You Are Called To Ministry

I have had a very hard time writing this blog, believe it or not. This excerpt has been in the works for almost a year. Yes, I take writing that seriously lol. In the process of a year, I have been learning and unlearning a lot in regards to ministry, what it is and what it’s actually supposed to look like. So, I will do my best to articulate what the Holy Spirit has been conveying to me and I hope it gives you a fresh perspective on the word, “ministry.”

I believe it would make sense to give you a background of my life as it relates to the faith. Just so that you can have a better understanding of my thought process and the deconstructing that I had to go through and still currently is going through.

I have been a church girl basically my whole life, I grew up in a Christian Baptist home and church up until the age of 21. I then later transitioned to a non-denomantional multiracial church, then to a non-denomantional predominantly Haitian church and more recently to an Apostolic church. There’s so many angles that I could start this blog from but, let’s start with some definitions before we get into the nitty gritty.

By definition, ministry is the work or vocation of a minister of religion. A few synonyms for ministry is, “the church,” “the priesthood” and “holy orders.”

1 Peter 2:9 NIV

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

A minister is one who “attend to the needs of (someone).” In other words, one who cares for someone or a group of people.

 John 21:16 NIV

Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

I gave you these definitions to help us redefine what ministry actually is. For a very long time, I struggled with this word. I struggled with this word and resisted it in a lot of ways because I grew up seeing and believing that ministers of the gospel were those who were ordained pastors, those that were operating in the church building or doing some form of religious work. It’s not until I was going through a season where I had just started serving at my local church, going to school full time and at the time, caring for my youngest two that the Lord used a sister in Christ to help me understand that my whole life is ministry. I was feeling overwhelmed with balancing everything, and now having to add “ministry” to it, felt even more overwhelming. I could not figure out how I would balance it, while still making time to be a homemaker. She then said something to me that has marked my life for the better. She said, “Lynn, you don’t have to separate church ministry from your personal life. Your whole life is ministry. When you are raising those babies you are doing ministry, when you are at church serving, you’re doing ministry, through your business you are doing ministry.”

Romans 12:1 MSG

So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.

Often times, when we hear that God is calling us into ministry, we often equate it to holding a title in the four walls of the church. So, because of that, a lot of people are running away from the call. The other issue with a lot of believers is that we separate our lives, or we think God only cares about the things that seem “religious.” But, what if I told you that when God “calls you into ministry,” it means that the reason why you were sent on this earth has now been highlighted and it’s time to move higher into that version of you. What if I told you that God desires to use every part of your life as a form of ministry? God isn’t only interested in your life when you’re at church or when you’re doing some form of religious activity. But, He’s also interested in the mundane and seemingly unimportant parts of our lives. Such as, the way you dress to go to the market. What brand you partner with for your business, your posts on social media, your conversations with the unbelieving friend, your children’s bedtime routine, etc,.

If we are truly called to be “Christ’s ambassadors,” then that means we are to represent Him wherever we go and in whatever role we are in. When God calls us into a position, it’s because there’s a purpose behind it. When the Lord calls you into media, he is calling you into a life of ministry in the entertainment business. When God calls you to be a mother, he is calling you into a life of partnership with Him to help build someone else. When the Lord calls you to an organization, he is calling you into a life of service to others.

Ministry is servitude. Ministry is not only when you hold a title, when you are recognized publicly or when you’re waiting for a particular day or moment to serve. But, ministry is allowing God to use your whole life to serve Him.

XO Lynn J.