Working in Ministry

Working in ministry is challenging, whether in a church organization, nonprofit, Christian school, or volunteer group. Three realities prevail in this space-time continuum:

• Infinite needs

• Not enough people

• Not enough time

• Not enough money

As you are coming to grips with the demise of your idealism, please also understand that the less than responsive people you are working with have had their idealism crushed by degrees for years. You have to cut others some slack and be forgiving.

I deal with this mess by just focusing on the one person in front of me in every minute, whether another volunteer or employee, or a person I am appointed to love. Everything else is unimportant.

Remember Jesus in the Gospels. He could have been working with the authorities to reform their systems, but he did not. He focused on the people right in front of him, every moment, in the midst of the mess.

-- Hank