Have you ever been in a situation where you felt underqualified and/or overwhelmed?  Probably so, I know I surely have on many occasions.  For example, when I resigned my engineering job at Hyster in Portland, Oregon to return to Montana and work with Rocky Mountain Bible Mission as an understudy of my father-in-law, Pastor Clarence Kutz, who had joined the mission when he retired from his pastorate at Faith Bible Church in Libby, Montana. When I walked out the door of Hyster, we suddenly had no income. We had to raise support, but at that moment we had none. I’m supposed to be the provider for my family, but at that point I had to totally depend on the Lord to lay it on people’s hearts to help in our support. Once I made my commitment to resign and worked my last day, the support began coming in, but it was a very overwhelming feeling to begin a new venture for which I felt quite unprepared. 

     One of the locations we went to with Pastor Kutz to minister was just a few miles south on the Bull Lake Road near Milnor, Savage and Schoolhouse Lakes. Pastor Kutz taught the adults in the living room of a trailer house while my wife Kathy, and her mom had a children’s class in a bedroom and I had a youth group in the shop.  The group grew to where we were maxed out in the trailer and shop,  so one evening after Bible study they decided they needed to start a church. One couple donated property, a collection was taken and we began excavation for a church building. But just then Pastor Kutz found out he had a rapidly progressing type of leukemia and by the time we poured the walls for the foundation, he  had passed away.  

     Suddenly, “by default,”  I was thrust into the role of pastoring the Three Lakes Community Bible Church near Troy, Montana.  I felt totally inadequate. I had an engineering degree but had not been to Bible school. My father-in-law was a tremendous Bible teacher and left some big shoes to fill!  But I realized I didn’t have to be Pastor Kutz. I just had to be me, and let God enable me because I was inadequate in and of myself. But then, each of us is!  Even the Apostle Paul said, “By the grace of God I am what I am” (I Cor. 15:10) and “Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God” (II Cor. 3:5). 

     When we recognize our inadequacy, we need to cry out to God, as I did, saying, “God, I can’t; You can; please do!”  I appreciate the encouraging words Paul wrote to the church at Thessalonica: “Faithful is He who calls you, and He will also bring it to pass” (I Thes. 5:24).  When the Lord calls us to a task or ministry, He will equip us and, through Him we can accomplish it.  Paul also wrote “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13). 

     God richly blessed the ministry at Three Lakes and provided a fantastic family and support group. We grew together as we physically built the church facility and God brought in many new families to become part of the “team.”  God enabled us to start a Bible camp (“Camp Elohim”) and a school (“Three Lakes Christian School”).  After 13 years the school had to close due to the loss of jobs in the area and people having to move, but the camp, now run by Rocky Mountain Bible Mission, has expanded and grown into a nearly year-round ministry, impacting about 1100 lives annually.  God granted me the privilege of shepherding the Three Lakes Flock for a little more than 37 years, for which I am so grateful! “God is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us” (Eph. 3:20).  

     I am teaching a class this week (9:45-12:30 a.m. each day) at the training center here in Libby for International Messengers. I have been privileged to teach a class there for several years and it is such a blessing. The folks who come here to the “Mountainside Ministry Training” center are preparing for ministry with IM. Many of them end up going to places in Eastern Europe or Africa.  What a joy it is to be able to spend time with them and see their passion for following Jesus no matter what the cost. But again, I feel very inadequate (because I am!) for the job of teaching them. So, I pray once again: “God, I can’t; You can; please do!”  And He does!!  

      Do you feel inadequate and overwhelmed by what God has called you to do?  Good, because, just like me, you are!  But He is able! Just admit your need and trust Him. It is amazing what God can do through a willing instrument. For, it is all about Him; it is not about us!  To Him be all the glory and praise. “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen” (Ro. 11:36).  

Forever His,

Pastor Dave