Hooking a Big Fish and Focusing on Mission
Looking Back on Fishing in the North
Living in the north has given me so many fishing opportunities. Lakes, rivers, and streams are everywhere, each with its own unique catch. But the greatest fishing I’ve ever experienced was on the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska, battling King Salmon.
The King (also known as the Chinook Salmon) is the largest and most challenging fish I’ve ever faced. I had caught plenty of Northern Pike in Canada, but none of them prepared me for the sheer fight of a King. Looking back, that battle holds an important lesson about ministry.
The King’s Strike
When a King Salmon hits, it doesn’t nibble; it slams the lure and takes off with power. The rod tip dives, the boat erupts, and suddenly it’s all hands on deck. The other lines are reeled in, the prop man steers clear of hazards, someone grabs the net, someone else readies the camera, and everyone shifts to keep the path clear.
One cry unites the boat and initiates that frenzy: “Fish on!” If one person checks out, the fight could be lost. Everyone’s role matters.
The Church on Mission
Fishing has always been good for my soul. I love the fresh air, the time with family or friends, and the joy of being outdoors. But it also reminds me how the church is supposed to work. A church isn’t a pleasure cruise where staff serve up the catch for everyone else to enjoy. Ministry is more like tying into a King Salmon; a massive opportunity where everyone has a role to play.
When the rally cry goes out, it’s not just pastors or staff who move. It’s an all hands on deck mission.
The Apostle Paul wrote, “Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it” (1 Corinthians 12:27).
When everyone works together, the church thrives and the mission advances.
Join the Conversation; Share Your Thoughts
- Have you ever been fishing? What lessons did you learn that connect to faith?
- How do you see your role in the church’s mission?
- What might happen in your church if everyone lived “all hands on deck” for the gospel?
You ask..”Have you ever been fishing? If so, what other similarities do you find between fishing and the church?” I live in a small cabin in Northern Alaska and fished mostly off the Yukon and I find that the patience needed at times while fishing could be applied to talking with God. We live in an instant gratification world but with our heavenly father patience is needed because he knows what we need before we ever ask.
Wow! That’s great insight! The patience required for fishing is a great parallel. Yet, the reward for that patience is so worthwhile! So much like prayer; thanks for that comment!