A PASTOR’S
PERSPECTIVE:
ART DYKSTRA
A
s a pastor that has the privilege of overseeing missions
and outreach at a large church, it has been a fantastic
experience to partner with Potter’s Field Ministries (PFM).
We have long been blessed by PFM through Michael
and Pam Rozell’s touring ministry and subsequently the
opportunities to help children in third world countries.
We’ve seen marriages restored and many people have given
their lives to Jesus by listening to the powerful testimony of
how God can take two broken people and restore the years
the locusts have eaten. However, our relationship went
to another level through a partnership in Guatemala and
through their mission training program called IGNITE.
I spent a considerable amount of time this past year in
Guatemala in a first hand, intimate, and on-going experience
with PFM’s IGNITE Mission Training School. It is exciting
and encouraging to know that there is an avenue for the
next generation to be discipled, equipped, and experience
God in a radical and life-changing way that allows them to
“get their hands dirty,” but still provides a safe environment.
Many great missionary movements began with young people
desiring to do more and make a difference.
The IGNITE program is one of those faith building pathways
for young people to grow up and experience what William
Carey meant when he said “Expect great things from God,
attempt great things for God.” I often recall the experience
of one of our young adults that was serving in Africa. I asked
this already mature young man about his experience and he
responded: “I can’t imagine where my life would be if I had
not done the IGNITE program”. I asked another recently
returned intern from our fellowship what he thought of his
experience and he answered that he wished he could do the
IGNITE program every year for the rest of his life!
Another benefit of our partnership is the PFM mission
team trips. They are a great experience for any church that
might be looking to expand their ministry footprint without
increasing the workload of a busy ministry team. They also
provide the opportunity for churches that might not have
the resources of a missions department to have full access
to their location and staff.
One of the things that impressed me through the process of
partnering with PFM is how God uses them as a bridge to
connect other like-minded, mission-centric fellowships of
believers and resources. We truly are better together and it
has been a joy to watch what the Lord does when His people
come together and partner in unity. There is no question in
my mind that the collaboration with PFM helped launch our
missions program and catapulted our efforts exponentially
because of our ability to do so much more together through
our mutual partnership.
I thank God for the vision of PFM and their desire to extend
themselves on behalf of the hungry and the afflicted soul
(Isaiah 58:10) and to allow us the privilege of partnering
with them in that call.
Pastor Art Dykstra
Calvary Chapel St. Petersburg
12