Lessons in Humility

My reading from the Psalms this morning began with a familiar refrain, “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” (Ps. 8:1)

While the psalm celebrates God’s creation, it focuses on humankind: God’s glory contrasted with our smallness (v4a); God’s care for us, not just the universe (v4b); and the awe of God inviting us into his work, despite our relative inadequacy and inability (“You have given him dominion over the works of your hands…”, v6).

This psalm caused me to pause today, in part because I had the unique opportunity to start 2026 seeing some of God’s global work, and spending time with some amazing and humble people who are ministering in various nations. A group of Soma leaders convened in Antalya, Türkiye, who are pursuing disciple-making and missional community efforts on five of the seven continents (no South Americans or Antarctic penguins represented, sadly – and to be precise, the leaders of the Africa work shared via online video… but still.)

We got to hear and celebrate how God is planting churches in Tokyo (where less than 1% of the population is Christian); how He is working amidst terrible circumstances to draw people to Himself in both Russia and Ukraine; how He is breaking down tensions and strongholds across Latin America; and how He is raising a uniquely gifted leader for Sierra Leone while multiplying Soma’s efforts across Australia. And these were just a few of the stories.

We also took time to lament hard things going on in Soma’s US work and in every area represented. We considered shared values and language differences. We clarified this “global team’s” purpose (which was a primary purpose of the gathering, the first of its kind in Soma’s history). We grew in relationship and trust across cultural differences (another primary purpose). We ended with commitments to the shared work. Our hosts also took us on a tour of Perge, a city in ruins where Paul and Barnabas preached in Acts 14 at the end of their first missionary journey.

There’s much to learn, pay attention to, and dwell on from those few days. But two things feel primary so far, and both relate to Psalm 8:

1. The amazing fact that God has given us “dominion over the works of [his] hands.”
   In a room of international leaders, global dynamics that are far broader than the Church often lead to US dominance, and the deference of other gifted leaders. This could have been true for this group too, especially since Soma began in the US and each leader was – to a degree – trained and influenced by US leaders. But what came to light in our sessions, over dinners, and during breaks, is the multi-gifted, poly-centric, uniquely-gifted nature of God’s work. All 13 points of view mattered deeply as we discussed ministry, brainstormed ideas, learned from one another, and encouraged each other.

   A great joy was seeing one nation’s ministry leader find another after the session to learn more about something they had shared. It was a great reminder of the “one body, many parts” image of 1 Cor. 12 – and a reminder that no leader, church, network, or nation has it all together. We each need each other and our giftings to balance our weaknesses and blind spots. Even tangibly, we were only able to convene because multiple organizations and individuals across the globe contributed to travel, food, lodging, and other costs for this group!)

2. The sobering reminder that God’s name alone is worthy of glory, “in all the earth.”
   This struck me in two ways: first, each leader who gathered is a seasoned minister, and God is bearing fruit through each – in small and large ways; in unseen and overt efforts – to make disciples “from all tribes and peoples and languages” (Rev. 7:9). But each was so humble; each asked questions of the others more than offering advice. None promoted their own work; no one postured as “the expert.” No one even prioritized the name “Soma” – literally, everyone cared only about the name of Jesus being more known in their neighborhoods and nations, as he builds his kingdom, not any of our “kingdoms”!
   
   A second moment in which the primacy of God’s name stood out was among the ruins of Perge. Again, the ruins. Neither the church at Perge nor the city itself exists anymore. But, like Antioch (the world’s first sending church, as we see in a book I released with Exponential this month , God used the efforts of a few devoted Jesus-followers in both ancient cities to set the world ablaze for his glory! Many global church traditions trace their roots back to these few ancient cities, which now only exist in history and scripture. The point: churches come and go; cities and nations rise and fall; people and leaders live and die. Each of us gets to steward a few short years on earth. But by contrast, “your name, O Lord, endures forever; your renown, O Lord, throughout all ages” (Ps. 135:13).

A friend in Türkiye mentioned that in the US, churches have the luxury of comfort and also the luxury of division. Wow. In his Turkish city, Christians must work together! Churches don’t compete against each other for members; they collaborate to bring people from darkness into light; they combine efforts to see people move from death to life – and they do so at great risk to themselves.

These churches and leaders – in our host country and in many of the areas represented at this gathering – know they need each other to do their part in “the work of God’s hands.” And – maybe since real threats lead some to acknowledge their limited years – these leaders seek God’s kingdom, and proclaim God’s name, not their own. And day by day, they get to celebrate God’s fruit of their labors: they faithfully participate in the work of God’s hands, and do so for the name and glory of the Lord alone.

There’s more to ponder, from that time and from the Psalm. But I have much to learn in these two areas and from our friends across the globe. Wherever God has you on mission and in ministry, I wonder if you do too.

Thank you God, for being mindful of us, and caring for us amidst all your other amazing creations. Thank you for the honor of getting to participate in your efforts – for calling and equipping your people, though inadequate, to fill the earth with your image and display your kingdom and make disciples. Keep us humble; keep us needy – of you and of each other; keep us focused on your glory alone, not our own or our organizations. We forget at times, but we do indeed acknowledge, “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” Amen.