Some Important Elements in Ministry

Just as a food recipe must be followed to get the right result, there are certain elements that are essential to ministry to make it successful:

1. Communication. You may be a great preacher or orator, but if your day-to-day communication is lacking, you will have a lot of frustrated people around you, as well as yourself. Make it a point to communicate appropriately when someone sends you an email or leaves a message on your machine. Otherwise you are going to find yourself working alone because no one can stand to work with you because of your lack of communicatioin skills.



2. Integrity. Our enemy, Satan, is waiting and watching for opportunities to derail and discredit our ministries. It only takes one misstep for this to happen, so be careful how you handle the personal, business, and financial aspects of your ministry. Be transparent in your finances with lots of accountability so no one can accuse you of being dishonest. If you don't have a system in place for dealing with counseling or being around women, do so now. Don't give rides to women unless there are others in the car with you. Don't counsel women unless you have safeguards in place so nothing can be said that will cast doubt on your life or ministry. Leave a door open when you talk to a woman in your office during business hours, even if it is a staff member. Have your wife or husband help you in this if they are available.



3. Be Compassionate. People are going through things just like you are, so be compassionate and listen to them with an open heart. Concentrate on what they are saying, not what you want to reply. Listen to the person, to God, and then talk if you need to. No one wants to talk to someone who isn't interested in listening to them.



4. Watch Your Schedule. Sort what you are doing by the focus of your ministry, not because you want to feel important by having a lot to do. Think about how Jesus would handle His daily duties if He were here now. If you study the Gospels, you will see that one attribute of Jesus was that He was never too busy to help someone. For example, Jairus and the woman with the issue of blood. Make time for aloneness with God so He can rejuvenate you. Allot time for your family so your ministry doesn't override your family time together. Remember, that your family is a big part of your ministry. If your relationship with your spouse and children are in shambles, how can you be effective in what you are doing for God?



5. Stay close to God. If you are close to God you won't be digging at the last minute for a message to give on Sunday or whenever, He will supply it. If you are so busy you don't have time to prepare your messages, then something is wrong. Is your message a priority or an afterthought each week? God will give you what you need for those under your care if you are close to Him.

These are but five of the many areas that are important in ministry. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you to see what is happening in your ministry from God's point of view. Keep an open, humble heart before God so you can hear what He has to tell you.

Ministry of Hope

By Dan Langerock

There are so many people in need of encouragement nowadays with the economy being what it is. Stress in people’s lives is at a breaking point and they need to know someone cares about them. I am putting forth a challenge for the Christian community and others who want to use their gifts to help others. Here is the idea:
I believe there are many of you out there with gifts the Lord has given you for singing, playing instruments, encouragement and a host of others. Why not use them to benefit our nation by going in your own city, area and wherever God leads you to spread this hope from God? One person cannot hope to meet all the needs our country has, but all of us working together can make a difference for God, and even an impact. That is the true point of being a Christian, to make an impact for God wherever you go.
We cannot accomplish this momentous task in our own strength because we are not strong enough in ourselves. The issues are too complex. The problems are too big for our wisdom. That is why we need the marvelous wisdom of God that transcends description. We need His power and His love and His wisdom to accomplish the seemingly impossible. Jesus said, “What is impossible for man is possible with God.”
You don’t have to be perfect to be able to use that gift God has given to you. If you will step out in faith, I believe God will work in a wondrous way in our beautiful country of America. Everyone, at some point in their lives needs hope and encouragement. There are many without jobs, places to live, and most of all hope for the future to believe once again. It has all been drained out by what they have been through, just as things may have happened in your life as well.
So, what can you do? Pray about how God wants you to help our nation, first of all. Then use the gifts God has given you to show people the love of God in your neighborhood and city. If we put God in a small box we will get small results. However, if we let Him out of the proverbial box and believe with all our being, God will do wonders for America---one person at a time.
I am challenging every Christian in America to at least pray for God to move in a mighty way in the hearts of Christians everywhere. Then, step out in faith and do what you have prayed about. Get out there and encourage people. If you play an instrument or sing, use those gifts wherever you can. It doesn’t matter what your gift is, the point is to use it for the glory of God.
One church I know of is making quilts for people at a mission to keep. So look for needs in your own sphere of influence: where you work, shop, and everywhere you go. The Bible tells us that wherever Jesus went, He did good for others. If we claim to be Christians and His disciples, can we do any less than He did?
Thank you for praying and joining us in our Mission of Hope to America. You will be truly blessed if you pray about this and then act upon it by using what God has given you. Remember, we are not to be a reservoir but a funnel of His blessings to those around us. God bless you as you obey.