Today I thought I’d talk to you guys about what I think ministry is and what it can mean to you. I believe it plays an enormous role in raising a family. 🙂 I was born in a Christian home, my parents took us to church every Sunday. We participated in the annual Christmas story play, went to Sunday school, got baptized and lived the typical Christian family life. As I grew up, we still went to church, but my faith was becoming mine. I have always believed in God, that belief never wavered. However, my personal relationship with God and what that entailed did change. By always attending church because my parents did, I never found my own faith. I never put the time or dedication into reading my Bible or spending time with God alone. Not until I was on my own.
I recently read a book about leading small groups. It is something my husband and I are currently starting to get involved in (more on that in a later post). It put into perspective what happens to a child’s faith as they grow up. If you don’t nurture an authentic faith while they are young, they may not keep this faith as they grow up. An everyday faith among other attributes can help build that authentic faith. This is extremely important to me because becoming a mother has shown me my husband and I have to make sure and nurture and help our baby grow up in his faith and build that authentic faith. So when he does leave home to go out and discover the world on his own, he can carry his faith with him. I volunteer in my church, in children’s ministry, because of my passion for the little humans of the world. I love seeing their excitement and joy they bring every Sunday. I always just saw myself as a volunteer in preschool, until I met my husband. My husband and I started volunteering in youth and other areas of the church as well. The more we got involved the more I wanted to accomplish the mission for God’s kingdom (Matthew 28:19 “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…”). Although I wanted to do more in the church I never felt particularly called to ministry in any way. My husband, however, felt called into ministry and started to work towards his calling. I just recently realized that maybe my calling in ministry was to be by my husband’s side in his calling. That my ministry was my family. What does ministry mean to you? Ministry isn’t necessarily a career as a pastor or a preacher, but it can be in your home, with your family and friends. Ministry is a part of everyone’s life, not just those who work in your church on a Sunday. I think that is a great opportunity for us, as mothers to raise up strong children in their faith and can defend it. One of my greatest worries for being a mother is when they are older. When they go off to school, and work and become part of the secular world. There’s so much controversy about including God in schools and it worries me. I want my kids to still feel comfortable talking to their friends about God and their faith. “Your greatest contribution to the kingdom of God might not be something you do, but someone you raise.” I don’t know who said this but when I had to take a step back from my involvement in our church due to my pregnancy complications I felt defeated. After reading this I realized I didn’t need to be in church and working there every day like everyone else to be apart of ministry. I thought maybe my part was sitting at home, taking care of myself and preparing myself in order to give God time to grow my baby fully, and wonderfully so that he can be great. I guess the moral of this story is to encourage all you wives and mothers out there that you can do so much for your ministry. As well as for God’s kingdom by just raising your kids and being the best you can be for your husband. Ministry is so much more than just being a pastor or making a career in the church. God has great plans for each of us. Live courageously, love Crystal.
