“Ministry is a verb, not a noun.” I say that often, and it is something that I feel in my very bones. To minister to someone is to help them, to serve them, to teach them what they need to know. Very simply, that is my statement of my ministry.
It is my belief that I am here to serve in many capacities throughout my life. I am not a specialist, the type of person who finds themselves a niche and sticks to it for many years, perfecting it. Instead, I am a generalist, a person more interested in moving organically from one thing to another as Spirit calls me.
There are some aspects of my ministry that I am sure of. I believe that at some point I will work in hospice or terminal hospital care as a chaplain, because my talents meet those needs. I suspect I will visit a few pulpits and preach at local churches, having already contacted them and made myself available as a supply preacher in my area. I know there are weddings and funerals in my future as well. These are just the more obvious, more formal aspects of my ministry, though.
Informally, I will continue my education in various types of spiritual practices. I will forever remain a student of myself, looking deep inside my own soul for things to improve, change, and gently remove. I will help others as they come into my life, in whatever ways I can, with good intent for all involved. I will always work to be a better listener, student, educator, minister, and friend. I will concentrate on remembering how little I know about the world.
Wherever my ministry takes me in the world, I will always strive to be honest, forthright, and real. I will remember that everyone around me is human and fallible, just like me. When I or others fail, make mistakes, or balk at going forward, I will be kind and gentle while also maintaining the need to encourage progress.
I will never forget that ministry is a verb, not a noun, and that means continual movement, growth, and opportunity. I will embrace that movement, encourage that growth, and grasp those opportunities with both hands.
It is my belief that I am here to serve in many capacities throughout my life. I am not a specialist, the type of person who finds themselves a niche and sticks to it for many years, perfecting it. Instead, I am a generalist, a person more interested in moving organically from one thing to another as Spirit calls me.
There are some aspects of my ministry that I am sure of. I believe that at some point I will work in hospice or terminal hospital care as a chaplain, because my talents meet those needs. I suspect I will visit a few pulpits and preach at local churches, having already contacted them and made myself available as a supply preacher in my area. I know there are weddings and funerals in my future as well. These are just the more obvious, more formal aspects of my ministry, though.
Informally, I will continue my education in various types of spiritual practices. I will forever remain a student of myself, looking deep inside my own soul for things to improve, change, and gently remove. I will help others as they come into my life, in whatever ways I can, with good intent for all involved. I will always work to be a better listener, student, educator, minister, and friend. I will concentrate on remembering how little I know about the world.
Wherever my ministry takes me in the world, I will always strive to be honest, forthright, and real. I will remember that everyone around me is human and fallible, just like me. When I or others fail, make mistakes, or balk at going forward, I will be kind and gentle while also maintaining the need to encourage progress.
I will never forget that ministry is a verb, not a noun, and that means continual movement, growth, and opportunity. I will embrace that movement, encourage that growth, and grasp those opportunities with both hands.
