It’s my birthday! 7/14/20

7/14/2020

It’s the first time I am having a birthday when I have this website up and running. I started this site at in the beginning of the year. I started it so I can have a place to share messages and connect with people. There are a number of reasons I started this site. Little did I know that a pandemic would hit and I would need it all the more.

Picture from last years birthday

I have mixed feelings about people taking advantage of this site. Perhaps one day I will report a detailed analysis of the analytics of this site. But for now here are some general facts. Since I started the site I have had over 2.5k users who have come to the site. During the main part of the pandemic I consistently had new visitors, as for returning users I had over a hundred. Lately it has dropped. A number of my members have taken advantage of my site. About 25 take advantage of the extra stuff I do here. A number of people share the messages, participate with the discussion questions on the site and on their own with other people.

While people leaving comments is the only way I can know for certain if someone came, I can see through google analytics where how many people from a town are on my site. And then from phone calls I have confirmation of certain people not coming on. You can’t make anyone do anything. You know when we are in a church building, people are there and you can see exactly who you preaching to. If someone doesn’t like a message they normally stay for the entire thing (not everyone). Normally there is a sense that they need to be there next week regardless of whether they enjoyed church the week before. Having online church I recognize there are many online options so there are many places to go. I hope that is the case for those who are missing. However being online gives people the ability to be anonymous. The level of accountability is reduced. So I am sure many just don’t attend anywhere.
While overall I view this as a negative, in a way there is a positive aspect. The positive is that crisis reveals character. It kinda filters out those who aren’t serious. Bible talks quite a bit about shakings. Gives time to focus on those who are truly hungering and thirsting after truth.

One such person was at a paintball field. I went paintballing this pass Sunday as a birthday celebration. I threw an invitation to a bunch of people online and 24 came and it was intense.
When it was over we were all leaving and as I was driving home my sister called me to tell me that one of the cars wanted to stop somewhere to eat. So we went to Dairy Queen. I’m on my 300 raw diet so I wasn’t gonna eat the food there. So I broke out my carrots and Jalapenos and stuff and sat to eat with them outside. A group of 10 of us right outside of Dairy Queen, bruised up from a full day paintball warfare ended up having a 2 hour Bible Study. LOL during my birthday celebration. No off day when it comes to ministry. Someone (Mr L) there had a ridiculous amount of questions about the Bible and God. One person (Mr J) at the table doesn’t go to church anymore and was participating heavily in the conversation. Mr L told everyone the table that I had a website and how he went on it and how he thought I was the best preacher he has ever seen (I guess he hasn’t seen many preachers). That same guy even joined the prophecy series I did. At the end of the conversation Mr J, who had left church a long time ago, came up to me and said thank you for being willing to go along with this conversation. Most people in church when you have these type of conversations dismiss it right away. Then on the ride home a different person and I talked about trying to make a comeback with God and about baptism.

Then yesterday, someone from Florida called me and told me that he was looking for a church for his friend who lives in the town of one of my churches. He went on my website and he saw the way I was dressed and how I wasn’t wearing a suit and he appreciated it. He read my blog post on clothing and he was impressed and now he wants to send his friend to my church.

You know in ministry you are not going to reach everybody. You won’t appeal to everybody. But its days like the ones mentioned where I can see the few that are being reached and it makes it evident how worth it ministry is.

So I am happy for another birthday, because it means I can begin another year with God.

17 Comments

Ravina narine

7/14/2020 03:40:16 pm

God bless!

Dorothy Rota

7/14/2020 04:19:19 pm

Amen🙏🏾 In ministry, you may not be able to appeal to everyone, but do the best you can, even if it is to reach one. The Holy Spirit is working for all who are willing!!!

Wayne Jamel

7/14/2020 04:58:58 pm

So true Dorothy. The only one to please is God.

7/14/2020 04:58:19 pm

Thank you Ravina

Selva Mason

7/14/2020 04:02:21 pm

Very nice post. Happy Birthday! It's great to write and just freely express your thoughts. Each year, or each day I become inspired to write and do little by little. One day I will sit and write for pleasure. The same way I am now reading the bible for pleasure. So the thing is that we minister and witness invisibly or unconsciously daily...we do not see ourselves witnessing to others, we are unaware of our impact and influence when we naturally live/lead a Christ centered or God led life.

"You know in ministry you are not going to reach everybody. You won’t appeal to everybody. But its days like the ones mentioned where I can see the few that are being reached and it makes it evident how worth it ministry is."

