Usually, you pick your ministry. Sometimes though, your ministry picks you.
A few years ago, I wrote an e-book, Speechless: Finding God’s Grace in My Son’s Autism. The book is about my son’s autism and the spiritual journey his diagnosis took me on. Writing that book was one of the hardest things I’ve done. I’d like to put it behind me and say, “Well, that was therapeutic. Let’s do something fun now.”
But around the book has grown a tribe. A community who loves and supports each other. Who teaches and encourages. Who rejoices and mourns. It’s my tribe. My community. My ministry.
I didn’t chose to be “the autism lady.” But I am James’s mom, and autism is a huge part of our story. And according to the newest stats, it’s a huge part of the story for 1 in 50 children between the ages of 6 and 17. That’s 1 in 50 moms and dads who need a tribe. Who need hope.
As you’re thinking about your ministry calling, be open to an area of your life that doesn’t feel like a ministry opportunity. You may not want your ministry to be the one area in your life you struggle with the most. The area you are still trying to understand. The area God is using like sandpaper to refine you. The area that causes you to be the most sensitive, raw, and insecure. Don’t ignore the work God is doing! You can make a difference in the lives of others going through the same circumstance.
Six years ago when my husband and I graduated from seminary, we could have told you all our big dreams for ministry in the future. Special needs ministry wouldn’t have made the list. But now we see the special needs community as our mission field, our ministry.
Our ministry picked us.
Question: Can you relate? What ministries have been brought to you because of life circumstances that were out of your control?
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Sandra is a pastor’s wife and mom to three boys, one with autism and one they are in the process of adopting from China. Sandra and her husband Lee recently released a Bible study for special-needs parents, Held: Learning to Live in God’s Grip. You can connect with her on her website, sandrapeoples.com
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[…] “As you’re thinking about your ministry calling, be open to an area of your life that doesn’t feel like a ministry opportunity. You may not want your ministry to be the one area in your life you struggle with the most. The area you are still trying to understand. The area God is using like sandpaper to refine you. The area that causes you to be the most sensitive, raw, and insecure. Don’t ignore the work God is doing! You can make a difference in the lives of others going through the same circumstance.” – more over at The MOB Society […]
Wow, this causes so many thoughts to breakdance inside of my head. I was content with my three birth sons, but I am also raising my late brother’s two sons. I never set out to have five kids, but now I’m “that mom with all the boys” who draws stares, pitied expressions and unwanted questions (so what if they’re all “mine” or not?). I haven’t really thought of it as a ministry because it seems like such a unique situation. Definitely something for me to ponder with the Lord. Thank you for the prompt.
What a great ministry opportunity! Praying you’ll find others in your “tribe” who you can encourage by sharing what God is teaching you.
Yup 🙂 Great word!
Husband left March of 2012. Divorced March 2013. My number one ministry is homeschooling my children… because I still can… it pretty much confirms my calling, though I never thought I’d be doing it alone. Alone, but not alone, of course.
4 out of 6 are adopted from the foster care system and God has allowed His plan for our family to open peoples eyes about adoption. People will ask are they all mine, and it allows me to tell them how are adoption process was.
Awww I love this! Those that learn that God has chosen THEM and not the other way around have a blessed life indeed. Sometimes not fun but God is the author of our ministries for sure :)Blessings to you!
God bless you! I was happily working in the secular world (Psychology) and was called to minister to women as a Pastoral Counselor and Christian Life Coach. I never imagined this would be my wonderful life, yet it is. Glory to God!All roads lead to Rome in a fantastic way if we allow it!
Yep. Pretty much every area of ministry was something that chose me…lol.
I’ve been very open an honest about our issues with infertility. The more I’ve spoken about it, the more and more and more women have told me that infertility has affected them, too. I had no idea that my story would touch and minister to so many, or provide so many opportunities for me to share about God’s love and faithfulness.