04.06.12 The 8th Key for Adding Value to Your Church

8. Be Ready to Serve ‘In and Out of Season’

Let me share an example of how I ministered ‘out of season’ on a day I least expected. It all started when God gave us a long-term consultancy by a miracle from an organisation that is only a ‘5 minutes’ walk from our home. The concept of the assignment was such that I had to share a fresh set of notes at the beginning of each week. However, on several occasions, the notes would not be ready by Saturday evening, necessitating that I rush to my car at the end of each Sunday service, to put final touches, so that I could submit by 10 p.m. that night. As our vehicle would be parked in a cool shade away from view, the atmosphere provided a quiet moment for me to work as my husband caught up with our friends, and of course letting them know that I had some urgent issue to address. It was on one of those Sundays that I looked up from my notes to discover that a young girl was peering through my car window, patiently waiting to catch my attention. As I smiled, I learnt that she wanted me to advise her on something. So, I beckoned her to sit in the back of the car, then listened. And, she was back the following Sunday and the next; and the Sundays that followed. I was so happy to see her smiling and glowing face each time she walked down to where I was parked. As the days went on, it was no longer just her, but a few other people who would hope into my car one by one on Sundays, to the extent that I stopped carrying my work as there would not be time for me to attend to it. Much as those sessions continued to eat into my very precious time, I knew that God accepted my sacrifice. I was also glad to witness those individuals growing spiritually, professionally and in other aspects of life. And yes. It was indeed ministry ‘out of season’ but I was so honoured to be part of what God was doing in those people’s lives.

For the case of Lydia, offering her home as a church meant that it had to be open round the clock, 24/7, to attend to anyone needing ministry, ‘in season and out of season’. Although I suspect that she had a huge villa given her status, her privacy must have sacrificially been compromised as a result, and yet she was pleased to witness what God was doing in the lives of the members of the Philippian Church.

A value-adding church member is ready to serve season in and season out, irrespective of the challenges that she may be encountering along her path.

Therefore, use your talent to serve in church, in and out of season. What are your God-given abilities and endowments and how are you using them to benefit church members? How have you been using your talent to edify members or win souls? See what 1 Peter 4:10 says (AMP): Just as each one of you has received a special gift [a spiritual talent, an abilitygraciously given by God], employ it in serving one another as [is appropriate for] good stewards of God’s multi-faceted grace [faithfully using the diverse, varied gifts and abilities granted to Christians by God’s unmerited favor].