The Hard Side of Ministry

So Stephanie contributes way more to the blog than I do but occasionally I get around to posting.  As many of you know, Stephanie and I are extremely involved in the church we attend and where I am employed part-time. 

Ministry has many wonderful moments from building friendships and community, to getting to be there for someone in their life through celebration (births, baptisms, weddings) and struggle (pain, tragedy, death).  Ministry allows you to serve others by supporting them, encouraging them, and loving them.  There are many rewarding aspects. 

Despite the benefits, however, ministry can be hard and taxing on a person or a couple.  It can be draining and thankless at times.  You can pour your heart, soul, time, money, and life into it and sometimes feel like you aren't getting anything out. 

Stephanie is a wonderful person who spoils me and helps me and works so hard in the ministry at our church.  Stephanie is the lead teacher in the Pre-K/Kindergarten classroom, runs are sign-in table for the Children's Ministry, is a leader on the Children's Ministry team, a leader on the Youth Ministry team, helps with youth events, makes all the event flyers, helps to coordinate volunteers in the children's ministry, and more.  On Sundays she also helps on the tear-down and hospitality teams, and regularly fills-in for others.  In my role, I serve as the Youth Pastor and Children's Ministry Director.  I also serve in the overall leadership of the church, am on the set-up and tear-down teams, lead a small group, and meet one-on-one to minister to people.  Being involved in our church is a huge part of our lives individually and as a couple.  Needless-to-say, we are both all over the place on Sundays. 

This last week was a hard week.  We had a difficult Sunday morning with some volunteer issues and kids being difficult.  It was also hard because we found out on Monday that a friend has decided to leave the church.  That came on the heels of a couple (very good friends of ours) announcing they will be leaving in September to move to another state.

Since I have been at Crossroads for over seven years, it is common for people to leave.   You know it will happen but it can be one of the most difficult parts about ministry.  It can be heart-wrenching because people will say "I have this issue or that issue" but it "has nothing to do with you" or "you are great person, I just can't..." Any reason is hard to hear especially when it is a person you invested in and who often times you considered a friend.  It is really hard not to take things personally.  It is also hard here in New York City because of how transient people are.   You can build relationships with people over the course of a year or two and then they up and leave for a new job, to live somewhere cheaper, or be closer to family.  At times, I feel frustrated about why they have to go, often feeling left behind.  When people leave there is a hole in our heart and a hole in the ministry.  We need every person to be involved.  When someone leaves it means someone else has to shoulder their load. 

But in the midst of these frustrations we can still hold onto the fact that God is going to be there no matter what and we can't control what people do or what they decide. We can only lean on Him.  He will never leave us. 

If you have a minute this week say a prayer for Steph and me and our church.  It has been a hard last few days in ministry on top of an already rough year.