The Only Way To Multiply Is To Subtract
From the outside, everything seemed perfect. But looks are deceiving.
When we began our ministry in 1997, it took off fast—gaining momentum for almost 20 years. We operated a large afterschool program, a food distribution ministry, weekly community outreaches, and a Christian school.
Our staff was thriving, and we naively assumed things would continue their upward trajectory. But as our ministry neared its 20th anniversary, Jesus slowly began to “turn the faucet down.”
It started when Jesus reduced our ministries’ financial support, leaving us confused and perplexed. Then, two men prophesied over us that Jesus was shifting our ministry’s direction. They said, “Somewhere after March 2016, Jesus was going to change the footsteps; He was changing direction, and He was causing you all to be planted in Him where you’ve been planted before. But, after March, He was shifting everything.”
In 2016, Jesus led us to close our Christian school, which seemed absurd, but we obeyed. He also diminished our outreach staff that same year, leaving only a few employees to carry out our vision. In 2017, Jesus led us to sell our 15-acre campus and move into a temporary facility to continue our food distribution and community outreach ministries.
Honestly, it was painful to experience those losses without knowing exactly why Jesus was doing it. But looking back on those hectic and confusing events five years later, Jesus was obviously preparing us to take over Fred Jordan Missions, Los Angeles in 2018 after my mother-in-law suffered a major stroke and stepped down as President.
Sometimes, it can be confusing when God allows chaotic changes in our lives—especially when we are fulfilling our calling faithfully. But, as a pastor told us in 2017, “Whenever God begins to move, it looks chaotic because He’s making things over again. It’s discombobulating and looks like everything’s coming apart. But in God’s math—the only way to multiply you is to subtract something.”
If you are experiencing a “falling apart at the seams” season in your calling and need prayer, let me know in the comments.