What is your definition of “ministry”?
For years, my idea of official or acceptable ministry was limited to preaching, church functions, medical outreach, and a few other token outreaches. But slowly over the past few years, Papa has been expanding my view and definition of ministry.
-In Boston, ministry sometimes looked like handing out granola bars at T stops, or enjoying PB&J sandwiches with Street Punks.
-In Phoenix, it looked like cleaning and organizing a massively chaotic food pantry, or learning to skateboard with the neighborhood kids.
-In the San Francisco Bay Area, ministry often looked like prayer tours or entering names and addresses into a database.
So it should not be any surprise that here on the race, Papa would continue to expand my definitions of ministry.
-Sometimes, Ministry looks like stringing beads and making jewelry with or for at risk women.
-Sometimes, Ministry looks like a “Treasure Hunt” where you ask Papa what you should do for the day… and do it..
-Sometimes, Ministry looks like visiting the tourist area of town, and making friends and loving on the local shop keepers.
-Sometimes, Ministry looks like visiting temples and enjoying some pumpkin bread with the boys who are forced to beg there.
-Sometimes, Ministry looks like sitting in the lobby of a tattoo parlor, and sharing Papa’s love with the constant stream of people that come through.
-Sometimes, Ministry looks like buying a cup of tea at a restaurant that is a cover for a brothel, just so you can buy time (literally) with the prostitutes that work as “waitresses” there.
–Sometimes, Ministry looks like nothing you would expect.
–Every time, Ministry is following the lead of the Holy Spirit and the commands of Papa.
This is my friend Indra. He owns a tea shop in the tourist district of our city. I met him when I was shopping for some tea for my mom (thanks ma, for insisting on me buying you tea!) He ended up giving me a really good deal (still over-priced, but a good deal for the tourist area of town..) on my tea, and we chatted for a few minutes while I waiting on the rest of the group I was with. Since then, I have continued to stop by his shop every time I am in the area, even if I only have a few minutes. Over the past few weeks, we have discussed teas, I have helped him learn more about essential oils (which he sells in his shop, but was rather clueless about. So now he hopefully will not be misleading his customers), we have talked about teas, discussed the festivals he has celebrated over the past few weeks, and talked about what we are doing here in Nepal and around the world. This weekend, I stopped by his shop to say hi, and he was so excited to tell me how much luck I have brought to his shop. He insisted that since I bought tea from him the first time, his shop has been far more successful. As a token of his gratitude from bringing him good fortune, he gave me a gift of incense. I tried to explain to him that I am not lucky, but that I am blessed by the One True God. Of course, he insisted that I was in fact lucky. As I explained that I would be leaving the country soon, he insisted that I buy another thing of tea because I am so lucky. Despite being on a budget, I couldn’t say no to the sweet man, so I bought myself another thing of tea. I promised him I would come visit him before I leave Nepal.
In my heart, I can’t help but hope and pray that I could see him come to know Papa before I leave. But I also know that you cannot force a tomato seed to grow a plant and produce tomatoes without the hand of Papa allowing it to. In the same way, I will continue to plant and water seeds of righteousness. And I will hold onto hope that someday, when this world passes away and I am strolling the streets of eternity, that I will bump into my friend Indra.. And we will enjoy a cup of tea and reminisce about that one month that I was in Nepal: when I would stop by and share love and light with him in his tiny shop on a bustling street.
And through it all, my definition of ministry stretches just a little bit wider.
*Side Note. I have struggled with sharing stories about these “unconventional” ministry opportunities. I worry that my supporters will not agree with these new definitions of ministry, and withdraw their support. But Papa keeps reminding me that he wants to expand the definitions of ministry for other people as well. Do I still run the risk of some people not agreeing? Of course! None of us are exactly in the same place along our journeys with Papa, so it is natural for some to not understand the lessons he is teaching me. But I have decided not keep my experiences to myself out of fear of man. Instead, allow me to ask you this question..
What is your definition of ministry? Are you open to allow Papa to expand that definition?
