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894 souls and how many assists?

Trever Godard

Wayne Gretzky was honoured for 20 years of pro hockey, 894 goals and almost 2,000 assists in about 1,600 games. Awesome accomplishments, possibly never to be outdone. I was moved by his excellence and passion for the game as I watched his retirement ceremony on TV. He set a new standard.

My mind went back 27 years to a bantam hockey tournament in Saskatoon. I was playing (bench warming, actually) with a team from Wadena, Sask. To improve our chances, we had picked up two excellent players from our league, Barry Melrose and Bernie Federko. Both of them went on to NHL careers. There was never any doubt that my career wouldn’t be the same as theirs. But what would it be?

I can hardly believe that my wife Joan and I have been missionaries for almost 15 years now. Although we have enjoyed it and have been richly blessed, at times we’ve wondered if it is really worth the effort, the loneliness, the risks, the misunderstandings due to cultural differences, the frustrations, etc.

Then my mind skips ahead to round table talk in heaven. I have this distinct feeling we won’t be talking about Mark McGwire’s 70 home runs, nor ESPN’s 50 greatest athletes of the 20th century, nor CNN’s quest for the most influential person during this past millennium – nor Gretzky’s 894 goals.

My guess is that we will be talking about the person who won 894 souls and assisted many others towards the Kingdom. I would rather be honoured in that hall of fame than any earthly one that will soon be forgotten.

It is one thing to wish that. It is another to be actually doing something about it, right now. We need to ask ourselves if we are making an earthly impression or a heavenly investment with every day that we live. That is the difference between goals and souls.

Jesus invested everything He had into people. He wasn’t after accomplishments, records or fame, only people. The neat thing about this is that it doesn’t matter if one is a missionary, a pastor, a teacher or a carpenter. We can all invest our time and energy into people.

I want to influence people towards Jesus. My desire is to work for souls, not goals. Will I go after it with the same excellence and passion that Gretzky had? By God’s grace, yes!

And you?

Trever Godard is a missionary with MBMS International in Bogotá, Colombia.

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Last modified May 23, 2001.

© 2001 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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