Faces of Ministry – Part One

There are misconceptions that ministry primarily takes place in the church and by church people like preachers, priests and paid leaders.  This is so far from the truth and design of God. And the belief of this lie can stunt the growth of Christian ministry. The reality is that most of our ministry opportunities take place outside the church and by lay Christians because we’re in our work places and homes more than we are at church just by the nature of real living.

Where a Christian is is where his/her ministry is. It lies in how we view our coworkers, interact with our neighbors, train our children and love those around us. For the stay at home Mom it might look like taking a meal to someone or visiting with a neighbor while your child explores your neighbor’s house. I know, how embarrassing right? That’s what our preschool age daughter did every time we’d go visit someone early on. We had to train her not to go looking into bedrooms and closets. It was rather awkward on occasions but such is ministry with a curious three year old.

Ministry can be messy and it rarely looks like what is in our heads – you know the picture…..the one of your pastor wearing a white robe and a halo hovering over his theology filled head offering words of wisdom to a wounded soul. Just scrap that thought because it doesn’t exist. Ministry is when Jesus lives and loves through His followers so that other people can see Him and also become His followers. It doesn’t require a seminary degree and it’s not confined to clean-cut, Jesus looking type people. Ministry is not a formal thing that happens on Sundays or at church events. It might happen there and sadly many times it doesn’t happen there.

Ministry can involve something as silly as spending time with a group of kids at a McDonald’s all because your approach to it is intentional. It might be weaved in your approach to a block party with your neighborhood. Or a end of school party for your child.  Ministry happens easily on a work break with coffee in hand and when the Holy Spirit sets you up for an opportunity to share how the Truth of God’s love changed and impacted you.

Ministry is relational. It takes time and often times it’s uncomfortable or awkward feeling. But that’s okay and it’s not a cue to give it up to the so-called-professionals.

Ministry is intentional living. It could be as simple as praying before entering the grocery store and asking God to open your eyes to the one who might need help around you. Or getting to know your neighbor better by having her over for a simple lunch.

Ministry is reaching out to people on their turf even if you have no interest in their turf. It might mean attending an event with someone that is important to them but that you have no interest in. I think of a time when a neighbor invited me to a specific event that I had no interest in whatsoever but because I had been praying for this person and that God might use me in her life I was thrilled when she invited me just so I could have the opportunity to spend time with her. And it opened up other opportunities down the road to be able to share more of who God is.

True ministry is Spirit led and fueled by prayer, not just a compassionate heart doing what a compassionate person does. And if we’re honest, we’ll admit that sometimes we don’t like the specific task God calls us to through ministry. Because sometimes God calls us to things we’d never dream of doing for various reasons: too scared, too costly, too risky, too weird……and we start that whole “did I hear you right, God? Lord, send a hot pink sparkly good year blimp in the air at 3:04pm today if that’s really what you want me to do because I will so be your girl if you send that sign today. For real. I will. Oh, and lets add a lightening bolt behind the blimp for good measure so I don’t have to really do this. I mean, just to show your power.” Instead, ministry is praying and asking God for guidance so often that when it comes we recognize it as coming from Him.

My prayer is that as followers of Jesus Christ we will be open to where He leads us. That we will understand that it’s His power and work in us that facilitates ministry – not a title, a degree or a position. And that together we can advance the Kingdom of God.