Ministry in Action

by Tiffany S.
from Virtuous Daughters, August 2015~Volume 15, Number 5

“Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall
it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot
be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before
men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” —Matthew 5:13–16

“We could really use your help at the children’s ministry next week,” a friend mentioned as we stood on the church sidewalk. “Are you available?”
   
​I had volunteered for this particular conference in the past. However, that summer was one of the busiest of our lives, with various other ministry projects piling up and the three youngest members of the family still in diapers. “I’m sorry I can’t help out this year,” I smiled to my friend, “but, you know, God has given me a ‘children’s ministry’ in our own home right now!” We both laughed.

Seasons of life determine many things. Your season of life will partly establish what type of ministry God would have you to assume. If you are the older sister of seven children under the age of nine, ministry in your own household may take precedence over certain other opportunities. Remember that your labor is not in vain in the Lord, even if it appears insignificant. Nothing is small in God’s sight, if it is done for His glory. Jesus encouraged us that “He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.”—Matthew 10:41–42 How many times has your little brother or sister requested in toddler style, “Sister, me thirsty.” The way in which you respond clearly reveals your heart for ministry. When you lovingly and joyfully tend to that need, you are bringing glory to the Lord—and He promises a reward. Amy Carmichael wrote,
“If by doing some work which the undiscerning
consider ‘not spiritual work’ I can best help others,
and I inwardly rebel, thinking it is the spiritual for which
I crave, when in truth it is the interesting and exciting,
then I know nothing of Calvary love.”
 
On the other hand, perhaps you have ample time on your hands to volunteer outside of your home or to assume a large ministry that others are unable to take.
    
Whichever the case may be, it is wise to examine our lives and be certain that we are fulfilling Matthew 5:13–16. Again, God will direct each individual differently, but we must follow His leading! Even if God is not calling you to a large ministry project, He still wants you to work for Him by using the talents, skills, and resources that He has entrusted to you. In fact, even if you are involved in a prominent ministry, you are not exempt from being faithful in the “small things” (Matthew 25:23).
   
Our primary “ministry” is viewing life as a ministry —bringing glory to God in everything…Seeking to encourage others in their walk with Christ…Searching the Scriptures and living by them…Being a living sacrifice in wholehearted surrender to the Lord…Recognizing that we are bought with a price and are obligated to glorify God in our body and our spirit, which belong to Him…Capitalizing on opportunities to share the Gospel…Being “kingdom minded,” in that we are building treasures for heaven…Preferring others before ourselves. Walking into situations with this mindset: How can I encourage and bless these people today? How can I make a positive impact on their lives?…In short, it is giving to the Lord what the poor widow gave—all we have, even all our living. Viewing life as a ministry is a colossal undertaking, one that each of us should continually pray for guidance to achieve. I think of the example my own mother has set as she lives each day for others, pouring out her life to her husband and children.
   
One of my friends had a “birthday ministry.” Each week, she would look at the church bulletin and send a postcard to every lady who was celebrating a birthday. In the cheery note, my friend would include a reason she appreciated that person, a character quality she respected in her, and a special Bible verse chosen especially for her. “Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.”—Romans 14:19
   
Helping with your siblings’ schoolwork can certainly be a ministry. It frees your mother to work on other projects, and gives you experience in the area of working with children. If you do not have any brothers or sisters to teach, why not consider helping teach a friend’s children? “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.”—Colossians 3:23–24
   
Another idea is to disciple younger girls. Each of us should have a “Timothy” that we are endeavoring to mentor and build up in the Lord. One of my friends has purposefully made pen pals with many teenage girls simply to encourage them in their walk with Christ. “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”—Hebrews 10:25

What about sending letters of encouragement and care packages to overseas missionaries? Once when I did this, I was awed at how God orchestrated several details so that the missionary received this encouragement precisely when he needed it. The Lord has shown me that He will work through any heart and hands that are simply willing! 
   
One mother at our church is an avid gardener. She has taken responsibility for the landscape of the church grounds, as well as the upkeep of the garden beds. Through her skill and time, this kind lady has greatly enhanced the appearance of our church. She also shared with me that as she waters the garden, she prays for church members.
   
