Jesus never called anyone but that He put them to work ministering for Him. Specifically, I think of the man from whom Jesus cast the legion of demons who He denied the opportunity to follow Him, but rather sent him to testify of Him in his hometown, opening the doors for Jesus return.

What have you been called to do? What is your passion? Your spiritual gift? Your particular ministry? Like Saul/Paul, is there something God is calling you to do but you are fighting against the goads?

Two ministries at the moment. Michigan Conf. SDA Van Ministries. We have mobile heath vans that travel to shopping centers and fairs. We do heath screening and look for bible interests.
Lay evangelist. This spring I have my first set of meetings in the Philippines.

I am discovering that I have a gift for teaching various subject matter to people.

I just taught a Sabbath School Class as a subsititute Teacher at our church. It had been a long time since I did much in the way of ministry; but to make a long story short; I have been asked to do it on a regular basis.

I like to talk about Jesus, and sing about Him...but I have been keeping the singing for when I am in my van, on the way to work...

Dear David,
Good for you! I have discovered that all He asks is that we be willing, then He will put us in the right place, and supply all our needs to do His work. Over a period of time, I have discovered that God has given me the gift of listening, and in ministering to hurting people. Each day, I ask Him to put someone in my path today, if He has someone who needs His love through me. He does. In person, by phone, e-mail, or maybe here on the discussion boards when I don't even know it. He put a hurting father in our house today. My husband and I listened to him, even cried with him, and promised to pray for him. Yes, David, as you allow Him, God will open doors you hadn't thought of, and, maybe even put you in a choir!!

In Christ's Love,

Dora

The ministerial principal, that is the focus of all ministries, is the love that we are to share with all humanity. That is how we are known as Christ's followers. That is how we remian on course with His plans. The Christian should use the love given to her or him to lead others to love Christ. That love must be inclusive rather than exclusive, because Christ came to to this world because His father "so loved the WORLD". That even inludes those that killed His son, and even those who killed thousands in New York. It is not exclusive to race, nationality, ethnic preferences or background, gender, social status (He dosen't like the poor or downtroddend more than the rich and socially predominant) or intelligence. Let our ministry, whatever it may be, to be as inclusive as was that of Jesus and His Father.

Amen DrD! No matter what area of ministry we are called to work in, it must always be with the first and foremost ministry that we all share and that is to love as Jesus loves us.

How do you know what ministry God has called you to? How do you discover where He wants you to work?

Dear Sarah,
If you don't mind, I'd like to share some thoughts on how God has shown me my ministry. In my experience, I learned that the first thing is to be willing. Just willing, whatever He shows you. But, that didn't happen to me until I had gone through some bad things myself. After I began recovering, I looked around me at all the hurting people. I began to pray (but this was after some time) "God, if there is someone you want me to share your love with today, or just listen to, put them in my path, in some way." He does, almost every day, by phone, in the person of my insurance agent who came today, on the internet, any way.
I love children, all ages, but am getting a little too old to handle tiny tots as I used to do. I taught children for years, then I was needed as SS Superintendent, but, I am still teaching a Jr.class. He will show you what gifts He has given you, be willing and ask. I guess my ministry is just loving and listening to needy, hurting people.

In Christ's Love,

Dora

May I be so bold as to suggest that if what you are doing, you are not doing well, then that is not your ministry. Christ promises you success in your ministry, so if you are not successful, it must not be your ministry. I would also suggest that your ministry is something you enjoy. Don't force yourself into a mold in which you do not fit. It will only bring you misery. Assess your talents. It may come as a shock, but not everyone has the talent for ingathering!!!!

how do you find your ministry, do what you enjoy doing, and do it for others, do what you have a talent for and do it for others, do what you know you will succeed at, and do it for others.

DrD:
I think you are right! We must be willing before we have a ministry, but, we must (as someone put it)
"have a passion for it." When Jesus talked with the woman at the well, He told His disciples that
"my meat is to do the will of Him that sent me, and to finish His work" I think He was so pleased with all that had happened He wasn't even hungry any more. I have a dear friend who is like that.
He gets to talking to someone about Jesus, and might forget to go home!

