Back to Basics
By: Christina Greco, Real Life Church, Wading River
WHY? Why Ministry? Why do we do what we do??
For me the answer behind the why is simple. I serve my God, our church and our community, because I am madly and deeply in love with my creator. The idea is that this supernatural being loves me more than my simple mind will ever be able to comprehend. The idea that he would send his ONLY and perfect Son as my sacrifice, but even greater than that, not just for me but for the entirety of mankind is overwhelming. That’s a measure of love that goes beyond comprehension. To consider that one day I will walk the streets of heaven with my Savior because He loved me so drives me. This is a love that I want the WORLD to know and experience, a LOVE that redeems, a LOVE that restores, a LOVE that invites us into a level of intimacy with the God of heaven and earth.
Why do we give to a congregation of our time, talents, and effort? As believers, we all know that God has bestowed each of us with different talents and gifts. My talents are different than yours, and yours are different than mine. Each of our God-given gifts and talents come in many ways, shapes, and forms. It’s the beauty of our creator and what I admire about Him most. He’s so creative. When He spoke our lives into existence, He uniquely designed each and everyone of us with very specific purposes. One of the most rewarding things is to allow God to use our talents. All you have to do is ask Him to show you your purpose. We all have one. I would never want to rob God of what He wants to do in and through me, nor could I hold back from Him by not using my gifts to love others and serve Him. I just have to be willing to be used, to be a servant, to share His great Love. He knew that we couldn’t minister alone, and that’s why I believe we need each other so as to reach the lost together. It’s my honor to worship Him by using each gift according to His purpose.
Why do we support our husband’s habit of ministry? Standing by my husband, praying for him, and fully supporting his ministry, our ministry, is one in which I take great pride. It’s a position I don’t take lightly. I’m honored to be the woman God has called to walk alongside him, to pray for him, to honor him, and to respect his calling. The burdens my husband carries are far greater than I will ever understand. My heart’s desire is to love him the way God has called me to, and in return to love the church. I’ve learned a lot over the past 19 years in ministry and He is continually teaching us and causing us to grow in our positions. My greatest desire is to honor HIM and glorify His name and come to see others know him the same way I do. If he wants to use my life, and our family as an example for others, then Father USE US!!
Why do we bring up children in a ministry setting? When you throw raising a family into the mix of ministry is challenging. Unfortunately, the fact is that most expectations placed on pastors children are unrealistic. This coupled with so many other factors cause our children to constantly feel the need to live up to higher standards than god has set for them. Our children are no different than any other child living in this crazy world trying to discover themselves and who they are. They are going to face all the same challenges as any other kid, and truth be told, with an even greater sense of pressure. It’s the pressure to be perfect, to dress a certain way, speak a certain way, act a certain way and never make the mistakes that every child makes. My husband and I determined a long time ago to never allow our children to live under the weight of these unrealistic expectations. We’ve reminded them repeatedly that they are going to have moments of missteps and failure and that it’s ok. It’s ok for your children to do stupid stuff. It’s not ok for us to not teach them through their mistakes. Our children have fallen and failed repeatedly, but it is our responsibility to remind them that, the mistakes do not identify who they are. We talk a lot about grace in our home and the overwhelming source of God’s love to attempt to counteract the pressure they may be feeling by others. My husband and I believe that we have a responsibility to constantly and consistently remind them of how proud God and we are in who they are becoming. In the same breath, it’s vital that we encourage and challenge them to allow God to use them. One of our greatest fears is that our children would grow to resent the church in feeling like they always have to be present, to serve, to give of their time, to sacrifice family time, to share their parents with perfect strangers and to miss out on what they would sometimes prefer to be doing. I have worried that my children would want to run from the church and God because of the strain the church can often put on us as a family. I can honestly say though, that God has shown up time and again answering each of our prayers. I’m proud to say that my children have learned to love to serve God and others. I’m forever grateful to Him for that. They still have much growing to do, but I’m confident that the foundation laid for them will continue to mature them as believers. I recently heard while attending a conference that studies show Pastor’s kids are known to have some of the strongest set of social skills. I would have to say I strongly agree with that statement. In my humble opinion, and I might be a bit bias, but my kids ROCK!! I’m so grateful for their hearts and their lives. My prayer is that He will continue to protect them, lead them, guide them, and use them for His glory.
Now the answer as to WHY we, as a family do what we do as mentioned above is easy. If I’m being honest, being in ministry is far from easy. Ministry is one of the most difficult things I’ve ever had to do. You constantly feel the pulling and tugging of other people’s problems, hearing the hurt they are experiencing, or the doubts they have. It is in my nature to want to do anything and everything I can to help people fix their problems and be there for them. We all know this is impossible. My desire to spiritually encourage every person I meet, to use my talents he’s given me to the best of my ability, to serve others, to point them to Christ, to see the broken healed, to see relationships restored, to see miracles performed, and ultimately to see the lost saved. It’s all so challenging and yet there is no greater reward than to be a part of how God is using each of us.
So, I suppose when I think about the WHY’S of ministry, for ALL that He has done for me, I would shift that question and ask: “Why Not!?”
