Victory in Jesus

Last night, our Monday ministry was perhaps the best it has ever been.

For a few weeks, there was a problem brewing among the volunteers. I was not quick enough to see it, recognize its seriousness.

And then there were the conferences held in corners where individual gripes and anxieties became bigger then they were individually and became something it was going to be hard to pull back from.

In addressing it, we realized we had all played a part in it, and that straightforward, honest communication would have been better. And yet, it is hard, because as we were honest in the meeting, there were hurt feelings and anger. But we left it at no more gossiping and meeting again later that evening to see how we could bring all the parties together in a way that airs grievances without slamming people down.

Unfortunately, one among us decided it was time to move on. We miss this person greatly. Their work and energy were a blessing to the work.

So, we knew we had big shoes to fill. And there were others who could not make it. So it was a skeleton crew! We rolled up sleeves and got after it.

It is a difficult balance for a pastor. The apostles had to make sure that they did not get so involved in details that they missed preaching the Saving Word. And yet, last night there was no choice.

And then, this beautiful thing happened. More of the people who come to the Monday meal and service jumped in. Mary and Tina had already planned to make dessert—three wonderful cakes! Chris helped in the kitchen. Robert set up tables. The people themselves are beginning more and more to make it work.

This is the growing edge, the place where tension is really going to emerge: those who are the volunteers and leaders in the ministry are going to have to let go of those roles! The time they have put in, the effort, the work, the spirit—sometimes these things create in us “ownership.” We are comfortable in our zone, where we work. We become resentful if it seems like someone in another area does not do as we do, as much as we do, work as hard as we do. Pride takes over. We do not want anyone to come into our area, as if somehow our value, our beauty to the Lord, will be lessened if another person can or does do what we do!

So when we think that we will have to seek out a person we have ministered to and train them to take away the job that has given us a sense of value—this is hard to imagine, harder to do!

We have to keep before us the progression to, with, from. We start with ministry to. Then, as the Spirit speaks, we can do ministry with those who answer the call. Finally, we turn that ministry over; like good missionaries, we force the ministry to become “indigenous.” The ministry flows from the very people we used to do ministry to.

We are out of a job—for now. We turn the impulse of the Spirit and the command of Jesus to a new task, where we work to, with, and from.

For all the work we took on last night, for all the worry about getting too bogged down in details that I could not set about the task of making sure I am not washing dishes when I should be holding out salvation, I can rejoice. In the work of making Monday night a ministry, a man accepted Christ last night in the service. That is another story… but I’ll tell it now.

About 2 years ago, knocking on doors, I came to a house that was not fit for human habitation. I met a guy who was living in the bathroom. Honestly, folks, the landlord had blocked off a bathroom and rented the closet sized bathroom to a guy who slept in the tub.

This fellow has more tattoos on his fingers than some tattoo lovers have on their whole body. And he has an unmistakable prison tattoo on the right side of his face: a spiderweb, radiating from his eye. That day we talked a bit.

I went back a few weeks later and he was gone, the house condemned as unfit for human occupation.

He came to Monday night last week. Last night, as I preached about Jesus interceding for us, standing between us and the righteous decrees of God, this man came forward, said he needed to “change everything” and was looking to be baptized.

I will gladly wash dishes if this is the result.