasn’t a bit discouraged by my “situation.”
So here I am- I've been married for almost four years, I've moved my wife into my dad's house to live in the attic (200 sq. ft.) and I feel like I don't have anywhere to preach. On top of all of that my former employer was lobbying for me to come back to work- this was a tempting offer considering my “situation.” My natural instinct was question what I was doing wrong or if the decisions that Mika and I had made were outside of God's will. I felt like the ultimate loser.
My perspective was changed when I realized the severity of a certain prayer that I pray often, “Lord, make me more like you.” I have to become useless before I'll ever be used. Ministry was no longer about being a hero that swoops in to save the day, or recognition, or preaching clever sermons- it was about seeing how much of a nobody I could become for the sake Christ and his Gospel. If the climax of Christ's earthly ministry was a cross, Why should I expect any better? Christ was answering my prayer, “Lord, make me more like you.” I wanted the glory of God without the suffering, the crown without the cross; God quickly changed my perspective.
As if living in my dad's attic wasn't bad enough- Mika and I were then faced with one of the hardest ordeals that we've ever had to deal with in our marriage. Mika had a miscarriage. It was like the one glimmer of happiness was extinguished in a matter of ten minutes at a doctors office. We went in for an ultrasound expecting ecstasy and left feeling emptiness. I went to the place that I always go but didn't get the results that I’d always gotten. Talking to God was suddenly harder to do.
Every time I prayed I felt like there was nobody on the other end. But God is good, his mercy endures forever and his love is inexhaustible. He knows the way that we take, and when he has tried us we will come forth as gold. We walk by faith and not by sight and that's much easier said than done.
It was on the backside of the desert, in the wilderness, keeping my Father’s sheep, in the trivial valleys of desolation and dry bones, in the midst of fire, winds, and earthquakes that I heard the still small voice of God reminding me of one, simple fact; “Jon,” he said, “I am with you always, even to the end of the world.” I realized that Circumstances cannot control me because God Almighty, the creator of the ends of the earth is the author of the entire, eternal story that has been written and determined from the foundations of the earth. I was reminded that God has an expected end for me and my only responsibility is to trust him.
As seeing him who is invisible, with the help of God’s Holy Spirit, my eyes were fixed beyond what is temporal and I am now able to see what’s eternal. Christ is my vision, my goal, my life, my hope; it’s no longer a matter of knowing about him, I know him. I can honestly say that Christ is pre-eminent and my desire is that Christ will be all that my eyes are capable of seeing as Mika and I move forward in life and in our ministry. My prayer is that I become invisible that Christ may be more visible in my life than ever before; that I decrease that Christ may increase.
His grace truly is sufficient and it will continue to be sufficient in every season (good or bad). Although the first year has been trying, it has also been rewarding. I can only remember five or six Sundays that God did not provide a place for me to share his word with people. He has allowed me to minister in rehab centers, nursing homes, local churches, and even a few new states. Mika and I have met people that we will never forget; people that have left an eternal impression on our lives. God has given us the opportunity to pray with people, see lost souls saved, and saved souls sanctified.
In 2015, the Lord saved my dad, his girlfriend Brittney, my little brother (Josh) and his girlfriend Kristen. I was able to preach a homecoming revival at the church that I grew up at. During that revival my little brother played and sang a song that he wrote; and for the first time in six years (on a Monday night) my entire family was in attendance (Praise the Lord!). At the end of the day I truly believe that I am the most blessed individual on the face of the planet. Christ has saved my entire family, he has given me a wife that kind words cannot adequately describe (an entire book should be dedicated to her), and he lets me preach his word.
The greatest blessing of all is that I wake up every morning and talk face to face with the eternal being that created all that my eyes behold and who is responsible for every good thing in my life. He walks with me, talks with me, and even when it seems like he’s not there I know that he is because that’s what he promised. As long as God gives me breath and being I'll preach his word, love my wife, intercede for souls, and steadfastly strive for Christ.
Moving into 2016, Mika and I covet every prayer that we can get; pray for our marriage, our ministry, for lost souls, for nationwide revival, etc. We sincerely thank every person that has contributed to our ministry in prayer, financially, by way of recommendations, and we thank every pastor and church that has allowed us to share our ministry with yours. One thing is certain in the middle of all uncertainty; Jesus Christ will be the same in 2016 as he was in 2015 and because of that, we have nothing to worry about. We love you all more than you'll ever know. Merry Christmas and God bless.
