God's Footprints in Personal Life, Family Life, and Ministry: When God Shapes, Molds, and Equips Us For Ministry

By Gide DA(c)mosthA"ne

Following God's footsteps and the mystery of God's will in Christian life and walk can be a daunting task. Multitudes of voices, life choices, and sociocultural options and challenges make it hard for one to perceive and understand clearly when God is truly speaking and what does His message entails. Thus, like Abraham, it may require an absolute departure from the habitual way of life to a far-out city, country, or region where God can start with us anew. Also, we must be willing to surrender our will to God's will and follow in His footstep wherever He may lead in daily life. Now that requires self-sacrifice and applied humility--a practical death to self.

At times it's about listening to God's voice through a moral, spiritual, or ministerial decision. Other times it's just about family life crises, or it can be regarding political or social issues. God's will happens when we commit to listen to His word and apply it to practical life effortlessly for His sake. This author lived through it all and acknowledges that God's will is about following in His footsteps in every area of life--however mysterious or difficult it may appear. God's purpose for our lives' journey is already set in heaven--surrendering to His purpose will lead to a very content, satisfying, and joyful life regardless the challenges we experience throughout our lifetime. This autobiography will challenge you to begin exploring God's footsteps in different facets of your own life and intentionally pursue His mysterious plan.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Feb 12, 2024
• ISBN: 9798885406369

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God's Footprints in Personal Life, Family Life, and Ministry

When God Shapes, Molds, and Equips Us For Ministry

Gide DA(c)mosthA"ne

ISBN 979-8-88540-635-2 (paperback)

ISBN 979-8-88540-636-9 (digital)

Copyright © 2023 by Gide Démosthène

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Discovering God's Footprints in Personal Life

1

The Leading Hand of the Lord God of Heaven and Earth

2

A Humble Beginning and a Humble Journey with a Glorious God

3

My Life Journey in the United States

4

Season of Loss, Threat, and Redemption

5

New Opportunities

Notes

Discovering God's Footprints in Family Life

6

Baptized at the Altar

7

Preaching the Word and Gaining a New Family

8

Building Up My Own Family

9

209A Court Order and Family Impact

10

Finding New and Meaningful Relationships

11

Families at War and Wholesale Injustice System

12

Standing for Justice

13

God's Manifold Victories for His Own

14

Justice by God's Book—Part 1

15

Justice by God's Book—Part 2

Bibliography

Discovering God's Footprints in Ministry

16

A Thirsting After God

17

My Parents' Impartation of True Life and Hope

18

Ministering through Personal Life

19

Ministering through Family Life

20

Ministering through Community Life

21

Ministering through the Church—Toward Oneness with God

Notes

Epilogue

Afterword

Appendix

Bibliography

About the Author

Gide Démosthène

An Autobiography

Herein a fascinating story of redemption and triumph against overwhelming odds and family crises. Overcoming shame, inner-circle enemies, personal attacks, and a legal system bent on penalizing him. He rose to victory radiantly robed with the dignity of his conquering faith. This opus is a must-read letter of a man of God who followed God's purpose for His glory.

Rev. Dr. Frantzy Delphonse

Anointed Baptist Church, Boston, MA

******

Dignity, decency, and, most importantly, faith. Gide upholds and practices those principles across the spectrum of life—and in our friendship. Maintaining assuredly that we are our brother's keeper. Caring for those in need. Those values, to me, define his faith journey.

Anthony Cohen

President and CEO of Boston Military Outreach

The Working but Unseen Hand of God

This book is dedicated to my parents who are my primary mentors and my best friends who, irrespective of formidable challenges, modeled faithfulness in walking with God, in caring for family, and in serving the Church of Jesus Christ. Thank you, Mom and Dad!

And Dad, thank you for the long mentoring chats and for believing in me!

I am forever grateful! I look forward to savoring God's eternal presence with you.

Mom, you are the shining star of my darkest nights. Your prayers sustained me.

No greater gift have you given me than your virtuous life of devotion to God. Thank you!

To the very special people who share my journey and daily crown my life with joy:

My blessed wife, cheerleader, and ordained companion: Andrelyn

And my beloved children: Priscille, Kenneth, Hallenah, and Abigail. I love you!

