03 Jul Summer LINK Columbus: The True Joy in Ministry
Summer LINK Columbus has been very different than expected, but I am thankful that it has been. I have had ?wander lust? for a while now. The Lord has been growing my desire to minister in a place where the Gospel is desperately needed and the Church is not fully established. At first, I thought this would surely lead me overseas. It may one day, but this summer, he has led me here: Columbus, Ohio.
Getting ready to talk to students at The Ohio State University
My rose-colored vision of ministry and church planting has radically changed in the past three weeks. I have always seen the established side of it. Growing up in the Bible-belt means that I am well acquainted with organized programs, mission teams, etc. However, I was always on the other side?the worker who did whatever she was told. This summer, God has allowed me to be on the planning side.
God has stretched my team this summer and He has stretched me. I have seen that plan A may not always work. But we have to learn that God?s plan is different than our man-made ones. He molded them before any idea of them ever popped into our minds. He is sovereign in the messy planning and execution of ministry. He will work through and in it for His glory.
Columbus, and specifically the area we are working in?Bexley?is in desperate need of the Gospel. It doesn?t look the same as our rosy visions of ministry usually lead us to think?people in poverty, reaching out on street corners, etc. These people are wealthy but empty of the truth of Christ. They need Him.
In order to reach them, we have to throw our assumptions of what ministry looks like away. We have to trust the Lord to help us be ?all things to all people so that by all means [we] may win some?. And this means we will not always have everything together.
Summer LINK has challenged me to why I do ministry: Am I doing it for instant results or to be obedient to the Lord out of my love for Him and his Gospel? It challenged how I see people: Are they only lost if they are (from the world?s perspective) below me or should even these wealthy people be seen as ?sheep without a shepherd?? It has opened my eyes to the good and the tough parts of ministry, the exciting and the mundane. I am thankful for the experience so far and that every day when I ask myself ?do you still desire to be involved in long-term ministry?? I always say yes?this is growing even more as the beat of my heart here in Columbus.
Spending a day at the Columbus Zoo with some church family
By: Kayla Sweeney