Fred and Betty Evans' Website

This amazing journey we call “Life” is a privilege that our creator has given to each one of us for a purpose and design to make the world a better place.

In Jeremiah 1:5 He said “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you…..!”

In the pondering of my mind I cannot help but be in awe of the Creator!

The fact that He created us to be a blessing is central to the reason for our birth.

As I listened to this song I couldn’t help but feel we don’t have much time left to be used of the Lord in this troubled World.

He’s coming soon so what’s the point in holding back.

As I look back on my life’s journey I realise its not about me but how God created me to be used to serve Him.

I was born into a missionary family.

My precious parents Tom & Stella Evans laid the foundational seeds of how to do life.

As a child I followed their example.

They taught me to be really successful in this life I needed to follow Jesus.

Believe me when you understand that, life takes on purpose and is truly fulfilling.

As I listened to dear Sandy Payton who wrote this song and sings it with such passion, to all the children  and the generations of young people singing along, I couldn’t help but feel that’s my desire.

It seems like yesterday when I was in high school at Croydon Boys Technical High School in Adelaide.

I wondered what is life all about?

I couldn’t make sense of it then!

I got the impression that I needed to study hard and gain the qualifications to become successful.

I thought I would live forever and have fun and chase after ‘success’, whatever that means?

I had no idea the challenges of pain and rejection I would have to face in life.

Then I heard a former Prime Minister of Australia Malcolm Fraser say “Life was not meant to be easy”!

It made me think!

I knew the Bible taught that before I was born or even conceived in my mothers womb, I was created for a purpose!

Therein was my dilemma! What was my purpose?

I looked around in my world view and became obsessed with becoming a successful Missionary & Pastor or so I thought?

Success to me, was how many churches I had pioneered or established?

Success to me, equated to how many souls I had saved?

Success to me, was how many people attended “my church”?

I should have known better because it’s Jesus’ Church not mine.

It was all about me!

Then one day a prominent Board member of the church I was pastoring asked me, “Pastor what’s your Vision, what’s your Goal for this church?

I naively said “to care for the members of this church, to be a shepherd and lead them from stumbling in their journey of life”.

Simplistic I know, but that’s what made me happy!

In the dialogue that followed, he wanted me to spell out Numbers, Vision, Slogans, Cooperate Plans and Financial aspirations for church growth into the future.

He didn’t like it when I said “I’m a Shepherd not a CEO!

Im not called to build an Empire.”

At that point he looked at me with distain and terminated the conversation.

Therein friends was the cultural dilemma I was trapped in!

You see, as a boy I wanted to be an Evangelist like Billy Graham but I had not been gifted with his talent or eloquence!

It was in Bible school, the year before I went to the jungles of New Guinea as a missionary, that I heard the Lord speak to me while I rehashed again these subliminal thoughts about ‘What is Success?’

My father had written to me advising what I should do with my life.

I wasn’t too pleased!

Then in prayer the Lord spoke to me from Proverbs 1:8

It was a simple answer to my request, that lifted a huge load off my shoulders and it worked!

I had a choice, to chase after the success syndrome of the cooperate church model or to follow Jesus and do what He created me to do.

It makes it easier when you personally have a relationship with your creator and the human beings that carry your genes.

In other words a good relationship with your family can help guide the way.

Making the write choices in marriage and friends is another factor that leads you to fulfil your purpose in life.

Finally your ability to serve others rather than yourself, is defining!

In conclusion, I have observed in over 65 years of ministry, its what you have done in obedience to the way God created you is what really matters.

It doesn’t matter what others say or think.

Worldly success and following the systems of this world will never satisfy.

As the chorus of the video above says:

“To be used of the Lord is my hearts desire

To be used of the Lord and filled with His power

Though I dont have much to bring

I offer everything

To be used, to be used of the Lord.”

 

Let Him Use You!

He has already given you the gifts to Use.