welcome to Piece Of The Puzzle, an interview series with some folks who serve the Lord in various ministries and various places around the world.

 

- WHO – Brandon Benziger

- WHO’S THAT? – i first met brandon my senior year at fresno pacific university. that year i worked as a R.A. in a freshman dorm…the very dorm that brandon was going to live in for the 2004-2005 school year. during that year, i had the privilege of spending a large amount of time with 20 or so young men who were just starting their college careers and just starting to become full-fledged adults.

i am glad i got to know brandon a little bit, because he is a very genuine man of God who represents his Lord in an excellent and humble way.

- THE QUESTIONS -

Jesus Is Extravagant: what ministry are you currently working in?

Brandon Benziger: I am currently involved in two ministries. I have been (and am currently) involved with leading corporate worship for the congregation at my home church—Community Baptist Church of Waterford, CA. Although I am not a full time worship leader, I help lead the worship team and congregation every once in a while. Basically, I am a reserve for the head worship team leader, Michael. I fill in for him whenever he is out of town.

The second ministry in which I am involved is assisting the residents with whom I am entrusted. As a R.A., I am responsible for fostering a friendly and warm environment where love, respect, and trust are central components. I help lead Bible studies, module (informational and socially integrative) meetings, and I plan events/activities for a module of 20 college-aged dudes.

JIE: why bother?

Mr. B: My understanding of life requires action on my part. As a Christian—a follower of Jesus—I have received a (general) call to advance the gospel and the kingdom of God. Although this may happen in a variety of ways, I have taken up God’s specific calls for my life in the present time by leading as a part-time worship leader and a full-time R.A.

JIE: when did you first realize you wanted to serve God in this way?

Mr. B: I first realized I wanted to serve as a worship team leader when I learned the value and importance of communal worship. I knew I was capable of helping lead worship since I play guitar and sing and have some leadership skills.

After having two really awesome R.A.s my freshman and sophomore years at Fresno Pacific, I knew I wanted to positively impact others just as my R.A.s have impacted me in the past. I guess I first realized I wanted to serve as R.A. when I found out that there is no higher occupational calling while on-campus at Fresno Pacific. Leading others to Christ and developing rich and firm relationships that foster spiritual growth is one of the highest calls which God offers us. So, I believe I am doing just that as a R.A.

JIE: do you have a key ‘philosophy’ for your ministry…do you have an over-arching goal?

Mr. B: The overarching goal for my service in leading worship is that my leading will not hinder one’s worship but will effectively develop it.

The overarching goal for my service as R.A. is that each resident will experience spiritual growth that honors our Lord. I strive to be authentic and social with my residents so that both conversation and life style spark an interest and will for life change.

JIE: do you have any short term goals you are working toward right now?

Mr. B: I do think positively of formal goal setting; however, I have learned the importance of letting God be in charge of my life. This has come about because I tend to expect too much from myself, which hinders what I’m doing in the present. If I lean on my own expectations and goals, I tend to find myself dissatisfied and a failure. (This does not particularly mean that I will never have goals; I am just in a stage of life in which goals do not carry weight. My reasons are more personally subjective than coherently logical.)

JIE: what is the biggest difficulty for your particular ministry?

Mr. B: Focusing on my R.A. ministry, I find that the most difficult aspect is finding the will, energy, and time to spend equal effort at developing relationships with all of my guys.

Another, perhaps equal, difficulty is getting my residents to catch on to the vision of life change. I find that spiritual formation is something that is just not popular among college-aged guys. My hope is that guys are encouraged and inspired to become more Christ-like because of my example and provision within the module (these, of course, are provisions from God).

JIE: how has your vision for your ministry changed in the last year?

Mr. B: My vision has changed a bit over the past year in that I have found that one cannot force life change in another person. Life change is ultimately a decision on my resident’s part, so as a R.A. it is my hope that I provide all that is necessary to ignite this change. It is God who will be doing the changing and not me. I simple help lead to that point; it’s part of being a vessel or ambassador of God.

JIE: what would you like to see God do through your service in 2008?

Mr. B: I would like to see more guys show up to Bible studies. In doing so, I pray that we as a group continually grow more fond of the Scriptures as we seek to live lives worthy of the gospel of Jesus.

JIE: do you have any key Bible verses or passages that you feel fuel your ministry?

Mr. B: This year I have chosen, along with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, a verse that helps us cope with each other as sinners who live together 24/7. It is Philippians 3:12-16.

Paul speaks of his own experience to Christians specifically located in Philippi:

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” : Philippians 3:12-16 :

Immediately after writing this, Paul exhorted Christians to “take such a view of things” (v. 15). This passage is especially helpful in our context because it implicitly establishes the rule of grace in all of living. As we observe the frailties and sin present in each other, we must come back to the idea behind this verse: that is, the grace that Jesus established which is central to the gospel. It is not, like Paul, that we have obtained perfection, but that we strive toward obtaining it, being fully aware that we will not obtain perfection in our life time. Of course, the goal of obtaining perfection is not so that we may be glorified; rather, the goal is to glorify our Lord. This constant striving for holy and pure living is the fuel for my ministry.

JIE: how do you prepare for your day-to-day service?

Mr. B: I have been trying to establish consistent prayer within my life that will help focus my mind on how God might minister to me and how he might minister to others through me. Since the R.A. role is uniquely ambiguous and flexible, I strive to maintain a healthy, positive attitude that will allow me to adjust to living and enjoying the present time.

For example, one of my residents came to me the other day and wanted to play chess with me. Although I did not personally desire to play, my positive attitude allowed for me to adjust from what I was doing to playing chess with my resident. In doing so, our relationship is now a bit closer. It is the actual seizing of these small opportunities that allow for greater relationships between my residents and I. Plus, there exists a greater possibility for enriching the gospel in our lives as our friendship grows (although I hope that my residents desire life change, I also hope that I am changed too because of the examples of my residents).

JIE: if someone wanted to get involved in a ministry like yours, how could they start?

Mr. B: They’d have to attend a college or university that has on-campus residency. Apart from the application process, I’d suggest that they pray both for the position and for the right heart. A lot of the time, people become R.A.s because they want to exercise authority or be cool (like the other R.A.s are cool). From a Biblical perspective, these are not legitimate reasons. We need to constantly refine our hearts so that personal fame and authority are not natural desires. I’d suggest that if one’s heart is to truly serve others, servant leadership as a R.A. is a great way of doing just that.

thanks brandon for sharing with us what God is doing through your life, and, thanks for being a faithful piece of the puzzle.

blessings

 

 

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in general, ministry | February 11th, 2008