Tomorrow, I have the opportunity to speak to the interns of Orchard Road Christian Center and I get to pick the topic. After much prayer and thinking, I have decided to talk to them about “WHAT MINISTRY/LEADERSHIP REQUIRES”. It will be a practical talk about the realities of ministry. I pray it will be encouraging and uplifting, but I plan on talking about some difficult stuff…stuff like:
Ministry/leadership transcends personality and friendships – If you are only kind to your friends how are you different from anyone else. Matthew 5:47. You will have to minister and work with people that you may not “mesh” with. The twelve discipes were comprised of some fisherman, a tax collector and a revolutionary – and the only thing they really had in common was Jesus.
Worship transcends music preferences and music altogether - this explains itself
When your message is not received, you must move on – I’ll warn about the dangers of bitterness and we will review what the deciples did when they were not received.
We will talk about some other things like family, finances and priorities. Pray for me and pray that the Holy Spirit moves! Any thoughts on this issue???
Teach them how blessed they will be if they do everything Mark Thomas tells them to do. Oh, and also the benefits of reading denverintranslation.com
how long to you have to speak & what do you expect them to remember? answer these questions & then consider how you will help them remember what you would consider the most important thing you want them to take away. just my 2cents worth
I admire your youth and involvement in the ministries. I could only wish that more young couples would have the direction and talent that Mark and yourself have, and would use it to encourage others. Prayers for you at your speaking engagement, but I know you will do fine.
I’d love to hear more of your thoughts on when your message is not received move on. Interesting and necessary topic!
Thanks Pastor Sarah! I think the point that I really want them to remember is that Ministry is not a job. Ministry is having a heart for people and living your life as a sacrifice to serve them.
i think that a huge lesson i’ve learned this year (and i know some other ministry leaders that struggle with this) is that ministry time does not equal personal devotion time. if we’re not getting our personal time in with the Lord then we are just giving out of ourselves and eventually that well will run dry. our leadership can become ineffective if we’re not walking out our Christian walk by example. i really believe this begins in our our quiet time with God.
my two cents.
Teresa – WOW! I totally agree and yet I have completely fallen into this myself. I will definitely be adding that to the message. Love you lots!
Great list Judy! More and more these days I’m reminded that ministry requires more than I am able to be. God has, without a doubt, called me to ministry – and I was foolish enough to think that it was because “I could do it!” In all honesty, it was the exact opposite. God called me to ministry because I couldn’t do it, and I would need to rely on Him every step of the way.
wow! I love all three of these points you made. They are SO true. i’ve experienced each. How did it go? My fav. was the middle one on worship. SO true. People get the most hung up in that area.