Ministry

Ministry. Whenever we think of this word, we normally think of the preacher on the pulpit, or the singer on stage. But I have come to realize that for the missionary, this word ministry takes on a whole new perspective. Ministry is not just something that you do, or a job that you hold. Ministry is who you are. Now during my stay here in Mexico, I have been on both sides of the hour glass regarding “Ministry.” I have been both on the pulpit preaching, and I have befriended the forgotten. But to be quite honest I find that the latter is infinitly more rewarding.

There is a statement that Jesus makes in the Gospel of Mathew. He says this in Matthew 25 verses 34-40. 34″Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

37″Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40″The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’”

No matter where I have gone or what church I have preached at, daily I am confronted with how important this is, and how this is not my job, but my life. Jesus calls us to give, love and live for the people that we all have passed by on the streets. He calls us to minister to the least. Truly I see this everyday of my life here and am confronted by it. That if we call ourselves Jesus’ followers, these are the ones who we are called to love and share this Good News with. So who am I not to do it?

So in summary: My ministry here has been to the poor, the orphan and the widow. To give to those who have nothing, to bring hope to the hopeless, and to befriend the forgotten and alone. They need to see Jesus in me..not just hear about Him. I now understand what Jesus meant when He said to us ” Love your Neighbor as yourself.” He was saying very simply, Help your fellow neighbor because you care. Give to the poor, feed the hungry, and love the broken and forgotten.

They need to see Jesus in us and through us, not just a history lesson we tell them. If they see no reason to believe, than why should we expect them to?

We as the Church are called to the least of these. The Least…..