Mission of Ministry

The missions trip is ending, and we are nearing sweet home Chicago as I type. Reflection time…

As I think back on the trip, I recognize that I didn’t grow as much as I had hoped throughout the course of this past week. I’m not saying that God didn’t work in my life, but it wasn’t like I had expected. He did teach me a humbling lesson regarding ministry. I feel like I now have a much better idea of what ministry is like and how it should look.

I would like to split this blog into two parts by looking at what ministry is and what it is not.

Ministry is a selfless act that places the target group ahead of one’s own needs, concerns, and overall welfare. Christ was the ultimate servant, and if His ministry isn’t a perfect example, then I don’t know what is. His ministry was all about how He could help people. How to serve people. How to love people. He didn’t grow as much in His ministry as His followers did.

I can resonate with that now that after this trip.

After spending a week seeking God’s lessons in my life, I realized that my lesson was a lack of lesson. That is, I learned this lesson of what being a minister truly looks like. I didn’t grow much on the trip, but the students did. And that’s really all that matters.

Really.

Ministry is all about giving of oneself to better another’s faith. Whether it’s sacrificing pride, time, or lots of sweat in the Arizona heat, ministers sacrifice for others. I spent the majority of my week trying to plan out ways to best allow for a positive experience for these student, nd, through the grace of God, the students were changed. But this kept me from being able to grow a lot personally because I was helping students in their growth.

That being said, ministry is not about fame. It’s not about fortune. It’s not about how many people are in the crowd, how many souls I can tally up in my conversion count, how many churches want me to work for them.

It’s about Christ.

It’s about others.

I used to, and still do, look forward to leading large worship sets for large crowds. I dream of speaking to huge audiences and becoming this famous Christ follower who tours the globe leading worship and teaching others. I love teaching, because I get to speak in front of people. Let’s be honest, I love attention.

But that’s not what ministry is about.

I spent the week refocusing my priorities, my motives, and my reasoning. I’m trying to put into practice this idea of service. Of selflessness. Of love. No more alternative motives, no more selfish desires, and no more pride.

I’ve been in a ministry of making a name for myself.

I’m going into a ministry of making a name for God.