To my second family—the former First Baptist Church of Brockton, Redeeming Grace Christian Fellowship, Global Reach Evangelical Missionary Church—your love and support are amazing gifts that have a lifetime impact in my life. Thank you!

To my brothers and sisters and members of my immediate family, my extended families, the army of friends, ministerial and professional colleagues from ABCUSA/TABCOM, Gordon-Conwell, and RGEM International, whose support, understanding, and prayers were incredibly indispensable through the years, I am forever grateful for everything, and I thank you!

To the Lord God Almighty, my Keeper and Deliverer, the Lord of hosts, the marvelously holy God of glory and of my salvation who redeems my life, directed my steps with peace, and guided me with love, gentleness, faithfulness, mercy, and grace; and who gives me superabundant victory to pursue His purpose for me. My eternal praise, worship, and thankfulness are yours forever and ever.

Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David, according to my gospel, for which I suffer hardship even to imprisonment as a criminal; but the word of God is not imprisoned. For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory. It is a trustworthy statement: For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him; If we endure, we shall also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He also will deny us; If we are faithless, He remains faithful; for He cannot deny Himself.

—2 Timothy 2:8–13

For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

—Philippians 2:13

And there are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons.

—1 Corinthians 12:6

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.

—1 Corinthians 15:10

Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

—Hebrews 13:20–21

Discovering God's Footprints: In Personal Life, Family Life, and Ministry

Soli Deo Gloria

Acknowledgments

Accepting the charge to write and publish this book was quite difficult, yet I could never escape this direct assignment from the Lord to give the testimony of His redeeming love in my life, to the praise of His name and glory. Certainly, telling the gist of a story that proves relevant to readers is a daunting endeavor. I was not born in a family of writers. Indeed, my full name betrays me! Gide is recognized as one of the best French authors of the twentieth century for his works—L'immoraliste, L'Annonce Faîte à Marie, Les Faux Monayeurs, La Porte Etroite, and La Symphonie Pastorale, among others—and has won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1947. Démosthène is the French counterpart of Demosthenes, the Greek Statesman and Orator who is well-known for his scholarly proficiency. What a standard to live by! What an intellectual load I must carry every time I open my mouth to tell, in the words of Paul in Colossians 2:2–3, about God's mystery, that is, Christ Himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. But praise be to God, that He has given us a model on how to approach His work: Not in our own knowledge and wisdom but as it was taught to the Corinthians by the great apostle in 1 Corinthians 2:2–5:

For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. And my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.

What a relief! Moreover, that bondservant of God further explains later in chapter thirteen that prophecy will be done away; tongues will cease; and knowledge will be done away. That absolutely works for me! For it is only by the grace of God Almighty I have attained to the level of education I am blessed with. I have nothing to boast about except that which the Spirit of God empowers me to tell of: God's own mighty works. I believe that I mostly identify with the biblical character Gideon in Judges 6:15: the least. Accordingly, my attempt here in writing this book is to tell of the splendor of the Lord God of my life and salvation, and point to His footsteps in every detail of my existence—and not to display any sophistic comprehension according to the world's standard (see 1 Corinthians 1:20–25).

Therefore, in this sacred space, I wish to acknowledge the servants of the living God who have modeled the humility of Christ in all positions of leadership in ministry. A friend and mentor that I am indebted to is the Rev. Dr. Soliny Védrine who introduced me to Gordon-Conwell, Boston, in 1984. Dr. Alvin Padilla was a major influence in my life as academic dean when I became campus registrar in 2004. Dr. Eldin Villafañe too, founding director of CUME, became a great friend and mentor. Dr. David Currie remains a great encourager in my journey. Dr. Jim Critchlow is a dear friend and colleague who came alongside me in my hours of need. Dr. Sean McDonough was intensely a true model of Christian virtue and spirituality. Dr. Doug Hall and his wife Judy, from the Emmanuel Gospel Center, are particularly true servant leaders in the spirit of Christ. John Runyon who preceded me as campus registrar was instrumental in my professional journey at the seminary. Drs. William David and Aida Spencer have helped built my confidence through their enlightening teaching methods in Christian thought and biblical studies, and especially through their friendship. Dr. Seong H. Park, with whom I served, is an inspirational servant leader whose heart points always toward God's Spirit of love. Dr. Virginia Ward is acknowledged for her dynamic friendship. Those I have not named directly as former faculty and staff and students or ministerial colleagues will recognize the empowering role they have played in my life through the years. And best of all, the Lord God has the true record!

