Ministry Continues on Monday
Monday, December 1, 2008 at 11:25PM After Sunday morning service at Koinonia Faith Church yesterday, I was called into a meeting circle to join my husband, four members of our church, and a visitor who came to help us organize our thoughts and plans for our post-prison ministry. I'm using the words "us" and "our" now because after being called into the meeting, I found myself declaring a desire to involve myself in what up until now I've been referring to as my husband's ministry. I've volunteered, for starters, to attend some months of training (I think) with Communities of Shalom as part of a team of church leaders and others looking to benefit the community in which we worship.
My husband constantly preaches that we need a church made of participators, no spectators allowed, and I've always agreed wholeheartedly while sort of hoping to participate as a cheerleader rather than a player. But as we began the meeting yesterday, each of us Koinonia members spoke briefly, for the benefit of our visitor, about why we are at Koinonia Faith Church and how we got there. I related how God had told me to marry my husband after I'd prayed for a man of God who would help me grow in my ministry.
On the way home from church, it struck me that, as simple as my life would be if all God wanted me to do for Him besides write books and blogs is to preach occasionally, give lots of hugs, make a few calls to members, and bring the cookies and tea on Sundays, that is not to be. Ministry for me will not be that simple.
Ministry, for all of us, extends beyond the tasks that give us personal pleasure and it extends far beyond Sunday. Ministry continues on Monday.
Tonight (Monday) I drove home in a hurry to edit and post this thought before gobbling some leftover turkey and gravy, then slipping into my comfortable bed. Just three minutes from home I realized that I had totally forgotten my Machipongo meeting, although I'd been reminded last night and this afternoon. Machipongo is a diverse and changing conversational community in Richmond that meets on the first Monday evening of each month with the aim of exploring important life topics together in a way that might cause God to smile.
Groaning at the thought of turning around when I was so close to comfort food and a pillow, I continued on for two more blocks before the irony of ignoring an opportunity for ministry in order to go home and write about it convicted me to turn back toward downtown Richmond. As if to drive home the point, God granted me the most profound Machipongo experience I've ever had tonight. That story will have to wait until I've digested the conversation and feel able to do it some justice.
God gave me what I prayed for when He set me in the path of my future husband and pastor five years ago. I asked for a man of God to help me grow in my ministry. I knew then neither who the man would be nor what the ministry would require. I left both decisions to God.
My ministry is still taking shape. I don't know what it will eventually look like. I do know it won't be shaped by me and that Mondays will be included.
Reader Comments (4)
God is really amazing. Everything will be done in His time. Everything will just fit like a puzzle if God permits.
Blessings to you!
I have an award for you in my blog.
Light it Up
Serving the Lord is a 24/7 job, and sometimes when we ask for something, we don´t really know all that is involved, and don´t get it until later.
It´s wonderful to see how the Lord is ´growing´you in ministry, and having it burn in your Spirit to serve Him.
Blessings!
I truly appreciate the heartfelt comments. Paige, you are stronger and more blessed than you know, and Yvette, I look up to you so much and appreciate your watching me.
God bless us.
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