When I applied for the World Race, I saw all these cool videos and pictures of people doing ministry and it made me really excited to be a part of it. I was mostly looking forward to coming on the race to experience so many different types of ministry. In the states, I usually volunteer for kids ministry at my church and I’m involved in the youth group. I also do a few other things with my church. However, there is always a set ministry time and then i go home and “turn off ministry” time.
I’ve learned since being on the race that life is ministry. There isn’t an “on” or “off” switch; Everything you do is for the Lord. Ministry doesn’t have to look like visiting houses and praying for people, preaching a sermon or even evangelizing to people; I’ve seen the ‘look’ of ministry change from day to day. Every day our ministry is to love God and love people. Bottom line. When we do simply that, it matters. It matters to Jesus and it matters to the people that we love. Doing seemingly mundane things, like picking weeds, sitting with someone or cooking someone dinner may seem useless, but it shows them Jesus and shows them you love them.
In India, we did house visits and prayed for people we would only see for that one day – and it mattered.
In Nepal, we prayed for the government and helped repaint a house for a family – and it mattered.
In Thailand, we dug holes and planted banana trees and visited the youth prison to talk to the boys there – and it mattered.
In Cambodia, we loved on 42 orphaned kids, taught them about the Bible and let them beat us up daily – and it mattered.
In Vietnam, we met up with college students and taught them English while secretly sharing the Gospel with them – and it mattered.
In Ethiopia, we made bricks and shoveled dirt, we visited with the house moms on the compound we lived at – and it mattered.
In Rwanda, we taught English to little Kinder babies and preached every night – and it mattered.
In Bolivia, we sanded metal bars down to repaint and got to hang out with adorable special needs children – and it mattered.
In Peru, we preached and gave a testimony every night in a different church – and it mattered.
This month, we have done yard work and gone to the dump to feed the children that live there – and it matters.
I’ve been on the race for 10 months and my ministry has never really looked the same. But one thing that hasn’t changed is who I’m working for. There have been times where I question why we are doing this, or how is this considered “ministry” and I always have to check myself and remind myself that I’m doing this for the Lord. I’m coming alongside the long-term missionaries and doing whatever they need to love them. When I do this, it changes my perspective and makes me complain less and enjoy whatever we’re doing.
You see, you don’t have to be in a foreign country to love God and love people. You can be home and do ministry by helping a friend, a family member, or a neighbor. Taking the time to be interruptible, and show other’s the love of Jesus may sometimes seem unimportant or mundane, but it is never wasted. Every moment matters and you are making a difference for the Kingdom. Don’t feel like you have to go abroad or work with a certain organization to be a part of a ministry. Ministry is simply your life. It’s the simple things that people tend to overlook, but it matters so much. I’m so thankful that I’ve been able to learn that over this past year, and I’m excited to bring that back home when all of this is said and done. Ministry won’t stop for me, and it shouldn’t for you either! PEACE