No one attains to any position of leadership outside of the will of God, and undoubtedly without the people He places in strategic places to execute His purpose. At the First Baptist Church of Brockton, in 2006, I was approached first by Terry DeArruda who welcomed me there when I wanted to pause in my ministerial journey. Others, like the late Rev. Rosemary Peters and Rev. Marnette Saz, have been instrumental in the fulfillment of God's calling in my life. Georgia Allen is a witness to God's work in and through us. Pastor and colleague Melanie Towle is a true spiritual sister who loves God passionately and has shown me God's tender loving heart for all people.

Administrative colleagues that are not named in this section; at Redeeming Grace Evangelistic Ministries International (RGEMI) are greatly esteemed for their tireless contributions in the development of our organization. To our board members for RGEMI who serve with selfless dedication, I express my deepest thanks. Above all, there is an invisible army of family, friends, and colleagues whom I treasure and value during my life's journey—and I am grateful to all of you for your consistent prayers, friendship, and support of my life and vision for ministry. Thank you!

Lastly, I am grateful for the people at Christian Faith Publishing who have reviewed the manuscript and believe in its timely contribution for ministry in the Church and society. My expressed appreciations to the production team who ensures that God's Footprints in Personal Life, Family Life, and Ministry is now with you, the reader.

Introduction

The mystery of life baffles humanity. From the first generation of people who lived on planet earth to ours, we are kept in suspense about life's origin, developments, and events—from birth to death and to eternity future. Who am I? What is my purpose? And what is my destiny? Those are questions every boy and girl, every man and woman has asked themselves at least once in their journey of life. All of life is a profound mystery! And yes, God purposed for His work in us, His offspring, to be a mystery outside of Himself. This thought is made very clear, in ages past, by the prophet Daniel who declared to the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar explicitly: There is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries (Daniel 2:28). The book of Proverbs, 25:2, reinforces this truth. It reads in the NJB version: To conceal a matter, this is the glory of God, to sift it thoroughly, the glory of kings. Thus, throughout the distant past ages, kings of the earth have been given the noble task to sift through the mystery of life, family, and human's purpose on earth by exerting reason objectively. But not so fast! The word mystery itself denotes an unknown or hidden aspect of a thing or things that belong to the One who wishes to keep that knowledge perpetually an enigma to others who ought not to speak of the unknown until revealed. Biblical character Samson whose riddle challenged the Philistines is a great example. He shuts their mouth by his riddle! This much has been ascertained from the word mystery in classical Greek by biblical scholars H. R. Balz and G. Schneider in their Exegetical Dictionary of the New Testament. They wrote,

Μυστήρια (in classical Greek used primarily in the pl.) is composed of the suffix -τηρια, denoting the place where an action occurs, plus the onomatopoeic verbal root μυ-, make an inarticulate sound with closed lips; keep one's mouth shut. (Sic)

Such is the honorable challenge we have in the natural to open our mouths only on matters that have been revealed to us—and to abstain from speaking loosely on matters that do not belong to us. Discovering a mystery may never reveal its deepest secrets or truths, for whatever it is that we uncover will only be a part and never its fullness thereof on this side of eternity. Sacred writer, Paul the apostle, puts it plainly to his readers: For we know in Part, he explained this in 1 Corinthians 13:9. Contextually, contemporary scientific researches, explorations, and interplanetary adventures are executed to tell us more about ourselves, our human existence, our planetary systems, and what hope the future might hold for us, if any. And through academic studies in anthropology, sociology, and psychology, we endeavor to research all facets of life so to apply our newfound knowledge to the betterment of life for all humanity. Yet with all our human efforts and achievements, the mystery persists and leaves us breathless for a final answer. For we know, in our own heart, it has not yet come to our full possession. Bible commentator, R. B. Hughes, expounding on the following text from Ecclesiastes 3:11, which reads, He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end, continues:

There is beauty, yet mystery, to God's design. God gives people an eternal perspective (planted eternity in the human heart) to see beyond the futility of this life under the sun. Yet he has not revealed all of life's mysteries. (Sic)

