Ministry Perspective

A Perspective on Ministry

April 2006 I wrote this when I was in a ministry apprentice program

Today my path is eclectic but my heart is slowing turning back to the faith. You could say I had to journey and explore the other side, and other spiritualistic for myself.

As I found my Pastors recommendation letter from some years ago. I returned to an old blog to find my writing still there. Here is most of it. No I never got Ordained but believe I am still called to serve ( minister) The word minister by the way really means serv and you do not need a paper with your name and title to serve.

God has been filling my heart with worship songs like “Lord, I Come”and “Awesome in This Place.” At work today, I met a highly-respected customer. The hotel manager, knowing that I am in training, introduced me, “This is Dawn. She is a minister.” This hit home with me! No matter how I feel, I am what God says I am, and I need to act accordingly.

By one room today, I ended up bowing down and singing to the Lord.Life in ministry is a battle, and I must have forgotten about the enemy this week. I was reading in Ephesians 6 about being strong in the Lord. We must take unto ourselves (apply) the full armor of God. What is this armor? Truth…righteousness…salvation…peace…the Word of God…and prayer.

Ministry is about people, and meeting the needs of people. A good shepherd (anyone on the pastoral ministry team) must have a heart for people. This requires much humility. You must be able to put others ahead of yourself. I’m learning this—not always successfully—but I am learning! Ministry is work. It is not always what you want to do, but you do it because you know that it is important to our Lord’s heart.Someone once said, “If you can do anything but ministry, do it.” But if God has placed a call on you, you can run, but you can’t hide. God will deal with you.

Ministry is a privilege; not a right. Preaching and teaching are wonderful, but they come with great responsibility. It is vital that the people of God are fed what God has ordered for them. Preaching is only part. A good minister is relational.

What am I learning as I prepare for pastoral ministry? I am learning to first be confident in the fact that God called me; not myself. For if it was of myself, I don’t know if I’d make it. If it were dependent on others, I would never be chosen. The preparation process takes time. I have been saved since August, 1985, and only now preparing to receive credentials for ministry. Even that in itself does not mean that Dawn will be working at a church the next day. I know that God still has more training. It’s much like being on the potter’s wheel. Schooling is good. One needs to show oneself approved. But God also deals with character flaws and weaknesses.

Ministry must be understood as a life of serving. It requires unselfishness. If you are full of yourself, it will hinder you. God cannot flow through a vessel filled with self. Something recently happened to make this hit home with me. I became so full of self that I crossed a boundary with a friend. It hurt this person’s heart and caused them to have a difficult time. I’ve since repented, and we are OK. I am learning that I still have much flesh that must die, and it is not fun. Life in ministry requires a strong faith; even when it looks as if nothing is changing; when provision looks like it will never be. As a minister, I must keep going forward!

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