15 Things I've Learned in 15 Years of Ministry: Part 2, Looking Inward
In teaching God’s word, I have learned so much about God’s word. I have learned to cherish it in such a sweet way. I have seen many times when a passage of scripture takes root not only in your mind but in your heart, your way of teaching it is completely transformed. This spiritual light bulb is a wonderful gift of the Holy Spirit, among other gifts he freely gives those who seek him. I have also learned impactful lessons from those who have led me and worked alongside me over the years.
Let the Spirit lead.
One of my very favorite stories to teach is the story of Phillip explaining the Gospel message to the Ethiopian treasurer along the desert road. From getting kids up to run with Phillip after the chariot to ending the story with Phillip going POOF and being carried away by the Holy Spirit, it’s just a fun story to teach. But more so, I love the example Phillip sets for us and for children to follow where the Spirit leads, even when the Spirit is leading you, a preacher, to a place with pretty much no people. Then when you get there, the Spirit helps you to be ready with the Gospel message for just the person who needs it at just the right time. I have learned to follow the Spirit where he leads, even when it does not make sense. In looking back, you will trace God’s goodness through every step of the way.
Ask hard questions.
A mentor of mine has a gift for asking good questions, and especially asking hard questions. She taught me not to shy away from hard topics. This was relevant in teaching children as well as in my own Christian walk. Do not shy away from the child who asks you why God put the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the Garden of Eden when he knew the people would disobediently eat from it. (Oh, yeah. It happened. She was eight years old.) Do not shy away from telling a child “I don’t know. But I can try to find out. Let’s look into it together.” Do not shy away from the child who comes to you with the news that his uncle is in jail for killing his grandmother. God has put you in this hard place to minister mercy and prayer to these children. But even more so, do not shy away from the hard things in your own life. I have walked through my share of hard things. God leans into these times. Lean in and find him faithful.
Pray. Immediately and often.
I have always admired those who seem to have a skill or gifting I do not. For example, I do not jump to prayer as quickly as I wish I did. But this skill was impressed upon me by a supervisor who is so gifted with a quickness to prayer. There are many parts of ministry that I did not foresee as a 13-year-old 5-Day Club teacher. (Imagine that.) When volunteers are less than cooperative or events do not go as planned or finances do not roll in as freely as you think you need them to, it can be tempting to look to strategy or worry. But if you are like me, find and cling to a believer who stops in the middle of a conversation to pray. No warning. Just, “let’s pray.” I pray that I have grown in this area of my life over the years, as I have seen God provide in ways that only he can.
We must leave our comfort to reach the lost.
In Isaiah 62:10 the prophet says, “Go out, go out, through the city gates; prepare a way for the people! Build it up, build up the highway, clear away the stones! Raise a banner for the peoples.” I heard this passage preached by a CEF missionary working in the Middle East. While much of what he does is classified, he wasted no time in telling us that, despite any danger, God’s name was being proclaimed there. He challenged us to leave the places and customs that are comfortable and to go out and work to remove the barriers that keep people from the Gospel. I have been given such a blessed opportunity to go into communities and homes where poverty, hunger, race, language, status, appearance, origin, could be used to keep people from hearing the Gospel. There is not even one of these things that the Gospel does not speak to. May we be bold and compassionate to make way for all people to hear the Gospel, so that they may know the one way to a relationship with God.
Record God’s faithfulness.
Finally (for today), one skill I have learned over the years of ministry is recording God’s goodness. There are so many times we read of God’s people building an altar, naming a place, or setting up some sort of monument to remind themselves of the great things God has done. In times of fear and uncertainty, they did not need to cry out for another miracle every time, because they could look over their shoulder to the one that they built up in the past. In this same way, I have learned to record God’s faithfulness. In my early years, this took the form of taking notes in the back of my Bible. A child’s name, age, where I met them, a prayer request, and sometimes, a profession of faith. Praise God! In more recent years this takes the form of journaling. Prayers, fears, frustrations, and nuggets of wisdom the Lord has shown me. Whatever form it takes, make a record of your needs and God’s faithfulness to look back on.