Ministry

This isn't geared toward anyone in particular, but toward everyone at the same time. This came to me in 2017 and I remember it like yesterday. It changed me.

I have a very serious question: What does true ministry look like to you? I really don't want any psycho-babble of a definition or a learned response, but down deep in your OWN heart, what does ministry look like to YOU?

The reason I question it this way is because several years ago a man asked me something that impacted my life in a powerful way. He asked me about the end times and how I believed. I had a quick, well-seasoned reply. To which he responded, “I didn't ask for a learned answer, I want to know how you believe in your heart.”

Humbled, I answered that I really didn't know. Even though I was a minister ordained in the church, I really didn't have my own belief system. Some Pastors may say, “Oh you are walking on dangerous ground talking about an individual belief system.” Whatever!

I picked up a hitch hiker recently. Something I don’t normally do. But I saw him and passed him up. The Holy Ghost rose up in me and caused me to turn around and go get him. Just looking at him you could tell at some time he’d had a problem with drugs. After he got in, he told me that even if it was just a couple miles down the road, he was appreciative of the ride.

He'd been in the car all of two minutes when a close friend of mine returned an earlier phone call. I had checked on him because he’d lost his mother-in-law earlier in the week. After asking how he and his wife were doing, I began to pray aloud with my friend. The guy next to me removed his cap and bowed his head in response to my prayer. As I went on praying, he began to weep. After our good byes on the phone I returned my attention to the passenger.

He told me, “I’m coming out of Parkersburg W.VA, going to Breathitt County. My grandfather passed away earlier this week as well. I'm trying to get home before the funeral this afternoon.” He looked at me. “You must love your friend a lot to pray with a stranger in the car.” I asked him why he said that. “Nobody but God ever really cared for me.”

It broke my heart. He explained that he had been released from prison three years earlier and had given his life to Christ soon after. He went to church as he much as he could, but no one really paid him much mind. He asked if he could claim the prayer I prayed as well. I told him it was free for him to do so. He admitted to struggling in his faith, but he knew God had restored a lot of things in his life including a really decent job. But with no one to share or confide in it made it difficult. I gave the man my card and told him any time he needed to talk or felt weak or just wanted someone to pray with to give me a call.

I began to ask myself what happened to true ministry? When did we as a church get so big that it was about performance or looking the part of a minister. Or that you can't help this church financially, so you are put in a corner. I know I might offend some ministers out there but that's ok. Answer the question before God when you see Him.

What does true ministry look like?