Ministry 101: A Declaration

“For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bondservants for Jesus’ sake … For all things are for your sakes, that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God. ” 2 Cor. 4:5 & 15

Bulky, bulging, and overwhelmingly pregnant, I scooted my child-sized, wooden Sunday School chair up. Beloved women shared the table with me as we began our first women’s ministry team meeting. That was twelve years ago.

Easily I still picture that room and remember my absolute delight in serving the Lord as my church’s women’s ministry leader. Though unaware of its full significance at the time, it completed another step in God’s plan for my life. Surely I’d sensed even as a teenager that one day God would use me to help women spiritually.

So much has happened since. Three years leading women’s ministry, writing and publishing a Bible study, teaching classes, attending writer’s conferences, blogging, and more. But you know what? Ministry hasn’t turned out the way I’d envisioned. Despite delightful dreams, the reality of serving in women’s ministry has unfolded differently than I’d anticipated. Intermittently deep waters have engulfed me–times of being overlooked, disrespected, ignored. Moments or periods of spiritual attack, doubting, wrestling, and waiting. Definitely hardships have existed in the minority, for I’ve experienced tremendous joys and love throughout most of my ministry. Truly I’m grateful to God. Privileged, inspired, and yielded to Him–where I am and where I want to be–as He moves me through open doors.

God continues to teach me so much. Lately I’ve been praying for greater clarity in this ministry. Two words have persisted: revival and unity.

• Revival. Oh, how the American church needs to be awakened into intimacy with God and obedience to Him!
• Unity. Sincere love for every member of Christ’s body–manifested through togetherness–speaks so powerfully.

Dear friends, I want you to hold me accountable. Proclaiming Him to Women Ministries is NOT about me. With every fiber of my being and every beat of my heart, I long to minister purely for the LORD JESUS CHRIST. Honestly temptation abounds inside and out to focus on myself: my popularity, my successes, my projects, my service, etc. Ugh! I SO don’t want to go there, though at times I shamefully have. Also, this ministry exists for your sake: leading women to Christ, communicating HIS wonders and HIS sufficiency. HE is ALL we need–more than we could ever want.

I am no one special. But the ONE I preach is the Great I AM … the Majestic One, the Most High God, our Savior, our Lord, King of kings and Lord of lords! Knowing Him, and being known by Him, compels me to write and speak. Whether He chooses to grow this ministry mightily or limit it to few, I’m good with all that … because I belong to Him. I am Christ’s servant–and yours.

Loving Father in heaven, this ministry originated with You and is sustained by You. Please satisfy all who search for You as they interact with Proclaiming Him to Women Ministries. Use Your Holy Word and the words You speak through me to draw many closer to Christ. Use this ministry to revive and unify Christians for Your glory. In Jesus’ sweet name I pray, Amen.