Relational Ministry vs Formulaic Ministry

Here is an excerpt from my July newsletter. If you would like to receive my monthly newsletters, please send your name and email address to: mmkukraine@yahoo.com


Through twitter, I asked my followers what they wanted to know about my ministry and someone said they wanted to know how I keep ministering in such a depressing environment where there is so much unending need.

That’s a good question and I admit there are times when everything just seems too difficult and I struggle with normal human questions about suffering.

But one of the things that helps me a lot is remembering that ministry, no matter what kind of ministry it is, needs to be personal. When I am building personal relationships with the people around me, I experience and see more evidence of hope and encouragement in the world around me.

Matthew 25:35 is a verse where Jesus tells those he is allowing into heaven what they did for him personally:

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me……(NIV)

Jesus emphasizes that these are personal things that these people did for him. Their actions affected him personally as well as affected the people they were helping at the time.

When ministry becomes about a formula or plan that people are plugged into, it becomes easier to stereotype people. Stereotyping can lead to people becoming stigmatized or marginalized. The person’s need becomes the problem to overcome and the individual is lost as people try to solve the need and forget about the person. The person’s individuality is lost and they become just another face in a sea of needs. Their problem or need can then overwhelm us. We see no end to their suffering. Then it is easier to become tired, hopeless and turn away in helplessness.

• One day I was met at a traffic light by a group of street children that I knew from the Day Center where I had been volunteering. It was a Sunday and the Day Center was closed so they would not receive a meal that day. We greeted one another and they and asked me to buy them lunch at the local market. I took them across the street and bought them all lunch. It wasn’t part of the ministry plan. I didn’t use special set aside ministry funds. I just understood that they had a real need and I met it.

• The Ukrainians I work with in our ministry have opened up their hearts to me. I have been ministered to by them as they accepted me as one of their own. No longer do I feel lonely in my desire to help street children get off the streets.

• A couple, who are good friends of mine, came to visit me in Kyiv. My friend was not prepared for the bitter fall weather in Ukraine and she had brought summer clothes with her. My neighbors took one look at her clothes and sandals and immediately ran into their flat and brought out tons of sweaters, jackets, scarves and even boots for her to wear during her time in Ukraine. She was amazed at their kindness in making sure she had warmer clothes to wear.

• One of my Ukrainian friend’s elderly grandmother was suffering from the effects of a bad stroke. She was very sick and could not take care of herself nor communicate well. As the church he attended believed this was caused by “sin,” no one from the church would come and visit her. I went to their flat regularly to visit with his family and grandma. One day my friend called me and held the phone up to his grandma’s mouth and I heard her say, “Michelle, please come and visit us and be our guest.” We were all surprised that she was able to string coherent words together much less invite someone over to visit her. She didn’t see my visits as something I had to do as part of a missions outreach. She saw me as a family friend.

• My elderly landlady saves up all her energy to take regular trips to a women’s prison. She returns from her visits with photographs of the women and she excitedly tells me each woman’s story and shares letters that they have written to her about how God is changing their lives. She saves up money to buy them medication and necessities that they can’t get in the prison.

Personal ministry gives people dignity. Personal ministry allows God to not only work in the hearts of those we are ministering to but he uses them to teach us about him as well.

I hope that these examples encourage you and I hope that you will reach out to someone you know today.