Jon and Mika Parrish
Between the last week of June and the entire month of July, I was (graciously) given the responsibility of preaching over thirty times in a span of forty days. Aside from frequent pulpit supply and a few (four to five service) revivals from January to May, this was my first taste of itinerant evangelism in its exhausting entirety. God was certainly faithful throughout that season and the Spirit was moving tremendously during our meetings and also during times of secret prayer and intercession. However, at the end of July our opportunities in ministry started to taper off. A couple of pulpit supplies were scattered throughout August and September, finances weren’t great, and we were living in my dad’s attic. I would be lying if I said that I wasn’t a bit discouraged by my “situation.”
So here I am- I've been married for almost four years, I've moved my wife into my dad's house to live in the attic (200 sq. ft.) and I feel like I don't have anywhere to preach. On top of all of that my former employer was lobbying for me to come back to work- this was a tempting offer considering my “situation.” My natural instinct was question what I was doing wrong or if the decisions that Mika and I had made were outside of God's will. I felt like the ultimate loser.
My perspective was changed when I realized the severity of a certain prayer that I pray often, “Lord, make me more like you.” I have to become useless before I'll ever be used. Ministry was no longer about being a hero that swoops in to save the day, or recognition, or preaching clever sermons- it was about seeing how much of a nobody I could become for the sake Christ and his Gospel. If the climax of Christ's earthly ministry was a cross, Why should I expect any better? Christ was answering my prayer, “Lord, make me more like you.” I wanted the glory of God without the suffering, the crown without the cross; God quickly changed my perspective.
As if living in my dad's attic wasn't bad enough- Mika and I were then faced with one of the hardest ordeals that we've ever had to deal with in our marriage. Mika had a miscarriage. It was like the one glimmer of happiness was extinguished in a matter of ten minutes at a doctors office. We went in for an ultrasound expecting ecstasy and left feeling emptiness. I went to the place that I always go but didn't get the results that I’d always gotten. Talking to God was suddenly harder to do.
Every time I prayed I felt like there was nobody on the other end. But God is good, his mercy endures forever and his love is inexhaustible. He knows the way that we take, and when he has tried us we will come forth as gold. We walk by faith and not by sight and that's much easier said than done.
It was on the backside of the desert, in the wilderness, keeping my Father’s sheep, in the trivial valleys of desolation and dry bones, in the midst of fire, winds, and earthquakes that I heard the still small voice of God reminding me of one, simple fact; “Jon,” he said, “I am with you always, even to the end of the world.” I realized that Circumstances cannot control me because God Almighty, the creator of the ends of the earth is the author of the entire, eternal story that has been written and determined from the foundations of the earth. I was reminded that God has an expected end for me and my only responsibility is to trust him.
As seeing him who is invisible, with the help of God’s Holy Spirit, my eyes were fixed beyond what is temporal and I am now able to see what’s eternal. Christ is my vision, my goal, my life, my hope; it’s no longer a matter of knowing about him, I know him. I can honestly say that Christ is pre-eminent and my desire is that Christ will be all that my eyes are capable of seeing as Mika and I move forward in life and in our ministry. My prayer is that I become invisible that Christ may be more visible in my life than ever before; that I decrease that Christ may increase.
His grace truly is sufficient and it will continue to be sufficient in every season (good or bad). Although the first year has been trying, it has also been rewarding. I can only remember five or six Sundays that God did not provide a place for me to share his word with people. He has allowed me to minister in rehab centers, nursing homes, local churches, and even a few new states. Mika and I have met people that we will never forget; people that have left an eternal impression on our lives. God has given us the opportunity to pray with people, see lost souls saved, and saved souls sanctified.
In 2015, the Lord saved my dad, his girlfriend Brittney, my little brother (Josh) and his girlfriend Kristen. I was able to preach a homecoming revival at the church that I grew up at. During that revival my little brother played and sang a song that he wrote; and for the first time in six years (on a Monday night) my entire family was in attendance (Praise the Lord!). At the end of the day I truly believe that I am the most blessed individual on the face of the planet. Christ has saved my entire family, he has given me a wife that kind words cannot adequately describe (an entire book should be dedicated to her), and he lets me preach his word.
The greatest blessing of all is that I wake up every morning and talk face to face with the eternal being that created all that my eyes behold and who is responsible for every good thing in my life. He walks with me, talks with me, and even when it seems like he’s not there I know that he is because that’s what he promised. As long as God gives me breath and being I'll preach his word, love my wife, intercede for souls, and steadfastly strive for Christ.
Moving into 2016, Mika and I covet every prayer that we can get; pray for our marriage, our ministry, for lost souls, for nationwide revival, etc. We sincerely thank every person that has contributed to our ministry in prayer, financially, by way of recommendations, and we thank every pastor and church that has allowed us to share our ministry with yours. One thing is certain in the middle of all uncertainty; Jesus Christ will be the same in 2016 as he was in 2015 and because of that, we have nothing to worry about. We love you all more than you'll ever know. Merry Christmas and God bless.
Jon and Mika Parrish
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