“I have the profound sense that I have not been elected president because I am the smartest person in the room, or the most spiritual person in the room, the most strategic, the most gifted, the most capable, the best leader. I have not been called to lead this movement for any of those reasons—because I am none of them,” Dr. John Stumbo told The Banner yesterday.
The newly elected president of The Christian and Missionary Alliance had immersed himself in the book of Jeremiah before General Council 2013, so he was deeply aware of the Lord’s desire to equip those whom He has put His hand to for service. “There are smarter, more articulate, better-trained, more-capable people all across this assembly,” he said. “But I eagerly and humbly accept this position fully and confidently believing that I have been called to it. And it’s on the basis of a calling from God that I enter in.”
In his remarks to the assembly just before the election Thursday, John took a moment to share his insights on Jeremiah’s journey. He reminded the crowd that though the prophet originally felt inadequate, God promised to increase his capacity. Like Jeremiah, John has felt the Potter’s hand on his life.
“The call of God upon your life is no less significant than the one I received, whether you are laity or a licensed worker.”
“Our world is in great need of us to be the people God raised us up to be,” John wrote in the latest edition of All for Jesus. “We have a calling, a commission, an assignment from heaven. We’ve not yet completed it.
“With all the passion of the earliest members of the C&MA, with all the passion of the earliest members of the first century church, with all the passion available to us through the Spirit Himself, may we be determined to be godly servants of Jesus, walking in the Spirit, taking seriously our commission to be witnesses to the world and for love to mark our every attitude, word and action.”