The Ministry of Ministry Kids

When we talk about missions, we often think about the harrowing stories of people like Hudson Taylor, William Carry, Lillian Trasher, Jim Elliot, and Mary Slessor. We don't think about the humdrum of day-to-day life filled with laundry and homeschooling.

We, the children, aren't "the real" missionaries anyway... right? Or, we might find ourselves thinking, "I never heard God calling ME to be a missionary to..." [Fill in your location here... even if that's Timbuktu or your RV.]

I remember my mom telling me shortly after we had gotten to our mission field, "You may be the only Bible many of the people around you ever read." While this quote is not original to her, it challenged and encouraged me to do my seemingly small part for the Great Commission.

No, you don't need to be perfect to be "the Bible" for people to read. All you need to be is faithful.

Romans 12 is a great chapter to meditate on and even memorize. I'm drawn to verse 7 which says, "..let us wait on our ministering..." Each "members" have different roles. An integral part for those of us in ministry IS waiting. We need to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit moving in us as we wait, guiding us to minister to those around us. Whether that's your parents, siblings, church family, or a total stranger you meet on the city bus. Everyone needs someone. Everyone around us carries their own burdens. Personally, I've found that many people just need a listening ear and someone to compassionately point them to Christ.

That's the whole point of the Bible. It's full of the histories of imperfect people and how God worked His plan through their imperfections. When these people yielded their lives to Him, God used them for His glory.

Living in the walls of Jerico, Rahab was an enemy of the children of Israel. Realizing that God was with the Israelites, she protected the Hebrew spies and trusted God to protect her and her family. As a token of her trust, she displayed a red rope from her window. For her faithfulness, God honored Rahab and used her to be in the lineage of David, then Christ.

"And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; And Jesse begat David the king..." ~ Matt 1:5&6 ~

My personal favorite example is the woman at the well. Jesus called her out on her sin and revealed himself as the Messiah. The Samaritan Woman ran back to her village witnessing to them and rejoicing that the Massiah had come!

Probably the most famous example though, is Saul (who later became Paul). He called himself Chief Among Sinners. (1 Tim. 1:15) He persecuted the church, torturing and killing many. He embodied the one from whom many churches in closed countries hide. Then he met Jesus on the Damascus Road and his life - just like his name - changed forever. As the first New Testament missionary, Paul planted churches all over Europe and Asia and then wrote a good chunk of the New Testament.

Jesus Christ is the great redeemer of our stories!

He uses our weakness and failure for His glory.

Each one of these people used their circumstances in and the gifts God gave them to bring glory to God. Rahab possessed the gifts of discernment and hospitality. The Woman at the Well, demonstrated of Evangelism, and Faith. And of course the Apostle Paul that of Apostleship.

I'd encourage you to read 1 Corinthians 12. Ask yourself what spiritual gift God has given you. You could also go take a website quiz to see what gifts you have like one of these:

https://giftstest.com/allgifts

https://spiritualgiftstest.com https://gifts.churchgrowth.org/spiritual-gifts-survey/

Beyond your spiritual gifts, you probably have at least one "practical gift." If you are a good cook, then use it to be a blessing to the sick family in your church or the shut-in down the road. If you're blessed to be musically inclined, you could do special music for a service. If you're gifted in technology, you could help in the sound booth or managing the website for your family's ministry. God gave you passion and enjoyment for a reason. Use your gifts for His glory!

Don't forget to go share ways you have found to minister as a ministry kid in the forum!

Reference for personal further study of spiritual gifts and labor:

• MATT 11:29

• 1 COR 15:58, 12 & 14

• ROM. 12:4-5

• ROM. 6:13

• 1 COR. 12

**All scripture referenced on this blog, is from the KJV**

**all pictures used are stock pictures but if anyone has pictures from their ministry I'd love to use them!**