Because I encouraged “fulfilling the ministry” in my last post, I wanted to break that down in practical terms. While knowing and desiring to follow Christ and sharing His love and gift of grace with others are at the core of fulfilling the ministry you have been given, I wanted to offer three practical and measurable essentials to being faithful to the ministry God has given you. My prayer is that these essentials give you a encouragement in your ministry.
Essential #1: Show Up Again
Most of you have probably heard the phrase “consistency is key.” While this phrase is known for when a person wants to develop a new habit, it also applys to fulfilling the ministry God has given you. Wherever you are, in whatever ministry you’re in, being consistent will bring lasting results. It’s the responsibilities you keep up with every day. It’s the Bible Study you have been leading on Monday nights for years. Making the choice to show up again is furthering your ministry. Showing up again consistently confirms the people following you that you are dependable and truly care about their needs and growth. In his book Dream Big, Think Small, Jeff Manion says, “The ‘slow, plodding path’ matters because true lasting impact requires steady, consistent movement in a singular direction over a considerable period of time”1. The middle matters. Faithfulness in the little things fulfills your ministry.
Essential #2: Kindness Matters
Kind words and friendliness go a long way in ministry. Being hospitable and gracious in all your actions says so much about you. Society is caught up in achievement for one’s self and being the better person. Showing kindness to others makes a statement in stark contrast to society’s mentality. When people receive unexpected kindness and grace, they pay attention. Then you are able to “shine as lights in the world” because you are treating people differently (Phil. 2:15). Holding a door open for someone else, smiling, listening to someone else’s story, waving at people when you see them, greeting people when you or they walk in a room, taking people out for coffee, sitting for a meal with a stranger, and giving the bigger piece of cake to others are all practical ways you can show kindness to people. As a result, your influence in their lives for Christ will be meaningful. You will never regret being kind and friendly to others.
Essential #3: Relationships Make the Difference
Connecting with people is how you invest in them. If you want opportunities to share God’s Word on a deeper level, connection is needed. How are your investing in relationships with the people around? I recently heard a missionary share about a birthday party they had for the wife. Instead of inviting family and close friends to the party, they invited the people they were investing in for Christ. Building memories and having fun with other people makes connections which can open doors for conversations about Christ. Don’t be afraid to invite the ones you’re ministering to to your house for a party. Be real with them. If you want to have an influence in people’s lives, you have to invite them into your life to make memories and connect.
While I can think of additional essentials to developing a ministry, I believe these are the top three fundamentals. Through my conversations with people about this topic, I added a few more essentials to my list. I’ll share these at another time.
Questions for Reflection
Answer the following questions in the comments below to reflect more on this post.
- Are you showing up for the ministries God has given you? If not, what is holding you back? How can you take steps to start showing up?
- How can you show extra kindness to one more person this week?
- What are three ways that you are making intentional connections with the people you are ministering to?
References
- Jeff Manion, Dream Big, Think Small: Living an Extraordinary Life One Day at a Time (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2017), 19.
