On the race I have worked with numerous distinctly different ministries. I have done a range of things and interacted with many different people. It was my time in Romania, though, that caused me to reflect upon this question:
What actually signifies a successful ministry?
We had a chance to visit a homeless ministry. There were men and women who were drug users, involved in prostitution and seemingly stuck in a cycle of going in and out of jail.
Upon going to this place I had a hope to see people delivered and set free. What does that actually look like? Coming from America where everything is instantaneous and success is often measured in quantity I had a reality check.
When we arrived we prayed and sang together. We asked God to deliver and we certainly felt the power of the Holy Spirit. We gave them food and then they showed us around.
When it was time to go my heart was heavy; I wanted to see more, do more and to see the fruit of the out pouring of love.
God spoke to me through the pastor that we were working with that month. He shared with me that he had been working with the homeless for over 17 years. He had walked alongside one man since the age of 9. At one point the pastor was able to provide apartments for the people he was working with but they would often run away and back to their old habits or lifestyle.
It was then that he realized that God wasn’t calling him to bring instantaneous change but rather to walk along side these individuals and give them the choice to be free. So that’s what he did. Through jail sentences, hospital visits, and overdoses he stood by to be a friend.
When I thought about this I realized how symbolic this is to our relationship with God. He is there with us but we have the power to choose life or death. No matter what our struggles are or how many times we fail, God is constant. The depth of his love is unfathomable.
After my talk with the Pastor I realized that I was no longer asking the question of success but rather of how to love well.
The answer to that question is by consistently walking with people and showing them unconditional love.
If we look at all of our relationships in this manner then life presents countless opportunities for ministry.
We can choose to love well.
