From 1977 until June of 2006, I worked primarily with churches as preacher, counselor, youth minister, family life minister, or in some other area of ministry. (Periodically I took a break from “formal” ministry and did such things as work for an airline, own/manage a print shop, direct a non-profit organization.)
For the 30 years I served in churches, I never wondered what my ministry would be and how I would carry it out. Every day I performed my duties (usually outlined in a job description) and every day I blessed someone; it was automatic. When I taught a Bible class, someone was blessed. When I conducted a counseling session, someone benefited. When I preached a funeral or officiated a wedding, someone was ministered to. I didn’t have to think about whether I was “ministering;” it happened because that was the nature of my work. “Ministers” minister, and that’s that.
Now, in my new vocation as truck driver, ministry is not so automatic. First of all, I am alone most of the day. Who, besides me, benefits from that? (Some of you smart alecks are saying, “everyone!”) Second, when I encounter someone, it is usually for a brief time. I drive alone to my first stop, I pull up to a dock, someone comes out to check the seal on my truck doors, they go back inside the warehouse or store, I back into the dock, they unload my freight, they sign the bill of lading, I leave, and I repeat that another time or two during the day and go home. The question I’m wrestling with is, how can I be an agent of God in that work situation?
Here’s what I’m discovering. Ministry must be intentional. I have to make it happen; it might not happen otherwise. I must keep my eyes ever open to opportunities. I must be willing to create opportunities to bless others in my day. (It goes without saying, I hope, that the first opportunity is with my wife and others who are close to me each day…how do I treat them? If I fail here, little else matters.) For example, I am hanging around just a little bit longer at the guard shack where I pick up my loads each morning, trying to get to know the overnight guard. In time, I might start bringing him coffee. Same with the people I encounter at each stop. Rather than retreat to my truck to read or sleep, I’ll try to make myself available to the people in the warehouses and stores. (I have offered to help unload the truck, but this is forbidden by the contract between Schneider and Sears.) I’ll be as quick to help truckers at truck stops as they have been to help me with questions, simple repairs or tasks. I’ll pay more attention to the little things that others obviously consider important like pets who accompany them or stickers they have on their trucks; these might lead to short conversations. I’ll be quick to be an optimistic, encouraging presence around others. There are few smiles in an all-night truck stop at 1 AM; I’ll be the exception. I’ll offer something of greater value than money to the panhandlers who ask; I’ll share the gifts of time and attention.
I’m guessing that most of you who read this blog are not in “professional” ministry. How then do you minister? How do you intentionally go about being the presence of God among those you see each day? (I’m not talking about trying to convert someone or getting them to come to church.) How do you live among others so that they can get a vision of what Jesus in a human life looks like? And if you have some thoughts on how I might do that better, please let me know.
Please don’t be shy; this isn’t about any of us. It’s about the one who has placed a great ”treasure in clay jars so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.”
Cindy Putnam said
I appreciate the thoughts in your blog today. On days when I’ve spent some time with God and am somewhat in tune with his thinking, I’m much more conscious of taking deliberate notice of people, remarking on subjects of interest to them, showing them some kindness, doing small favors, asking them questions and affirming their importance. On the other hand, when I haven’t been with Jesus, I’m quite capable of being completely focused on my own needs and interests – oblivious to so much of what goes on in the lives of people around me. This, to me, is a really clear indication of where that “extraordinary power” comes from.
Emogene said
Steve, if I know anything about you,it’s that you are always ministering to others without even thinking about what you’re doing. That kind smile of yours, or that fatherly pat on the back. One thing that I have come to realize in ministering to others is to keep loving them when they try to despitefully use me. I try to keep turning the other cheek in order for them to know that I “got people” God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit, who not only loves me, but loves them and want to be a part of their lives. It doesn’t always work, but it helps me to keep living and loving in spite of myself.
appleletters said
Intentional ministry is a difficult idea for me to grasp. There are many people I “hang out” with and associate with that are missing this spiritual element in their life but can sense “ministry” a mile a way and run from it. Any mention of Christianity they see as preaching and immediately disregard it, so it’s difficult for me to get my foot in there. I like to think my way of life (the things I do or don’t do) has an impact on the people I meet and am friends with. I think I need to be more intentional, though. Good thoughts.
Jay said
This is by no mere coincidence that I read your blog today. I am currently struggling with the same idea. I try to listen to where to be led and I try to do the verything that God has asked of me. However, I seem to still be doing laundry, cleaning rooms, and asking…is this what its all about.
Ya’ know what the answer is??? Oswald Chambers states that our hearts and ears should be open to the call of God. That we should intently listen to his voice, since at times its so hard to hear. I really feel that my ministry is my life not a specific vocation. I know that is understood, but it has taken me a long time to learn that.
My question is this…how do you handle people that have no morals? Or individuals that cheat on spouces? Do you still grin and act like its o.k. or do you do something to change it?
SHAUN MERCER said
WOULD LOVE TO TALK TO YOU FELLOW CHRISTIAN TRUCKING BRO
Patti said
Thanks so much for your thoughts! I guess our ministry is dependant on our mindset isnt it? In the secular world, success is determined by numbers. I have heard Christians boast about the number of people they have lead to Christ and cant help but feel empathy for their shallowmindedness and pity for their hostage/captive!! I love the simplicity that you represent – simply using your God given time to love your neigbour as yourself. Keep up the wonderful work of sharing the love, wherever and however the opportunity presents itself. My husband frequently criticises me for random acts of kindness. I simply cannot fathom how he who has so much (and did so little to get it) can feel good about themselves to not share their blessings.
Peace be with you – and much christian love to you!
Alan Miller said
We can find fault with anybody and anything because we humans are involved with it, but on the other hand if we assume failure before we start, then we might as well not start. Christ chose to work through human believers to be his hands and feet. It is usually the attitude of the believer that is at fault and not the method being used to accomplish God’s will. Organization is good. The church is organized and not to be chaotic; however, it is not an end unto itself. For some reason there is a view by some that big is bad and little is good. The church is both big and little. Example: Healing Hands International in Nashville does great work around the world to give medical aid to so many who live in poverty and/or have suffered a natural catastrophe such as hurricane or tsunami. Many congregations (large and small) and individuals support this great ministry. Operation Ecuador is a cooperative umbrella effort to focus on one country in training preachers for the region, providing medical clinics in underserved areas of the country, and a children’s home and school to help orphans grow into spiritual and political leaders in the future rather than remain in poverty and apart from Christ. Are numbers important? As E. H. Ijams once said, “They must be if God felt it important to count the 5,000 Jesus fed, another 4,000 Jesus fed, the 3,000 saved at Pentecost and later noted that the number of believers had grown to 5,000.” Yes, if you care about each person as God does, numbers are a measure of what God can do. If numbers are just to stroke my ego, then I am missing the point but numbers are still important to God since the individuals helps or taught or saved are so important to God that he sent his son to die on a cross for them. There are probably a few people who boast about how many they have led to Christ, but I just haven’t heard this enough to worry about it. Most of us are on the opposite end in that we feel we can do nothing and end up doing just that.