(kind of a ramble/brain dump of some thoughts recently)
In my (very limited) years of ministry - I’ve been fortunate enough to have gotten a taste of both ‘upfront’ and ‘behind-the-scenes’ ministries. By ‘upfront’ I mean things like teaching and discipleship and being very involved with people and growing people and by ‘behind-the-scenes’ I mean things like running events, doing admin work or even staying at home so my parents can go and serve.
I absolutely love doing God’s work in both these areas. However, I find that in ‘behind-the scenes’ there is a great struggle to remain gospel and Christ-focused yet still be on task, effective and efficient. In teaching ministries it’s a lot easier to stay focused on the final growth (though I think the struggle still exists and a whole other set of struggles arise). In Bible study, you get to see your group members’ eyes light up as they understand something of God’s Word, you watch as their brows furrow in thought about something that has challenged and you have the privilege of teaching God’s Word! In discipleship, you get the joy of watching someone grow and be challenged in God’s Word, seeing God transform them to be more and more Christlike and seeing answers to prayers or persistence in prayer. Seeing the way that God works through His Word in His people is absolutely amazing and I hope I never take it for granted.
But what about ‘behind-the scenes’ work? Instead of seeing eyes light up at the Word, your own eyes are tired from your screens of endless spreadsheets and documents, the things you are concerned about are no longer the hearts and minds of those you are ministering to but rather, whether or not you will remember to bring the hole puncher, the tape, the markers, the stickers. Your mind is caught up in the seemingly endless list of tasks, you aren’t listening to the sermon or praying with the people around you because you’re looking at the clock and trying not to run over time.
Often, it doesn’t feel like I am glorifying God or serving Him. Writing a Bible study definitely feels more ‘godly’ than slaving away at a runsheet. But is it?
In the end, what is the purpose Christian ministry? Ephesians 4:11-16 tells us:
"And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds, the teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we will no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love."
Notice that it talks about people in teaching roles (apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds and teachers). Teaching is the backbone of Christian ministry. I like this summary of the book "The trellis and the vine" (a book I have not read, but intend to. Also sometimes my friends calls me a trellis)
"All Christian ministry is a mixture of trellis and vine. There is vine work: the prayerful preaching and teaching of the word of God to see people converted and grow to maturity as disciples of Christ. Vine work is the Great Commission. And there is trellis work: creating and maintaining the physical and organizational structures and programs that support vine work and its growth."
I would argue that, no, behind-the-scenes is not as important as teaching. But yet, it is still important in the work of God, to support the work of the vine.
It may not be as important as the speaker up the front, but having a hall to speak in, well thought out activities, concern for stewardship of time and a working AV system support that guy at the front, who is preaching God's Word.
As I prepare for a large scale event this year (and all the small ones in the lead up), I find myself getting easily caught up in the details. I have to admit, it's pretty hard to feel fired up for the gospel when I'm reading through a document trying to figure out peoples' lunch. I don't really have solutions for this - only prayer. Prayer that God will keep reminding me of the purpose of everything I am doing, that He will give me a heart that loves to serve Him and His people regardless of what actual tasks that may involve, that I may serve in a way that reflects Him, that I keep my heart on Him even while my eyes are plastered to a screen, that I remember that whether I am teaching or admin-ing, God is still the one that gives the growth and allows anything to happen at all.
Prayer that my concern will not be what I do, but rather how I do it and who I do it for.
this is what my to do list looks like
