So what does it mean to you to be “in ministry”? What does it mean to be a “missionary”? Like, really, what’s your definition?
Dictionary.com says has muiltiple definitions of both:
min⋅is⋅try
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// ]]> –noun, plural -tries.
| 1. |
the service, functions, or profession of a minister of religion. |
| 2. |
the body or class of ministers of religion; clergy. |
| 3. |
the service, function, or office of a minister of state. |
| 4. |
the body of ministers of state. |
| 5. |
(usually initial capital letter ) any of the administrative governmental departments of certain countries usually under the direction of a minister of state. |
| 6. |
(usually initial capital letter) the building that houses such an administrative department. |
| 7. |
the term of office of a minister of state. |
| 8. |
an act or instance of ministering; ministration; service. |
| 9. |
something that serves as an agency, instrument, or means |
mis⋅sion⋅ar⋅y
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–noun Also, mis⋅sion⋅er.
| 1. |
a person sent by a church into an area to carry on evangelism or other activities, as educational or hospital work. |
| 2. |
a person strongly in favor of a program, set of principles, etc., who attempts to persuade or convert others. |
| 3. |
a person who is sent on a mission. |
–adjective
| 4. |
pertaining to or connected with religious missions. |
| 5. |
engaged in such a mission, or devoted to work connected with missions. |
| 6. |
reflecting or prompted by the desire to persuade or convert others: the missionary efforts of political fanatics. |
So, if we take it purely on definition… what does it mean to be in ministry, and what does it mean to be a missionary? It means to provide a service and a function of a religion. It means to be a minister. It means to be a part of governmental body (Britain has many “ministries” that compose their government. JK Rowling created the Ministry of Magic.) To be a missionary, you are purely someone who has a passion and a purpose. You are someone who has been sent by some organization, relgious or not, to a place for a purpose.
Many times over the last 2 years, as I’m been “in ministry”, I’ve remembered a quote I learned in college… “You’re not doing youth ministry until your youth are doing youth ministry.” What that means, is that you’re not really doing what youth ministry is all about, if you’re not teaching, leading and equipping your youth to be in ministry themselves. That doesn’t mean that when I have a ton of students go to a Concordia for college and aspire to be DCE’s, then I am a youth minister. No… it means that when your youth are confident and secure in their faith and trust their Lord, to be at the point where they are reaching out to their friends. They are the ones planning meetings, discovering scripture, exploring events and retreats and truly in teh nitty gritty day to day realities of what it means to be a teenager in a world that doesn’t respect faith of any kind. They are the ones reaching out and inviting their friends to youth group and taking ownership of their youth ministry. It’s for them anyway, isn’t it? I dont do what I do for me. I do it for them. Because I see the need for it. So I’m not really doing youth ministry well, until I am at a place where they are bringing their friends and learning and growing, doing peer ministry and when THEY see the need for youth group.
I had 3 kids at HS youth tonight. 3! When there were 17 in Bible study this morning, and 18 on our retreat last month. I recognize that it’s summer and there were many contributing factors as to why there weren’t more kids there tonight, but still. 3. What a shocker. I don’t know if truly means anything (it probably doesn’t), but still. It kinda bugs me. Very few of my friends invite their friends to youth group or sunday school. I don’t know why that is. Are they afraid? Are they not confident in their faith walk enough to be that vulnerable? Do they not want to invite their friends? I’m just kinda curious as to why this is.
Anyway…. so back to the point… my best friend is a missionary in Taiwan. She loves the students that she’s teaching and she loves being able to teach them and share her faith at the same time. She has a purpose and a passion and has been sent. Have I? Yes, I have. I am more confident in my call as a DCE and my call in my church, more today than ever. I know that God placed me here for a purpose, and He not only has a passion for me, and these kids, but He’s placed a passion for them and His Word in my heart. Over the past year, I’ve had an incredibly difficult time getting into my Bible for me. I hate that. I feel like such a hypocrite because I tell my kids over and over and over and over how incredibly important it is for them to be in the Word, when I’m not in it myself. How ridiculous is that? I never wanted to be that teacher who would tell her students to do something that she herself didn’t do, and claim that it’s important. I fully recognize that it’s crucial. And I fully recognize that it’s a huge reason as to why I’ve struggled with anxiety, fears, loneliness and depression the last 6 months. I also fully recognize that the few times in the last 6 months that I have been in my Bible, a huge weight has been lifted in my heart and a huge peace has filled it. I know first hand how important it is.
I was watching a movie on the Hallmark Channel tonight and one of the charcters prayed that God would help them to be “missionaries of His Word”. It made me think about what that really means. To be a missionary of God’s Word is to be so passionate about it that we have a purpose in proclaiming it to the world. We are sent by God to read it, learn it, live it, believe it and tell others about it. We are all called to be missionaries. Be a missionary of His Word. Even though it’s hard for me to be in the Word lately, I truly want to change that. I want to grow closer to my Savior by diving deeper and deeper into the majesty of His Word. But I don’t want to do it because I have to. I don’t want to do it in preparation for a lesson for my students. The little 3 minutes random Word-diving isn’t good enough anymore. I want clear, quality, time-limit-free time in God’s Word where I am fully awake and alert and fully invested in growing closer with Him. I know that I can’t do this by my own strength, but that the Holy Spirit would guide me and see me through. He will fulfill me and strengthen me and encourage me. I pray that He would give me a person who could be my accountability partner in this process. I need that, I think.
So… here’s my challenge… be in the Word… live it, learn it, love it, believe it and tell it! 
AMEN!
Psalm 119:105 “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path”
