Pursuing God's Call (Urbana Onward) - Softcover

Lin, Tom

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0830834591 ISBN 13: 9780830834594

Publisher: IVP, 2012

Synopsis

What happens when God calls you to follow him? Where might Jesus take you? What might it cost? And what kind of surprising blessings could it bring you and the world around you?Through sharing his own personal story, Urbana director Tom Lin shows how pursuing God?s call can take us in unexpected directions. As a success-driven Harvard student, Tom figured he was headed for a lucrative career in corporate business. But then God called him to a life he never expected. Despite painful resistance from his family, he followed Jesus, eventually going halfway around the world to pioneer Christian campus ministry in the virtually unreached nation of Mongolia. Along the way he saw how God had been guiding his journey all along.Our challenge today is that we too easily settle for less than God intends for us. We prefer comfort and avoid risks. But we live in an era of unprecedented opportunities for God's global mission. If we are willing to embrace a life of adventure, we too can discover the radical ways God can use us to bless the nations. So step up and answer the call. And God will surprise you beyond all imagination.

About this title

Review

"Tom Lin offers both comfort and challenge as he guides us in hearing God's call on our lives--especially in contrast to all the other calls emanating from our culture, our assumptions and our sense of entitlement. If you want help in discerning God's desired future for you, this is it."--Paul Borthwick, author of Western Christians in Global Mission and How to be a World-Class Christian

"Tom's willingness to be transparent helps us wrestle with our own circumstances and feelings that hinder us from joining God's mission. He effectively takes us through the process of evaluating our lives, letting go of selfish ambitions and embracing God's kingdom work of blessing the nations."--Bob Creson, president, Wycliffe Bible Translators USA

"Tom's wonderful testimony and challenge remind me of the words of missionary C. T. Studd, who wrote, 'I'm not afraid of failure; I'm afraid of succeeding at things that don't matter.' Studd graduated from Cambridge University, and within a few years was serving in China to work alongside Hudson Taylor. Young people making sacrifices for kingdom purposes have been a part of God's glorious work throughout history. To some they have seemed tragic. To others their actions are like the worshipful pouring of ridiculously expensive perfume upon the feet of Jesus. Tom has both modeled in life and commended such worship in this worthy booklet. I heartily recommend it."--Dr. Michael Oh, president, CBI Japan, speaker, Urbana 2009, attendee, Urbana 1990

"There's nothing like hearing God's call to service. But responding to that call? That's when things get tricky and difficult and exciting and beautiful. In Pursuing God's Call Tom Lin has done us all a favor. Tom's honesty and insight come from the real-life trenches of life and will undoubtedly help many of us answer our own call with humility, courage and joy."--Don Everts, author of Jesus with Dirty Feet and Go and Do: Becoming a Missional Christian

About the Author

Lin has pioneered new Asian American Christian Fellowships at Harvard and Boston University, and served as an IVCF staff trainer, fund development specialist, and missions department consultant. He has leadership experience with a number of Christian ministries, serving the Lausanne Movement as the international deputy director for North America, and serving as a board member for Missio Nexus and The Crowell Trust. He has also served as vice chairperson for the board of Wycliffe Bible Translators. A second-generation Taiwanese American, Lin has developed networks in Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Brunei. He has also served as a human resources director of a Fortune 500 company and was leadership pastor at Wellspring Covenant Community Church. He and his wife Nancy live in Madison, Wisconsin, with their two daughters.

Edition details

• Publisher: IVP
• Publication date: 2012
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0830834591
• ISBN 13: 9780830834594
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 28