The mystery is that the philosophical answers we humans are searching for about life are not to be learnt by sheer observation and study alone—because they are not answers in the abstract, rather they are a person—the person of God. Long ago, God declared through Isaiah the prophet: Before Me there was no God formed, and there will be none after Me (Isaiah 43:10). Therefore, life begins and ends in God! But how is one to know God Himself and be assured of the work of His hand in all of life? This is God's business and not ours! He alone is Sovereign, said Paul in 1 Timothy 6:15. Living according to His revealed purpose and will is our business! Well-known biblical King Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, searched for the same answer and found that God and His ways are inscrutable, and wrote in Ecclesiastes 8:16–17 for our learning:

When I gave my heart to know wisdom and to see the task which has been done on the earth (even though one should never sleep day or night), and I saw every work of God, I concluded that man cannot discover the work which has been done under the sun. Even though man should seek laboriously, he will not discover; and though the wise man should say, I know, he cannot discover.

And I add a loud amen to that! This is where we come in full agreement with Socrates, the Greek philosopher who exclaimed the well-known maxim, As for me, all I know is that I know nothing. Agreed! The complexity of life in the whole universe before us speaks boldly of this astute human ignorance that compels us to realize this truth and to humbly look to its ever-present source.

First, seek to discover God, and then the discovery of God's footprints and work in personal life, family, and ministry, or whatever calling one may be assigned in life will make perfect sense. This is what this author found out for himself and wish to share in the following pages. This book delves into very intimate details of the author's life, family life, and ministry experiences that lead to unmistakable encounters with the living God of his life. The journey of life is never meant to be lived on our own personal knowledge, strength, wisdom, power, accomplishments, social positions, religion, wealth, political or denominational affiliation, fame, and glory. We are entirely destined for God's glory, and until God is glorified in our lives, life remains a deep mystery. At whatever the cost—even to the ultimate sacrifice—God is to be glorified in our lives. And when we begin to see life through God's own existence and purpose—personal life, family, and ministry will make perfect sense—and it will be one magnificent exclamation of the grandeur of the ever-present, actively working and abiding God who longs for us to discover His good and perfect will and purpose in us.

Planted inside this author's heart and mind was an intense desire to live personal life, family life, and ministerial life in a way that supremely exalt the Lord God of the universe at all costs. He desired to worship God, serve Him with reverent fear, venerate His sovereign authority and His Word, and do God's will—whether by life or by death, yet God's will appeared to be very elusive. The more he desired his personal life to bring glory to God, the more painful his experiences in life become. The more he loved his family, the greatest the dangers to keep his family together have magnified. The more earnestly he desired to love and serve God and His church with biblical honesty, integrity, truth, transparency, personal dedication, diligence, and consecration, the more intense spiritual warfare became and appeared to create entanglements, dangers, attacks, discomforts, ambivalence, and at last restlessness. If ever he was to discover God's footprints leading to God's utmost purpose for his life, family, and ministry, then all those apparent predicaments can be solved and the mystery would be over. But not so fast! The mystery is the most exciting part of the journey, however difficult it may seem—however painful. In fact, it is through this deep mystery, the unseen hand of Almighty God becomes visible. No longer will this author ever look to discover God's mystery in life anymore; rather, he wants to do what King Solomon reveals from the book of Proverbs: sift it thoroughly. As you join him in his journey through the next pages, perhaps you too will discover God's footprints in your personal life, family life, and ministry and learn to enjoy and even appreciate the mystery of your own life's journey. May it be so to God's highest praise and glory!

Gide Démosthène, MDiv, DMin

Brockton, Massachusetts

Discovering God's Footprints in Personal Life

1

The Leading Hand of the Lord God of Heaven and Earth

Thy footprints may not be known.

—Psalm 77:20

An Unexpected Answer to Prayer

Friday, May 25, 2018, brought new meaning to my life, family, and ministry that will impact the rest of my pastoral career and change the way ministry is understood and conducted forever. That morning I traveled to work at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Boston and planned to return home in late afternoon, as usual, to spend the rest of the evening with our church families at our regular weekly Bible study at 7:00 p.m. Summer hours at Gordon-Conwell allowed for employees to leave early on Fridays; therefore, by 3:00 p.m. the building was closed, and I was on my way home. It was a perfectly warm Friday afternoon, the weather was clear, and a light spring breeze was blowing in the air which I felt would be enjoyed greatly by our family in our backyard, especially our two young daughters. Those thoughts were in my mind as I drove away in the direction of Blue Hills Parkway, Houghton's Pond, and Route 24 South, and eagerly looked forward to being at home by the next hour.

