Three Powerful Words to Shape Every Ministry

Years ago, I was mentored by a very effective leader who led over nine hundred volunteers in a Christian organisation.  He shared with me three words which he passed onto every volunteer under him, which shaped how they did their work.  Over time I’ve realised how powerful these words are.  They’re powerful because they are easy to remember, comprehensive in their scope and transferrable to any ministry.  As an assistant minister I’ve shared these words with teams of leaders, and urged people to take them in, think about them and let them shape their ministry.  These words don’t describe why we do ministry; they are all about how we do ministry. 

They are worth remembering, meditating on and internalising for a number of reasons …

1.      They reflect Paul’s and Jesus’ ministry.  Paul encouraged the Corinthians to follow his lead in ministry when he said, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1).  Paul followed Jesus, and we follow Paul.  Memorable words which capture how Jesus and Paul ministered will help us minister in the same way.

2.      These words apply to any ministry – whether that is mowing, arranging chairs, teaching preschoolers, leading youth, preaching, video editing or pastoral care. 

3.      Ministry during lockdown is particularly challenging.  Not only do we have to rethink how we do ministry, but working from home comes with new challenges, goals, distractions and less accountability.  We need greater resilience, strength and focus.  These three words will help us stay sane and be effective.

So, what are these three powerful words which shape how we do ministry?

1.      Outstanding.  This word is about the quality.  Make your ministry excellent.  When we minister to one another, we want to do things to a high standard. 

“We proclaim [Christ], admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labour, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.”  Colossians 1:28-29

Outstanding means that you are willing to go a little bit further in your effort, preparation and delivery.  Make what you do outstanding.

2.      Uncompromising.  This is about focus.  In the end, ministry is all about Jesus.  We mow lawns well and set up chairs to make church inviting so that people can hear about Jesus and know him and his people better.  We teach preschoolers so that they can love him.  We do not preach ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord.  Jesus was uncompromising in his preaching; so was Paul. From the above quote, Paul and Timothy proclaimed Christ so that they could “present everyone perfect in Christ.” Colossians 1:28

So, when we minister, we need to be uncompromising.    Ministry is always all about Jesus.

3.      Personalised.  This is the human dimension.  Ministry is about being relational - making sure that every interaction with people is as expression of love, all the time.  It puts other people first.  Love is almost always expressed in a positive manner.  But there are a range of ways that love can exist in relationships: we rejoice with those who rejoice; we mourn with those who mourn; on occasion we even rebuke, but always with the positive orientation of love towards the other.

• Jesus did this, even when he was exhausted.

• Jesus commanded his disciples: “Love one another… All men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”  John 13:34-35

• Paul says to the Thessalonians, “we were gentle among you … we loved you so much … you had become so dear to us … ” 1 Thessalonians 2:7-8 

What happens if we neglect this aspect of ministry?  If we aren’t consciously loving people, it’s possible to be so task focused that we can either ignore people entirely, or under stress we might lash out verbally at the people around us, and all our good work can come undone.  James knew the trappings of the tongue.  If the word “personalised” is in the front of your mind, it will help you to tame your tongue.  Whatever ministry you do, make it personalised: every interaction with every person – child, peer or parent, should only be loving, all the time.

Jesus’ ministry was outstanding, uncompromising and personalised.  So was Paul’s.  These words can shape your ministry; they can shape any ministry.  O-U-P.  Outstanding, Uncompromising, Personalised: three simple and powerful words to remember, meditate on, internalise, repeat and teach, so that your ministry is effective.