[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”38302″ img_size=”large”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]March 2009, I was two months away from finishing my last semester of classroom work in bible college. I was looking forward to my upcoming summer internship as a ministry intern, in which I would work directly under a senior pastor. Finally, I was going to be involved in full-fledged ministry. No more classroom stuff, just real life “up-in-your-face” ministry.
But those things were to come two months later. Right now, I was still in March. I was on my way out of the country for the first time in my life to take part in my first mission trip. I, along with 50 other individuals were headed to China to help a ministry located in northern China. Of course, we were going to help others. We were going to perform some philanthropic deeds, which were supposed to be motivated by the gospel, as well as creatively looking for ways to share the very gospel that was motivating us.
Going into the trip there was so much unknown to me. Over and over I had heard that people go on mission trips to help change the lives of others, and inevitably it is their lives that end up getting changed, forever. How was my life going to be changed? Would I just go and have the warm fluffy feelings that seem to happen when you believe you are involved in something meaningful? Would I really be helping someone? Will this just be something to brag about when I get back to the states? Will I make it back to the states? So many questions.
Prior to this trip I envisioned myself graduating bible college and accepting some type of pastoral position where I would preach from time to time on Sundays. Prior to this trip, my idea of ministry, in which I felt I could truly contribute, involved a lot of preaching and not many well developed thoughts on anything else. Preaching was my gift and I loved to do it. Naturally, pastoring in the traditional church setting would not just be my contribution to the work of the LORD, but also my occupation. This is what I am meant to do.
Then, I get to China and recognize that the ministry we worked with could not just go plant a church and advertise service times. They had to perform services for people and build relationships with them through that service. Essentially, they worked normal jobs and ministered to people as they focused on building a real relationship with them. Some taught English at an English school, and through that job function they were able to present the gospel to others who may have never heard it before. Whenever a conversion took place, the Christian kinship was genuine because of the relational aspect of true discipleship. Instead of inviting them to “church” (i.e. the building) to hear the gospel, they were being the church and taking the gospel to them.
My entire philosophy on the process of ministry changed; at least as it concerned my involvement in the process. I begin to question everything I thought I was going to be apart of.
So, until next week, I leave you with these questions I asked myself:
Are pastors the only people within a local church body that are able to accurately articulate the gospel? Does laity have a responsibility to participate in ministry besides inviting people to Sunday, midweek, or holiday worship services?
Grace and peace.
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