Seven days earlier, the Lord had shifted my attention to conduct specific prayers of self-dedication for our ongoing church plant ministry in Brockton, Massachusetts, at the site of the First Baptist Church of Brockton on Forest Avenue. I was led in the spirit to surrender the rest of my life to my Lord to be used as He sees fit, I wrote in my journal. The Lord showed me that He has gifted me with ministerial skills to be applied and developed in the church plant ministry at Redeeming Grace Christian Fellowship, as well as at our projected Theological Institute for Ministerial Education (TIME). It is understood that God may have other plans, and I wish to follow Him in perfect submission to His will for His glory, I continued to write in my journal. Such personal dedication to do ministry does not happen haphazardly, the Holy Spirit confirms to me in my heart—and that intensive unceasing prayer is a prerequisite and co-requisite for this form of spiritual undertaking. I felt being led into a whole new spiritual dimension of seeing the hand of God at work in my life. Therefore, I concluded my notes on May 18, with this entry in my journal with this prayer:

Lord, I praise you that you have not allowed any work dependent upon human flesh and personal accomplishments to be successful—but that all should look to You in weakness and failure and acknowledge that only Your work prevails and remain firm forever. Thank you, Lord, for my failures and weaknesses. May You increase and may I decrease until the day I come home to You according to Your purpose for my life. Amen!

This prayer was somewhat similar to another prayer I made early in the year 2000, when I was about to return to seminary training. It was revealed to me then that a life surrendered in service unto the Lord cannot be self-promoted, guided, and sustained. That the life of a bondservant must be given in irretrievably absolute abandonment to God to be used according to His will. The flesh's plans and will must die for the spirit to live on and carry out God's call. That experience too led me to an action which I found out later in Oswald Chambers' devotional for January 15, in My Utmost for His Highest that is dubbed white funeral. This is a voluntary self-surrender into virtual death with a unique desire to rise and live only for God alone. I made a makeshift tombstone and laid before it as dead, and prayed to God in my heart to allow me to rise and live for Him alone. I arose that day as dead to the world but alive in Christ. A sense of absolute awe filled my being, and I determined that God alone will be glorified in everything I do. I knew with absolute certainty that all my life belonged to God.

Eight days earlier, Friday May 18, 2018, it was the memorial service of a very dear mentor and spiritual father, the late Rev. Dr. Verdieu L. LaRoche. For about twenty years, the Lord placed me under his leadership at the First Haitian Baptist Church. Later, I worked close to him to be mentored and to assist him in ministry. And the Lord helped me to accomplish this without fail, until our separation in the year 2002. During the memorial service, I realized that the departed servant of the Lord had many positive accomplishments in his life—and that he had many other opportunities to achieve greater things in the Lord's name. It was then I determined that I do not want to be at a place in the end of my life to have any regrets on ‘all the things that could have been done' for the glory of God throughout my lifetime. So I rose that day with new determination to give unto the Lord the best of all my life for his highest—whatever it is according to His will.

An Unplanned Lesson to Spiritual Rest

Driving to or from work on Route 24 North or South is always challenging. I have witnessed many accidents and have also seen memorial sites along the way. Crashing sites appear often along the guardrails. Massachusetts' national reputation of having bad drivers may be experienced and witnessed on that route, I think. Thus, when driving on this freeway, I am always conscious an accident may occur at any moment. Then the unexpected turn of event happened. While looking forward to being home with my kids and planning to lead Bible study at church, a driver quickly cut through in front. I reacted immediately to avoid being hit or hitting anyone; then my vehicle, a 2006 Mazda Tribute, ran off-road to the shoulder. It felt as though it was grabbed from the wheel forward and thrown onto that path out of control. The vehicle on the grassy boulder swerved around ninety degrees, fell on its passenger side, skidded violently toward the guardrail, and had its roof slammed with full force, crashing all driver side windows and the front and rear windshields. My back slammed against the passenger side front seat. The roof on the driver side was bent about forty-five degrees with a V shape in the center. Then all was silent.

The smell of broken glass and