Dora

First let me ask you all:
Do you believe everyone is called to do something- everyone has a talent to use- a ministry..
Maybe not found out yet what it is.. but everone had something.... do you belive that???
I do.
I really do.
What i am personally trying to do right now is to reach out to our church members and become friends with them. I'm also in a committee, and our goal is to get people interested in God. "In" or "On fire for Christ" I and the members of that small committee, we all want a bunch of people on Beliving and doing the work that God calls us to do. And these people can bring more people in the church.
This summer, me and 2 to 5 other friends went out and did a bunch of surveys(door to door) and prayer walks.

Amen Chantale! I too believe that each of us has a mission that Christ has called us too and we should seek His will as to what that mission is.

This begs the question, what do we do if we really have no clue what our calling is? We must open the Word and seek out what God has called us to do. Is it possible that there is really only one mission? If that is the case, then the questions is not what is our mission (or shouldn't be) but rather is what is my part to play in this mission? Which leaves us pretty much at the same dilemna, except that if we know what direction we are supposed to be heading, we can start in that direction - whether you go by car, by foot, by plane, by train, by bicycle (you get the idea) as long as you are going in the right direction, does it really matter? As soon as we start, we will be lead into the right path. Sometimes I wonder if we must first show a willingness to work before we get the job.

Okay, I'm done rambling for now, later, I may read this and realize that I have made no sense, but think on these things. How do we figure out what part we play in the body of Christ?

I see Maritime SDA OnLine as a part of my ministry.

Maritime SDA OnLine serves two main purposes:

1 - As an inreach ministry where we are reaching in to one another as members of God's church and family.

2 - As an outreach ministry to bring others into God's church and family.

And then I have my offline ministry which is why I am also so involved with our local church as the Head Elder doing my best to promote all the good things in the church.

With help from people like Chantale, it makes things easier.

I realized that, having started this thread, I never mentioned what my ministries are! Oops, sorry!

My current church ministries are Pathfinders, Youth Sabbath School teacher/sort-of-leader, prayer circle and choir. In addition, I try to have a Bible study group for the youth (even if only 1 shows up!). These keep me busy, but sometimes I must admit that I wonder if I am in the right ministries! God is continually leading me though and I know that He is in control of my life and will lead me into His Path and Will.

I am also looking to start a Suicide Survivors Support Group - hopefully in February, but am not sure how it is going to work, I have a lot of work to do on that one before we can get it off the ground. God willing, it will though because I have a very real passion for it and it lays heavy on my heart that it has not yet begun. Please pray that things will come together to allow this to work out.

Dear Sarah,
After reading your last post, I would LOVE to ask you a bunch of questions. I am the "Head" SS Supt, but, I have two ladies working with me, so, we have to lead out in adult SS once every three weeks. We haven't found a leader/teacher for the Jr./teens since our last one quit, so, I took it on a "temporary" basis. We have a SS counsel meeting for tomorrow (wednesday) night, but, if someone volunteered to teach those young people, I'd think the Red sea had opened again Anyway, there are a bunch of things I would like to ask about the teaching of the youth, getting and keeping their attn. studying their lessons, and, probably most of all, just getting them out to SS, all without having to put on entertainment that seems to be trying to compete with the world.

Maybe Daryl can tell me where would be the right thread to ask (and hopefully discuss) all this and more?

The Sabbath School Teachers & Superintendents forum, or the Church Officers forum, sounds like a good place to go and discuss it.

If a relevant topic doesn't already exist, all you need to do is to begin one.

Thanks, Daryl!
I have wished that there is more information, communication, etc, on those threads & topics, so, I suppose instead of "wishing" I will try to do something to start some "support system for workers." Maybe everyone doesn't feel the need for it, but, I SURE do!! Many times, with those young people, I find myself saying, "What do I do next, Lord?"

I created the Sabbath School Teachers & Superintendents forum, and more recently the Church Officers forum with that in mind, however, it may take some time to draw the thoughts out of people lurking around those forums.

If you think posting it in this forum will be beneficial, then be my guest.

DrD, (I realise this is a lot further down the thread than the statement to which I'm going to refer, but this is the first time I've looked at this topic) you say our ministry will be one we will enjoy - or words to that effect. What about Jonah?