WHY? Why Ministry? Why do we do what we do??
For me the answer behind the why is simple. I serve my God, our church and our community, because I am madly and deeply in love with my creator. The idea is that this supernatural being loves me more than my simple mind will ever be able to comprehend. The idea that he would send his ONLY and perfect Son as my sacrifice, but even greater than that, not just for me but for the entirety of mankind is overwhelming. That’s a measure of love that goes beyond comprehension. To consider that one day I will walk the streets of heaven with my Savior because He loved me so drives me. This is a love that I want the WORLD to know and experience, a LOVE that redeems, a LOVE that restores, a LOVE that invites us into a level of intimacy with the God of heaven and earth.
Why do we give to a congregation of our time, talents, and effort? As believers, we all know that God has bestowed each of us with different talents and gifts. My talents are different than yours, and yours are different than mine. Each of our God-given gifts and talents come in many ways, shapes, and forms. It’s the beauty of our creator and what I admire about Him most. He’s so creative. When He spoke our lives into existence, He uniquely designed each and everyone of us with very specific purposes. One of the most rewarding things is to allow God to use our talents. All you have to do is ask Him to show you your purpose. We all have one. I would never want to rob God of what He wants to do in and through me, nor could I hold back from Him by not using my gifts to love others and serve Him. I just have to be willing to be used, to be a servant, to share His great Love. He knew that we couldn’t minister alone, and that’s why I believe we need each other so as to reach the lost together. It’s my honor to worship Him by using each gift according to His purpose.
Why do we support our husband’s habit of ministry? Standing by my husband, praying for him, and fully supporting his ministry, our ministry, is one in which I take great pride. It’s a position I don’t take lightly. I’m honored to be the woman God has called to walk alongside him, to pray for him, to honor him, and to respect his calling. The burdens my husband carries are far greater than I will ever understand. My heart’s desire is to love him the way God has called me to, and in return to love the church. I’ve learned a lot over the past 19 years in ministry and He is continually teaching us and causing us to grow in our positions. My greatest desire is to honor HIM and glorify His name and come to see others know him the same way I do. If he wants to use my life, and our family as an example for others, then Father USE US!!
Why do we bring up children in a ministry setting? When you throw raising a family into the mix of ministry is challenging. Unfortunately, the fact is that most expectations placed on pastors children are unrealistic. This coupled with so many other factors cause our children to constantly feel the need to live up to higher standards than god has set for them. Our children are no different than any other child living in this crazy world trying to discover themselves and who they are. They are going to face all the same challenges as any other kid, and truth be told, with an even greater sense of pressure. It’s the pressure to be perfect, to dress a certain way, speak a certain way, act a certain way and never make the mistakes that every child makes. My husband and I determined a long time ago to never allow our children to live under the weight of these unrealistic expectations. We’ve reminded them repeatedly that they are going to have moments of missteps and failure and that it’s ok. It’s ok for your children to do stupid stuff. It’s not ok for us to not teach them through their mistakes. Our children have fallen and failed repeatedly, but it is our responsibility to remind them that, the mistakes do not identify who they are. We talk a lot about grace in our home and the overwhelming source of God’s love to attempt to counteract the pressure they may be feeling by others. My husband and I believe that we have a responsibility to constantly and consistently remind them of how proud God and we are in who they are becoming. In the same breath, it’s vital that we encourage and challenge them to allow God to use them. One of our greatest fears is that our children would grow to resent the church in feeling like they always have to be present, to serve, to give of their time, to sacrifice family time, to share their parents with perfect strangers and to miss out on what they would sometimes prefer to be doing. I have worried that my children would want to run from the church and God because of the strain the church can often put on us as a family. I can honestly say though, that God has shown up time and again answering each of our prayers. I’m proud to say that my children have learned to love to serve God and others. I’m forever grateful to Him for that. They still have much growing to do, but I’m confident that the foundation laid for them will continue to mature them as believers. I recently heard while attending a conference that studies show Pastor’s kids are known to have some of the strongest set of social skills. I would have to say I strongly agree with that statement. In my humble opinion, and I might be a bit bias, but my kids ROCK!! I’m so grateful for their hearts and their lives. My prayer is that He will continue to protect them, lead them, guide them, and use them for His glory.
Now the answer as to WHY we, as a family do what we do as mentioned above is easy. If I’m being honest, being in ministry is far from easy. Ministry is one of the most difficult things I’ve ever had to do. You constantly feel the pulling and tugging of other people’s problems, hearing the hurt they are experiencing, or the doubts they have. It is in my nature to want to do anything and everything I can to help people fix their problems and be there for them. We all know this is impossible. My desire to spiritually encourage every person I meet, to use my talents he’s given me to the best of my ability, to serve others, to point them to Christ, to see the broken healed, to see relationships restored, to see miracles performed, and ultimately to see the lost saved. It’s all so challenging and yet there is no greater reward than to be a part of how God is using each of us.
So, I suppose when I think about the WHY’S of ministry, for ALL that He has done for me, I would shift that question and ask: “Why Not!?”