Preparing meals for families in need is a practical ministry idea. Are there ladies in your church who recently had a baby? Is there someone who just came out of surgery? Do you know of a family going through some tough times? What a blessing it would be if you showed up on their doorstep with a fresh, homemade meal! “Do all things without murmurings and disputings: that ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.”—Philippians 2:14–16
   
One friend suggested the ministry of prayer. She wrote, “Prayer is one of the most powerful ministries. Prayer warriors are few, yet world-changing.” She explained that although she has not always been available to meet certain practical needs of others, “it has been a privilege to follow God’s prompting/burden on my heart to intercede. He often does that at the exact needed moment, [when] I don’t even know what’s going on!” This reminds me of my mother, who has joyously assumed the ministry of faithful prayer warrior on behalf of her family and countless others. The apostle Paul set a commendable example of prayer as well. We should be “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints” (Ephesians 6:18).
   
What about offering a listening ear? The selfless act of attentively hearing the story or thoughts of another person is greatly underestimated. In this fast-paced world, many people are rarely willing to sit still for more than a few minutes. However, we know from Scripture that being still and knowing that He is God is crucial (Psalm 46:10). The book of Revelation instructs us to listen to the words of Christ concerning the Church, and Jesus often admonished listeners to take seriously their responsibility to hear with the ears God had given them. I truly believe that a listening ear is one of the sweetest and most immense gifts we can give to our family and friends. If God has graciously created us with the ability to hear, we need to use that for His glory.
   
Another ministry is using our abilities/resources to serve others unexpectedly. Countless times, my father has helped another family repair their vehicle in our garage, utilizing his tools and mechanical knowledge. For you, the outlet might be sewing, computer skills, housework, babysitting, bread baking, canning, or gardening. It might even be grocery shopping for a busy mother at your church!
   
As you seek the Lord, He will guide and direct you to the ministries He has for you. He may call you to a life of “various tasks,” where you rarely complete the same duty twice! When my brother was fifteen, he developed a serious leg infection that entailed three weeks of hospitalization and critical surgery. Part of this time, I was at the hospital helping my parents with the twins, who were only one year old. A dear friend came to assist me, which was a tremendous blessing. This ministry was only recognized by our two families, yet I still remember observing the love of Christ manifested through her servant’s heart. 
   
If you frequently find spare time on your hands, why not consider undertaking a larger ministry which requires regular commitment? With your parents’ blessing and through much prayer, this decision could reap eternal rewards and have incredible potential.
   
The friend that asked me to help with the children’s conference manages the entire program each year. Her siblings are grown, and she finds productive ways to invest her time as the Lord leads. Have you considered leading a girls’ discipleship group or teaching a young ladies’ Bible study? This is an excellent way to be a “Titus 2 woman” to girls younger than yourself.
   
Another thought is to get involved in political campaigns, thus helping to lead our country in the right direction. As women, we are not called to hold office, but we can take a proactive role by making phone calls, writing letters, distributing flyers, and volunteering.
   
Writing and publishing books is quite an undertaking, but well worth the efforts. What has God been teaching you through your post-high school years? Record and proclaim the faithfulness of the Lord!
   
If God has gifted you in the area of public speaking, it is possible that He will open doors for you to share encouragement in that outlet. I know daughters who work at local crisis pregnancy centers, thus receiving opportunities to share hope and the Gospel message with hurting women. Many of my friends teach music lessons at no charge to families who are unable to afford them. The list of ideas is literally endless.
 
   
Before embarking on a large ministry undertaking, be certain that you are prepared for the task. Though we’ll never be perfect on this earth, we must be spiritually mature enough to guide others in the Christian journey. For girls who are just figuring it out themselves, counseling others will be like the blind leading the blind. God may be calling you to “hidden years” during a season of growing in Him. God’s timing for different individuals varies; each person must earnestly seek His will concerning these details.                                                          
   
It is important to not fall into the pitfall of comparing your ministry with that of another. God calls us to different assignments; we must be content with His duties for us. We should not covet a friend’s “great ministry,” nor should we feel proud in our “great ministry.” Be grateful for the privilege of serving the Lord in the specific way that He has seen fit for you.
   
Allow the Lord to lead you into His will as you earnestly seek His face. If you simply trust and obey Him, He will give you work to do! However, don’t lose sight of the goal. Oswald Chambers wisely wrote, “Beware of any work for God that causes or allows you to avoid concentrating on Him. A great number of Christian workers worship their work. The only concern should be their concentration on God. We have no right to decide where we should be placed, or to have preconceived ideas as
to what God is preparing us to do. God engineers everything; and wherever He places us, our one supreme goal should be to pour out our lives in wholehearted devotion to Him in that particular work.”