For the new year i started something different and to let people know that the church family cares for them.. I decided to give b-day cards as well as some encouragement and get well cards.
I'm also sending some to the old members or non-attending members by mail.
Hopefully it might touch someones heart!
God Bless!

Chantale, that is an excellent idea.
Most people that leave the church do so because of a perceived disinterest from othe members.
Sometimes we forget that it is the little attentions that brought us into the fold to begin with.
When a person receives a card, a call or a visit, it says that they are important.

All too often we think that a ministry is as an evangelist or preacher or such, what about all the 'ministries' that meet the felt needs of people?
A listening ear, a shoulder to cry on when hurt or even someone to talk to us, that lets us know we are important, needed or just plain loved.

Without all the members doing for and with each other, we would all eventually 'give up and go home', congratulations on your 'ministry', it is especially needed now.
God bless.

Lets see, why would Jonah not enjoy his ministry. Could it be because he did not want to do it? He did what he could to avoid it? He did not understand it? The story of Jonah is not completed in the book of Jonah, nor anywhere else as far as I can tell. However, the last chapter of the book tells of the experience of Jonah in learning God's love for all mankind. What the book does not tell us is whether Jonah learned the lesson, although it is hard to believe that the book would have been written if he did not come to an understanding of what God was telling him. And I suspect that Jonah, after learning the lesson, went forth with joy in teaching God's love. I don't know what Jonah's attitude was when teaching the folk of N. that the city was going to be destroyed. Maybe he was enthusiastic. He sure was disapointed when it was not destroyed, so he must have been looking forward to the distruction. He also was very miserable when he was not fulfilling his mission, and taking a ride by fish taxi.

I suspect there are times in many ministries that the short term effect is not pleasant. Did Christ have fulfillment in his ministry, yet you know the cry from the cross.

I would stand by my suggestion, that if you are not having "fun" in your activity, you are not engaged in your God given ministry. Your definition of fun may be the key.

One more thought on Jonah. We too often ignore the last chapter of the book. I believe the real lesson of the book is in the last chapter. If we could understand the message from God presented there, we would be a more loving, accepting and inclusive people. We would be less interested in condeming others and less pleased in destroying them with words and actions.

Therefore "go forth" with your ministry, and may your mode of transportation not be by fish, real or otherwise.

Chantale, that's a wonderful thing to do. And particularly with former members. Too often they are forgotten. But God still loves them.

Gerry - how would you follow your suggestions on MSDAOL? And what about those you don't love?

DrD - good response. And I agree about the lesson contained in the last book of Jonah. There is also a lesson in the earlier books. Do you think God keeps dragging us back to the area in which He wants us to minister? I can see a pattern in my working life. I wonder if you and others have a similar experience?

I haven't been here for some weeks and it's funny that this thread has come just when I was thinking about my strange ministry.

Besides being treasurer and playing the organ and teaching adult classes I feel my fun ministries are outside of the church.

I have a special nack of getting people to open up and talk their thoughts, not pry, just show a sincere interest. Through this people have felt free to ask me to pray for them etc.

The other one is a humor ministry. It came in my lap accidentally. When I went on line an acquaintance who had been trying to get me to join a chat, said she would send me a joke each day if it was fit to repeat. Of course, I had to start passing them on and it has opened up a different set of close friends who also feel free to ask me to pray for their needs. It's neat.

I love that God has given each of us such a variety of ministries! Isn't it amazing that He meets everyone's needs using each of us in a different way.

I agree that we need to enjoy our ministries. My God is not a tormenting God and would not force us into a place that we would be miserable in! Jonah, I believe, came to enjoy his ministry, and I think he enjoyed it before. I do not think that his problem was that he didn't enjoy his ministry, but rather that he had a vendetta against Ninevah and knew that if they repented God would not destroy them, he also must have had some experience in knowing that God was effective in the way He wanted Jonah to pass along the message since Jonah seemed to highly suspect that the people of Nineveh would change their ways (since he ran away as he did). Jonah's problem was not necessarily that he did not enjoy his ministry, but rather that he did not like the people God needed him to minister to!

May we remember that sometimes God will call us to minister to people that we do not like but we need to do His work regardless of our own personal feelings - and in fact realize that we are to love all mankind, not just the select few that we get along with!