8 Things I Have Learnt In Ministry

This year I have been doing a mission's program through a local church. It has been a good year and I have learnt many things, some expected, some more unexpected. Obviously this is not an exhaustive list, but a few things I thought might be found interesting. Here are 8 things I have learnt this year.

1. Things aren't always as easy as they seem

Although there are many amazing sides to ministry, some are not so easy to find the amazingness in. Some tasks are difficult, or not appealing, or present a lot more resistance than anticipated.

Preparing games for kids in a cancer ward is difficult. Because of ports, illness and surgery it is quite tricky to think of games that are not too hectic but still fun. The fact that most of the children didn't speak English made it more challenging.

Even though we did come up with some ideas that they enjoyed, I found visiting the cancer ward one of the most difficult things that we've done. It's not nice to see people sick and know that they aren't feeling well and have to be confined to the hospital in an attempt to get better against a disease that is not readily curable with the treatments used.

Relating to people can be difficult, even the ones that you'd think would be easy can be confusing.

Hearing people's stories can be hard. Sitting in a dementia ward with an older lady that is crying because she misses her family (which I'm not sure all even exist in the states she remembers or are still alive), and not being able to comfort her is tough.

2. Things aren't always as hard as they seem

At the beginning of the year doing things such as preparing a lesson, or just getting my head around what a week entailed, was challenging, but as the year continued those tasks which first seemed difficult have become less daunting and don't seem like a big deal anymore.

Something that I was keen to do this year was speak in front of people. A few years ago this would be the thing I avoided the most, but somehow a desire for this new experience began to grow even before the year began. Even so, at the beginning of the year when we each had to introduce ourselves and say a few things in front of the church, it was a daunting task, a few months later and it is easier (and more fun) to speak in front of a group. 

3. How to relate to people of different ages

This is something that I think I have both learnt how easy and how difficult it can be. We get opportunities to interact with a whole range of people from abandoned babies, to school students, to residents of an old age home. It is awesome how when you give people a chance and try and get into conversation, how easy it can be, but on the flip side, sometimes how hard it can be to engage someone in a good conversation.

4. Teamwork and vision

Working together toward a goal is important. I was around a different group of people to those that I work with recently and it frustrated me how the task at hand was being carried out. The person with the plan was not taking charge and everyone else, for lack of understanding of the entire task or because they wanted to follow their own idea, was just doing it their own way which was not efficient at all. Having a goal to work towards and a plan to work along and all understanding it and working at it together is necessary if you're to work well and avoid confusion and unnecessary work.

 5. Pastors/ Youth Pastors are busy

I never thought that they sat around all day and did nothing or only worked one day a week, but it didn't quite occur to me all the other things they do in a week that you don't generally notice. When I first attended youth I had the impression that youth pastors would prepare for Friday ministries, run Friday ministries, prepare and run a few events, and maybe some leader's events, run a camp once or twice a year and sometimes see people. That doesn't seem like much, right?

Well, there are only so many hours in a week and a more realistic look at that list is probably: prepare and run Friday night ministries, co-ordinate teams, create rosters, prepare lessons, buy stuff, make stuff, prepare for bible study/ies, run bible study/ies, respond to messages, run other ministries, plan events, meet with people, pray for ministries and teams, plan and run camps, help with other church activities and responsibilities, and so on.... In other words, a lot more than it first appears. Although I've never held a full time job in another area and don't understand completely what that entails, the belief that pastors only work one day a week is strange. 

 6. People have different standards to you

Spending many years dancing and doing exams and shows taught me some things such as responsibility for what you have been asked to do (if you're told to practise a certain step for a group dance and you don't, you let your whole group down), and commitment (if you are in a show and don't show up for rehearsals there is big trouble. You just don't do that). It has been interesting to see that not everyone has these standards, yet I know there are probably other things that I don't do, or don't always do, that others think are basic standards.

7. What is important

Although I already knew the importance of God's place in my life, it has been highlighted to me again and again to remember what is really important in this world. Although God can use you in many places and pursuits, in the light of eternity, what is really important?

It's not making a lot of money or being successful by worldly standards, because the only things that last into eternity are God and people's spirits.

8. Where you are is just as important as where you'll be

Many people have a calling to a certain place or certain ministry, but even if you don't have, or if it is for the future and taking a while to get to, where you are is important too. We can get caught up in visions of the future and what things can and might be like, and how amazing it will be to go to this place to do this thing for God, when right here there are things that you can do to show others that same love. Because, really, that's what it's all about. We don't have to be on a ministry team or mission trip to change someone's life.