Use What You’ve Got
by Roger Pook
Back in 1997, the Ellel team based in Hungary was at a low point. We were down to just a few people, the centre building was an unfinished shell, and our vision of welcoming and ministering to people from all the surrounding nations of Eastern Europe seemed a long way off.
As we prayed, God gave us a simple word: “Use what you’ve got!” So, we took stock – what had we got? We had 30 hectares of beautiful land, the empty shell of a building, a wonderful body of teaching, ministry experience, and a small dedicated team. How could we use them?
We opened the land and empty building to Christian groups for camping – and they gave money for toilets and showers to be installed. Instead of waiting for people to come to us, we took our teaching out to Ukraine, Romania and beyond – and this paved the way for Ellel Romania, Ellel Russian Language, and the Development Centre now working in many other countries. We used what had, and God blessed it and gave the increase. Now we have the privilege of ministering to thousands every year across two continents, with the thriving Ellel Hungary Centre as the hub of the wheel.
Why don’t you take stock too? What have you got? Every unused gift, every hidden talent (that word again!), can be invested for God’s glory in God’s Kingdom to bring blessing and increase to you, and to many others.
Use it or lose it. It’s your choice.
Prayer: Dear Father, I thank You for the talents and abilities that You have given to me. Please help me to recognise them, and show me how I can invest them in Your Kingdom, to be used for Your glory. Amen.
Roger Pook For 21 years Roger Pook and his wife Christine served in Central and Eastern Europe, based in Hungary at the Úr Rétje centre of Ellel Ministries. From there they travelled and ministered across the length and breadth of the former communist world. In 2018 Roger retired as Regional Director and they now live back in the UK, where Roger still serves on the Executive Leadership and as a trustee of The Christian Trust. They still travel for the Kingdom!
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