Sometimes you reach and appeal to people without you even knowing it. So, this is why it is always good to be an active minister/witness/evangelist. "A group of 10 of us right outside of Dairy Queen, bruised up from a full day paintball warfare ended up having a 2 hour Bible Study." This is the kind of invisible/ unconscious witnessing that results in explainable conversion, transformation and a change of heart for Christ. We never know who is watching, listening observing or taking notes.

I was invited as a speaker for a graduate course a month or so ago. Each time I do this, I always email a feedback survey to the professor so that it could be distributed to the students. I always want to know how the experience was for the audience and how I could make it better for next time, if I go back for another talk or just pointers to incorporate for another audience. This was my first time with this particular group of students. Two days later I received all the feedback from the students. I was up late one night considering if I am an impactful leader. I was asking myself, "why is leadership so difficult?" Then I said, "Man...I give these different speeches to encourage leaders of tomorrow and I am still encountering problems of my own on my leadership journey. "Man, I wish it was easier."

It was at that moment that I decided to turn on my computer to write/type. Then I saw that all the surveys were submitted. So, I decided to read the responses. I enjoyed reading all the feedback. And something very unexpected happened. I came across a response that said: "Dear Selva, I met you four years ago. It was in a seminar hall in the Bronx. It was the day my father died. I could not get myself together but knew if I did not make it to the Seminar, I would loose my spot in the program. You were the lead facilitator wearing a white blazer. In a room full of all those people, you smiled at me as I walked in late. You then walked over to me and found me a place to sit. You then offered me something to drink. When I said no, you said okay. You then got me something to drink and walked back and continued facilitating. I did not know you. You did not know me. And from the day I met you, I said, "I will never for get this lady." Now, I see you here today. You are here in a different capacity. I am so glad that you are in a leadership role now. You are an amazing human being and don't you ever change." So in the middle of the night in the midst of my uncertainty, God sent an invisible observer who took notes of my unconscious witnessing (compassionate behavior) to answer the question that was keeping me awake. I turned off the computer and went back to sleep.

7/14/2020 04:25:30 pm

Amen Selva!!! It is true, sometimes we are the only Bible someone reads or example of Christ. Never change being and doing what is good. God uses us to help others and others to help us in return! ☺️

7/14/2020 05:05:33 pm

Wow Selva. That is a powerful testimony. It's amazing because imagine if you had treated her different. Every day is another opportunity to impact someone. And many times we have no clue if we did or not. That's awesome.

Veronica Anyango

7/15/2020 03:32:32 pm

Aww...amen 🙏!! That’s a beautiful testimony Selva. Thank you for sharing it 😀.

Nazih

7/15/2020 08:57:13 am

it best Birthday again Happy Birthday

7/15/2020 12:19:34 pm

Thanks Pastor Yacoub

Doranita

7/15/2020 09:02:21 am

I’ve always appreciated your authenticity.

I’ll always remember your encounter at our Church during your internship with a seasoned member. She had a problem with your message, and wanted to correct you. I admire how you stood firm and boldly yet respectfully supported your approach. Your message didn’t deviate from truth, she just didn’t appreciate the style.

Every message is not for everybody. Some messages land differently than others. It’s a blessing to see your continued passion for winning souls. May you continue to grow in your work and God bless all that you do!

7/15/2020 12:21:26 pm

Hey Doranita. I don't remember that particular encounter, but I'm glad I handled it well. Glad you and Andre are still working hard their in Indiana

Patricia

7/15/2020 09:42:43 am

Your birthday is special because you were born into this world to do something special. Just this week I heard someone say that if you try to appeal to everyone, you reach no one. We each want to be valued as special and unique. So when you speak to the crowd that feeling of being special is lost. Continue to speak to the one. If you concentrate on the one person who needs to hear your message you may be surprised at how God will amplify your words. That one person likely has kindred spirits who are also listening. That one person may be moved to act in a way that extends your outreach. That one person may tell others. So no need to please the crowd, because there is power and authenticity in ministering to the one who desperately needs to hear your voice.

Happy birthday! God bless you.

7/15/2020 12:25:24 pm

Thats a powerful concept... Preach to the one. I ask people who go to my preaching classes, "Who are you preaching to?" Many times the response is "Everyone". But I tell them "Yes, everyone can get something, but you have to choose who in particular in this particular sermon are you trying to reach."
The Holy Spirit has a powerful way of taking what you say and translating it for each individual specifically.

Cindy Chan

7/17/2020 07:33:04 pm

Happy Birthday Pastor Billywayne Jamel! I wish you the best during the pandemic isolation with good health condition filling with Holy Spirit. Might God bless you what you need the most! If God gives you, he gives the best gift above all. Happy Birthday again to you!

7/18/2020 05:40:38 pm

Thank you!

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​It’s my birthday! 7/14/20