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LEADERSHIP
My personal spirituality map

James Nikkel

The journey of faith takes different twists and turns for each Christian. There are different spiritual pathways and bridges to navigate each day. It is important for each person to find and follow a formula or blueprint that helps him or her maintain spiritual vitality along the faith journey. For myself, I can identify seven specific spiritual survival and growth pathways.

A God Moment. As the Red Sea crossing was a God moment never to be forgotten by the Israelites, so each of us needs to identify specific times when God was at work in our lives in a supernatural way. For me, it was a near-death experience in a farm accident when I was 13 years old, in which God unmistakably spared my life in response to my cry for God’s help. To this day, it is a powerful reminder to me that God spared my life for a purpose. Life is special to me, and I seek to live daily in gratitude for my God moment. A Personal Scripture. It took me many years to realize that Romans 12 was more than just my favourite chapter. I read this chapter more than any other, and I often wondered if I was not motivated enough to read more broadly. When I came to accept that this was a special chapter for me, and in fact made it the charter chapter for my life, it took on special meaning. I still read it more than other chapters. A Vision Peer Group. It has been my privilege to be part of various cross-denominational peer groups that inspire and encourage vision. To be pushed by one’s peers to do greater things for God is most invigorating. Leaders need other leaders for motivation and resourcing. A Ministry Mentor. It has been my privilege to benefit from the guidance and wisdom of many special leaders and great churchmen. Beyond this, I have over the years sought counsel and wisdom from an interdenominationally known leader whom I greatly respect, seeking his advice at various decision-making intersections in my life. This mentoring relationship has been invaluable to me. Mountain Peak Experiences. Over the years, I have participated in what were for me mountaintop spiritual experiences. I have looked for such bigger picture conference experiences every three-to-five years. In my university years, they consisted of attending the Urbana conferences. Later, they included national evangelism seminars, Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization conferences, the Billy Graham School of Evangelism, Vision 2000 events and, most recently, the Amsterdam 2000 conference. These periodic mountain peak experiences provide a cross-denominational perspective and help me to see the global kingdom ministry mosaic beyond my own denomination. An Engaging Home Church. It has always been my concern to remain vitally connected and involved in my home church. Everyone needs a home church for encouragement, nurture, worship, tithing and accountability. For those who have Conference involvements that often require ministry in other churches, it is a constant challenge to maintain a strong local church relationship. The Daily Discipline. The most basic part of my spirituality is my personal commitment and daily journey of faith. I seek to permeate my day with Scriptural reflection, prayers and ministry.

These seven realities have served as a spiritual framework which God has used to help me maintain spiritual freshness and vitality. I have sought to intentionalize my faith life through my personal mission statement, “to passionately follow and serve Christ”, and through my ministry slogan, “to make the most of every opportunity”.

James Nikkel is Church Extension director for the B.C. MB Conference.

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Last modified December 7, 2001.

© 2001 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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