Ministry Partners

It’s been about 8 years since my family first came to be part of The Bridge.  Not long after praying about how to get involved, our family felt led to support our church by serving with The Bridge’s Children’s Ministry Team.  That’s been a special place for us to plug in over the years as we’ve been blessed by our interactions with children and other members of that team.  Since then, there have been many other opportunities to serve as well as be served by other ministry teams.  I’ve often introduced myself and my family as ministry partners with The Bridge because I value the team ministry model that I’ve seen practiced at our church over the years.  We are a church of many different people coming together towards a single mission under the leadership of God’s Holy Spirit to “connect people to God’s indelible grace.”  That’s how God continues to show off His handiwork through diverse people with a variety of gifts living as His body in this world.

In chapter six of Acts, we see the church dealing with a complaint over a need that had arose from within the congregation.  In those first moments of church history, people stepped up to meet the needs of the church.  We are introduced to a disciple named Stephen that is one of seven chosen for a ministry team charged with the task of serving widows in need.  Sometime later, Stephen will be preaching in the face of life-risking persecution under the direction of God’s Holy Spirit.  I believe God used Stephen’s service to those widows as a proving ground for his trust in the power of the Holy Spirit that enabled His faith to stand faithful to serve others in the face of his death.  It’s still the same for followers of Jesus today.  Jesus uses ministry to develop the faith of His followers.  The church can learn firsthand about Jesus’ passion and love for people through our service to others in our congregation. 

It’s encouraging to see how the church dealt with such things then as it should challenge us about the importance of continuing to care for the needs that arise among the different people in our midst that have come to saving faith in Jesus now.  Ministry teams will always be needed in the church as long as there continues to be people with needs.  So there will always be a part for each of us to play in church ministry.  With so many different ways to serve others in the church, how might God be calling you as a ministry partner with our church in order to help you grow closer in your walk with Jesus?

This coming Sunday is special to me because our church is resuming our Children’s Ministry after a very long suspension due to the pandemic.  Please pray with me for our children – for their physical and spiritual well being.  Pray also for those who serve as part of our Children’s Ministry Team – for their physical and spiritual well being.  Let’s pray for God’s Holy Spirit to lead over and give wisdom to the Children’s Ministry Team.  As families with children involved, may we be reminded of the love of Christ Jesus as we watch the children being served by these ministry partners.  And may all of us that serve as ministry partners in the church be captivated and compelled by the loving service of our Savior in our own lives.  Jesus loves the little children and Jesus loves you!  May the deeds of our church affirm the same about the amazing love of Jesus!

Grateful and hopeful in Christ, 

Jon