Discerning Your Gifts for Ministry

What do you mean by "ministry"? I thought we hired a Minister to do "ministry"!

The word "ministry" comes from the Latin word for "servant." In the Bible, there is no word equivalent to "minister," but there are a number of "offices" in the early church that were for "serving" or "ministering." These were called "elders," "bishops" or "deacons/deaconesses." All three of these words seem interchangeable in Scripture, and refer to acts of service in the church.

But all the people of God are called to serve. Therefore, everyone, in a sense is a "minister." All Christians are followers of Jesus ("disciples") and as such are called by God to serve in the world in some way.

The church sets aside some people with specific sets of gifts and special calling from God to specific orders of ministry. At Langley United, we have also contracted with several other people to offer paid accountable leadership in relation to our Ministry of music, Ministry with youth, Ministry with children and families, and Ministry of administration. The point is that all our work is done for God, not simply to run the church.

What's the difference between paid Ministers and us lay people then?

The ministry of ordered and designated people is set out in Ephesians 4: 11-13.

"The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ."

So the task of our paid accountable and ordered Ministers is one of equipping you for your important work of Christian service in the world. They do this by preaching, teaching, inspiring, organizing, visioning, and programming, as well as through prayer, counselling and pastoral care.

So what about MY ministry?

We do not know what that will be, and you may not know either. But God is calling you to do something in the world, and the church is here to help you learn what that may be. Your journey will begin by attending worship weekly, listening to the Gospel proclaimed, enacted, and sung. You will receive spiritual nurture through this worship service as well as inspiration.

Your journey will also entail learning and growing. There are a number of opportunities available for you to learn more about the Christian faith and develop in your own journey.

Finally, at Langley United we use tools created by the Rev. David Ewart and the Rev. Anna Christie, two other United Church clergy, to help you discern your Spirit-given gifts for ministry. It is our hope that, as people decide how they might exercise their ministry more fully in the life of the congregation and in the world, they will be lead into those areas for which they have already have an interest or a passion.

If you would like to learn more about your ministry or your Spirit-given gifts, please contact the Church Office to make an appointment to see the minister, who will help direct you to the appropriate program or group to help you at this stage in your spiritual journey.

May God bless you as begin your journey toward discerning your ministry.

Biblical References:

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbour as yourself.'" (Matthew 22: 37-39)

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations..." (Matthew 28: 19)

"Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

"We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If one's gift is preaching, let her use it in proportion to her faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let her teach; if it is encouraging let him encourage; if it is helping others, let her do so generously, if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let her do so cheerfully." (Romans 12: 4-8 ... paraphrased)