At my church, one of the columns to check in the attendance register pad following the name is labeled “ministry.” So, in the columns for checking, “Visitor,” “Member of the Church,” etc., there is the space for recording the time spent in ministry. As the register pads are returned back down the pew, I’ve noticed that many times the ministry column is blank.
I believe that often we think of ministry only as having to be involved in some large service project or taking part in a activity in a foreign land or out of our local surrounding. Or the thinking may be that ministry is best done by clergy or other professional church staff.
We have had some sermons stressing that all believers are “ministers.” We have learned that a way to define ministry is to say that it is the work of God by the people of God. An illustration of this definition is in the mission statement of our church. It identifies “our ministers” as being members of our church.
First Peter 4:10 says, “Based on the gift they have received everyone should use it to serve others…” (HCBS) This indicates that ministry is the responsibility of all believers to use their gifts and resources God gives.
In further thinking about the blank spaces under the ministry column. I had an “aha” moment that led to another reason for blank ministry columns. That is, we do not often recognize a situation that comes to us as an opportunity to minister. Such a situation came to me and I almost missed it.
I visited an elderly friend, age 97 at the time, 101 years old now. Although she is confined to a wheelchair, as she says it, “It’s only my legs don’t work. Everything else does. ” And she is right-able to read scripture and read and sing hymns, and carry on spirited conversations and prayers. Having been in a falling accident some time ago she now is cared for in her own home by her son. She and her late husband were devout believers and church members committed and active. Through a series situations-the fall, a period of time in a nursing home, her church not being handicapped accessible, the church she attended in its place disbanding and merging with another church, she fell through the cracks of church care.
Conversations with her revealed she had not received communion for some time. The “Aha” moment (translated “opportunity for ministry”) came. Since our son is an ordained Deacon and part of his duties included administering communion to the home bound, and since my husband is an Ordained Minister, and why couldn’t we see that she received communion? Every month (with my son and husband serving alternate months) and I bring communion to her. We have a time of hymn singing, prayers, a devotional meditation and the communion service.
Second Timothy 4:5 states, “But you be watchful in all things…..fulfill your ministry.” (NKJV) As the months go by, I realize that this is what I did-watched and then fulfilled a ministry. This scripture is an encouragement to believers to view their daily activities with the question,”Is this an opportunity for me to minister to others?” If we consider, answer, and act on that question perhaps ministry columns in any form in churches will fill up and not be blank.