Why do I do ministry?
It is a hard question to pinpoint sometimes. Usually, we are just led by the Holy Spirit in that way or maybe we have some deep interaction with God. However, I find myself at a crossroad, where I need to remind my own spirit, Why I do Ministry.
As I was preparing for my sermon this past Sunday morning, I prayed that God would not give me a hard topic to preach. I did not want hurt feelings or for anyone to “feel” that I was preaching at them. But I was reminded of what a good friend told me, “It’s you and God, not you and the congregation”. So in preparing, I kept reminding myself of this and God asked me “What are you investing in?”
Why I love being a youth pastor
As a youth pastor, I love the teens I minister to. They are like my own family, nieces and nephews; actually one of them really is blood family. I am accountable to them and they are accountable to me. If we look in scripture, James 5:16 says,
“Confess your faults to one to another, and pray for one another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
I pray that my relationship with those teenagers is one where they are comfortable enough to come and tell me their problems, that they ask my opinion, and that they know I will tell them the truth but also correct them, as Jesus said in Luke 17:3. “Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.” Correction must be done with Love, but correction must happen in our lives.
“Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.”
Correction must be done with Love, but correction must happen in our lives.
Why I love being a worship pastor
As a worship pastor, I LOVE music, it has been a big part of my entire life. I enjoy southern gospel, the hymnals and praise and worship! It’s all about God, why should I not enjoy it all? Do I enjoy some songs more than others? Yes, I enjoy coca cola more than I do sweet tea, but they both satisfy my thirst. I could insert hundreds of scriptures on worship here, but one that keeps me grounded is Matthew 4:9-11: “And saith unto him, All these things will I give
“And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.”
Here Jesus is in the wilderness and being tempted by Satan, to bow down and worship him and he will give him all of the kingdoms of the world. As I look at this I am humbled by Jesus reaction to Satan. You see, we all have been given the opportunity by Satan to have the glory of earthly pleasures, but it’s when we truly realize that the Glory we should be seeking, can only come from the Heavenly Father. That when we come into a true form of worship to God, we will be ministered to and experience God in a way like we never have before!
So why do I do ministry?
Well, hopefully, I have explained myself clearly enough. However, I minister because I am led by the Holy Spirit, because I have had those unexplained, overwhelming experiences with God! Because I want to invest in something other than my own agenda, like my teens and my worship team! There is something incredible in seeing people that you have poured into, experience the supernatural POWER OF GOD. Finally, it’s simply because God told me to, and that is enough for me.
Brandi Lumley is an associate, worship and youth pastor, wife and mother. Her passion in ministry is to empower youth and college students to be bold in their relationship with God.
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