Advent and Kingdom-Based Risk

When we consider the Christmas story from a risk perspective, we see the unlikely choice of a teen girl and her fiance, Joseph, to protect the developing unborn Jesus. God utilized various risk mitigation strategies throughout the early years of Jesus' life. His heavenly Father mitigated risk by sending the young family to a foreign country, and then to a "safer" area when He led them to return.

The Christmas story is filled with risk assessment and mitigation, including the Magi who risked their lives to journey across the Levant to find a baby king who was a threat to the current superpowers. God spoke in numerous ways - angels, dreams, a quiet voice, and this took discernment for the recipients to recognize His voice and leading.

A robust theology of risk requires 3 key elements: A sovereign God as our foundation, divine selection of who He chooses for risk, and risk as worship. We see all 3 in the Christmas story. What risks does He ask us to take today for His sake?

November and December found us teaching a practical theology of risk to Christ-followers in Egypt and globally via Zoom. Those taking the training included church planters, doctors, evangelists, mental health clinicians, organizational leaders, member care providers, and more. Once again, we found the RAM Material crosses cultures well - Egyptian brothers and sisters greatly appreciated the training. Here are some of the recent comments:

I know how to deal with problems by myself and with my team. These plans are very helpful and useful for me.

I found having an actual framework to use was useful (never had one previously).

As a worker in a difficult and high risk area of the world, the RAM workshop provided me and our organization with not only helpful information (theory) but essential tools which are highly practical and applicable to our situation.

Thank you for this comprehensive training. It has equipped me greatly to give me a working framework for risk events and areas that I need to address to mitigate possible future events. Honestly, it was life changing. Thank you so much.

The workshop has given me the foundation to help our organization develop a more robust theology of risk. I have additional tools to help our personnel develop their own risk assessment and mitigation documents.

Now, more then ever before, global workers feel the need to develop a solid theological basis for risk and tools to know how to act strategically. When God's people are equipped, they are empowered; when they are empowered, they can persevere with joy much more easily and thus, God's kingdom of Love is advanced and people are saved for eternity.