Turning 30

Bonnidette Lantz:  "At 30, you finally start to catch up to those dreams you've been chasing for the last 10 plus years."  C.S. Lewis:  "Thirty was so strange for me.  I've really had to come to terms with the fact that I am now a walking and talking adult."  I turned 30 this past Spring.  Hitting this milestone, got me thinking about my life, ministry, and life in general.  I also reflected on how God used people in the OT, NT, Church History, and the present at the age of 30.  Rabbi Boruch Leff:  "The old cliche is true: A jack-of-all-trades is a master of none. The 20s are the training ground to become a jack-of-all-trades. The 30s is the time to focus and master those talents that can be applied in practical directions."

Old Testament:  The Bible says in Genesis 41:46:  "Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt.  And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt."  Joseph goes from being a prisoner, to the prime minister of Egypt.  Basically,  Joseph ruled over Egypt, and was 2nd in command under Pharaoh.  Now, the Bible goes out of its way to tell us his age...why?  The famous 12th century commentator Rashbam, explains that at age 30 one is "worthy of leadership."  Interestingly, the minimum age to run for U.S. Congress is also 30.  The Talmud (Pirkei Avot 5:26) declares: "At age 30, one receives strength."  God would use Joseph to save the world from seven years of famine.  Egypt was the most powerful nation in the world at the time.

The Bible records in 2 Samuel 5:4:  "David was thirty years old when be began to reign, and he reigned forty years."  King David was given the name..."a man after God's own heart."  The Messiah (Jesus) would come through his line.

Apostle Paul

New Testament:  The Scriptures document in Luke 3:23:  "Now Jesus Himself began His ministry at about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, the son of Heli."  The book of Numbers tells us that thirty years of age was the time the priests began their ministry to God's people.  Up to this point, Jesus worked as a carpenter.  His public ministry would only be three and a half years, being crucified for the sins of the world at age 33.

Some Bible commentators/scholars believe the Apostle Paul was converted at the age of 30.  You could find the details in Acts 7-9;).  He would later write a better part of the NT, plant numerous churches, and be one of the best foreign missionaries in church history. 

Church History:  Late one night in 1951 while studying for an exam, Bill Bright had a powerful vision of helping to fulfill the great commission in his lifetime by evangelizing college campuses.  He was thirty years old.  The next morning, he shared it with his professor and mentor Dr. Wilbur Smith.  Through him, the name was given...Campus Crusade for Christ.  Today, it is one of the largest interdenominational mission agencies in the world.  One of its marks on world missions is the JESUS film, which has been viewed by more than 4 billion people in more than 650 languages, with 121 million reported conversions since 1979.

On October 15, 1932, a small group of friends gathered in the Liverpool Street Station to see Gladys Aylward off to China to be a missionary.  She was thirty years of age.  By 1940, Gladys had taken responsibility for nearly one hundred children-the majority of them war orphans.  Gladys embarked on a 240-mile journey to Xi'an, the capital of the neighboring province, with her children.  The Japanese soldiers were never far behind...God brought them to safety.

Pastor Rafael Manzanares

Current Times:  A man that I am currently partnering with, is Pastor Steve Snook.  He planted Metro Calvary Chapel in Santa Monica, about 23 years ago when he was thirty years of age.  His vision, is that churches are planted from the coast all the way to Hollywood.

My friend, mentor, and Pastor Rafael Manzanares, began his current work about 10 years ago at the age of 30.  He took over the leadership of Santa Ponsa Community Church in Mallorca, Spain.  He is also the director of Mallorca Bible School, which began in the Spring of 2005.  Presently, he and the leadership are endeavoring to plant a church in Palma.  This is the capital city of all of Spain's islands.  Mallorca is the largest island, with a population of 1 million people...half of them are in the city!

David Brainerd

In conclusion,  I realize more and more the brevity of life.  Whatever your age may be, don't let it paralyze you from taking steps of faith in obedience to Christ.  Earlier this year, two brothers in the Lord went home to heaven.  One was only 32 years old, and died of a cancerous brain tumor.  He was a lead pastor, husband, and father.  The other was the same, but died of a massive heart attack at the age of 36.  Some in Church History, have died just short of 30.  David Brainerd, a missionary to the Delaware Indians in New Jersey, died from tuberculosis at the age of 29.  Robert Murray McCheyne, a Scottish pastor and poet, died during an epidemic of typhus at the age of 29.

C.S. Lewis writes:  "If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were precisely those who thought most of the next.  It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this."  My fellow Christians, be great for His glory this year and beyond!!

By His Grace,
Eric