This article was written by Cheryl Moore. Moore serves as the financial ministry assistant at First Baptist Church in Cabot and is a valuable resource to many ministry assistants through her participation in the Association of Arkansas Baptist Secretaries.
A ministry that reaches out to others. It has been said, “ministry wouldn’t be so bad if it weren’t for all the people.” Whether two months or 20+ years in your position, you will have all kinds of people to deal with. Church members, casual attenders, vendors, salespeople, repair people, people looking for assistance, people who are hurting, the list goes on and on.
Our previous pastor was adamant that the phone be answered by the second ring. His belief was that every fourth person calling the church was in a crisis. As the ministry assistants, we are the very first contact a person has with the church and how we minister to them can make a difference for eternity.
“It is God himself who has made us what we are and given us new lives from Christ Jesus; and long ages ago he planned that we should spend these lives in helping others.” Ephesians 2:10 (The Living Bible)
Therefore, we need to focus on the fact that Jesus grows us by having us do things we think we can’t do.
A ministry that reaches up. We are the ground crew, the event staff, the support team, not “the star” – that’s Jesus, but we can have a hand in making or breaking His design. We can do nothing without God and anything we do is by God working through us. “Work hard and cheerfully at all you do, just as though you were working for the Lord and not merely for your masters.” Colossians 3:23 (TLB) Jesus will supply everything we need to fulfill His purposes. We have to remember, “I’ve got so much work to do, I must get on my knees.” Focus your attention not on the person you are serving but on the Lord who assigned you to this ministry.
A ministry that reaches in. As part of my personal ministry to reach in, I have taken Colossians 3:12-17 as my daily prayer. “Since you have been chosen by God who has given you this new kind of life, and because of his deep love and concern for you, you should practice tenderhearted mercy and kindness to others. Don’t worry about making a good impression on them but be ready to suffer quietly and patiently. Be gentle and ready to forgive; never hold grudges. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Most of all, let love guide your life, for then the whole church will stay together in perfect harmony. Let the peace of heart that comes from Christ be always present in your hearts and lives, for this is your responsibility and privilege as members of his body. And always be thankful. Remember what Christ taught, and let his words enrich your lives and make you wise; teach them to each other and sing them out in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing to the Lord with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, let it be as a representative of the Lord Jesus, and come with him into the presence of God the Father to give him your thanks.” (TLB)