What is Ministry?
I have been in vocational ministry since 2011. At least, that was the first time I received money in exchange for serving in a church. Ever since I started attending Church in 2004, I have been somehow involved, whether it was participating in a short-term missions trip (I’ve been to Mexico, Guatemala, and Russia), volunteering in Children’s ministry, attending camp as a leader, or serving as a small group leader for high school youth, much of my teenage years into adulthood has been serving at a local church.
In the walls of the Church, I cultivated a deep love for the Bible. From attempting to understand Proverbs during a high school all-nighter to mispronouncing “Philippi” at post-youth-group Denny’s run, I was interested in studying the Bible and serving in ministry. I think many of you are in the same boat. Whether it has been for many years or just recently, we feel a call to serve in ministry.
But what exactly is ministry?
After all my years of serving in ministry, I never had anyone define “ministry.”It was just something we did, a service or resource we offered, or a general term for what the Church does. And to be honest, I never asked for a definition of ministry; it is a term I learned and just went for it. It wasn’t until I actually heard a definition of ministry that it hit me, “Oh… THIS is what we are doing.”
The definition came from a resource I wasn’t exactly expecting to be paradigm-shifting for me. As part of my doctoral studies, we had to read a book on qualitative research methods for Doctor of Ministry projects. Sounds riveting. But, sure enough, Tim Sensing’s, Qualitative Research Methods: A Multi-Methods Approach to Projects for Doctor of Ministry Theses changed everything. In the introduction to his book and sort of off the cuff, Sensing says, “Ministry is a medium that facilitates relationship between God and God’s people, and not as a platform to communicate objective information or to explain ideas” (Sensing xxiv). When I read that, I put the book down and had to reconsider my paradigm.
Since reading that, I have come to define ministry in the spirit of Sensing by saying, “Ministry is facilitating the reconciliation of relationships between God, Creation, and Humanity.” If Genesis 3 teaches us anything, sin has disrupted relationships between God and humanity, humanity amongst ourselves, and humanity with the earth. Walter Bruggemann makes a few more distinctions, including that the challenge of the Garden of Eden also led to the creation of the “other,” the creation of prejudice. Have you ever felt distant from God? Have you felt distant from your own thoughts? Have you experienced strife in your relationships? Have you been cut by a thorn while hiking? If any of those are true, you know the effect of sin and the existing disruption in relationships. That is where a robust understanding of ministry comes in.
Ministry is facilitating the reconciliation of relationships between God, Creation, and Humanity. And to take it a step further, your calling is rooted in God’s invitation to you to be part of that healing process. Perhaps your unique contribution to the Kingdom of God is in the intersection of your passion, giftedness, compassion, and the deep need for restoration in the world.
When was the last time you felt you had clarity in your calling? Take a moment today to pray with God and take an inventory of your calling. What relationship is God inviting you to become a minister of reconciliation in?
Reflecting on my journey in ministry and the definition I have come to embrace, it becomes clear that ministry is not just a series of tasks or roles within the Church. It is not simply a means to convey information or ideas. Ministry is something much deeper and more profound.
According to Tim Sensing, ministry is a medium that facilitates relationships between God and God's people. It is about fostering connection and reconciliation. This paradigm shift opened my eyes to the true essence of ministry, and I have personally defined it as facilitating the reconciliation of relationships between God, Creation, and Humanity.
When we look at the brokenness in our world, the fractured relationships between individuals, communities, and the natural world, we see the effects of sin and the need for restoration. Ministry is the calling to be part of that healing process, to bridge the gaps and facilitate reconciliation.
We are each uniquely equipped and called to contribute to the Kingdom of God in our own way. Our passions, gifts, and compassion intersect with the deep need for restoration in the world. Our calling is rooted in God's invitation to be ministers of reconciliation, to bring about healing, help, and hope wherever we go.
So, I encourage you to take a moment today to sit with God in prayer and reflect on your calling. Seek clarity in the relationships God is inviting you to become a minister of reconciliation in. Embrace the opportunity to be an imager of God's love and restoration, and let your unique contribution flourish.
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