ST. LOUIS – Blackaby heritage was on display during the ministry team’s recent worship session here on “Experiencing God through the Generations.”
Richard Blackaby, president of Blackaby Ministries International, outlined the evening session.
“We are going to provide three snapshots,” he said, “on different stages of life. We want to encourage you to stay true and realize there are no shortcuts to a walk with God.”
Richard introduced his daughter, Carrie Blackaby, a student at Converse College, Spartanburg, S.C., who is also taking classes at the Atlanta Extension Center of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Carrie Blackaby shared a watershed moment centered on a bungee jump that she made in New Zealand.
“I learned three life lessons from that jump,” Carrie said. “First, some things must be done without help,” she said. “I come from a great heritage, but my relationship
with God is my own.”
Taking the final step off the side of the mountain couldn’t be made by others was her second lesson.
“Many others think my heritage makes the journey easier,” she said, “but, no one could push me off the platform, I had to make the decision to take the step.”
The words of the New Zealand hostess were another lesson, Carrie said.
“She told me in her most charming New Zealand accent, ‘The longer you stay on the platform,’ she said, ‘the harder it is to take that final step.’ I was one step away. All the preparation wouldn’t matter if I didn’t take that last step.”
Henry Blackaby, family patriarch and author of Experiencing God, talked about the communication of God with Abraham.
“God took the initiative,” he said. “The God of the Universe spoke, and in Genesis 12, we see the impact it had on Abraham’s life. The same God has the capacity to work through you. He can do anything if we respond.”
“We want God to come in,” Henry said, “but we don’t really expect him because we don’t tremble. Jeremiah and Isaiah knew God and trembled.”
Richard Blackaby, who serves as president of Blackaby Ministries International, shared his testimony of going into ministry.
“My friend needed help when we were in college,” he said, “but, I couldn’t help him. I had to get my Dad to help him and I didn’t want to feel that powerless again.”
He read Exodus 3 and looked at Moses turning aside to see the burning bush.
“When Moses turned aside, God spoke to him,” Richard said. “These turning aside moments are life changing. God spoke to Moses in the burning bush and identified Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. That’s generations; our God is the same God of all three.”
“God is ready to work in your life too,” Richard said. “You know what God wants you to do, so why stand one step away from obedience? Serve Him and bless others.”
Blackaby Ministries International was established to respond to increasing opportunities for the Blackaby family to share the unique ministry and message God has given them globally.
Henry and Marilynn Blackaby served in churches in California before serving 18 years in Canada where they saw many new churches begun. They raised their five children in Canada. At that time God taught them the truths concerning walking with God that would eventually become the basis for the bestselling book, Experiencing God.