The Minister
Download video HERE | Narration provided by David Brantley
We are all called to be ministers—inside the local church, and outside its walls. What that ministry looks like is unique to each of us. Our ministry is determined by our God given gifts and talents as well as the places where we spend our time. The truth is, the Church is bigger than our local community churches, and when we confine ministry to those churches, we are limiting what the Church can be. What would it look like if we viewed the Church as everywhere God’s people are? What if we live our lives and calling based on that, and we serve in ministry where we are instead of defining our ministries by the local church building?
Below are several stories of ministers who are serving in the places God has called them to be.
REV. MARVIN ALEXANDER | THE MEPHIBOSHETH PROJECT
How is Mephibosheth Project Inc. “MPI” a ministry? We are reminded throughout the Scriptures that there are certain populations of people that will be with us always, to include the poor and disenfranchised. We can see one of those groups represented through those that have been involved within our justice system. In fact, in Matthew 25:358-40, Jesus mentions this population specifically. Jesus points out that by visiting those in prison, or providing a hand of grace and assistance, we are actually showing kindness directly to Him.
2 Samuel 9, shares with us an encounter where King David remembers a promise that he made to his friend Jonathon, in reference to his commitment to being there for Jonathon’s children in the event of his passing. King David sends a delegation to bring Mephibosheth, a son of Jonathon that was crippled from the waist down, living in Lo Debar, back to the palace. In this reference to this point, MPI is a ministry that is actively engaged in assisting Justice Involved Individuals (JII), in their efforts of returning back to the palace, or their place of community from a dry and desolate place, commonly referred to as prison. Upon Mephibosheth’s arrival back to the palace King David informs Mephibosheth that he was not in any danger, and in fact was going to restore back to him all that once belonged to his grandfather King Saul and father Prince Jonathon. King David goes on to state that from that day forward Mephibosheth would eat the king’s table as one of his own sons.
As a ministry, MPI’s mission is to provide a “seat at the table” for those that may feel unworthy of that seat. It’s not uncommon for a JII to have completed their ordered period of incarceration, and still find themselves having to complete a perpetual period of incarceration and estrangement upon returning back to their local communities. As a ministry, we, in conjunction with our various partners, work to assist our population in their efforts to regain their self-esteem, and begin to see that in spite of their less than positive choices and the crippling effects that they produced, there is still an element of royalty inside of them.
How do I view myself as a minister through MPI? In a sense I guess you could say that as the Founder and Executive Director of MPI, I can be viewed as a “Spiritual Midwife” or representation of Moses in the lives of those that are in transition from a place of incarceration to a place of freedom. To me the greatest role anyone could ever desire to fulfill is that of a “servant”. I have the privilege of being a flesh and blood representative and presence of Christ, by being able to share a portion of not only their valley experiences, but their journey to their mountaintops as well. I have the honor of seeing people that are broken and hurting, regain their strength and understanding that they too were created in the image of Christ and are a true masterpiece, a work of art. I have been blessed with the opportunity to minister to, assist Justice Involved Individuals in their efforts of obtaining a GED, a National Career Readiness Certification, trade skill, housing and ultimately gainful employment and the chance to present to their families someone different than the person that they once knew. The beauty is that as a minister in this setting I am able to see God’s continual work in the lives of our population.
JONATHAN BOGGS | PARABLE MEDIA
Stories are powerful. They draw us in and capture our imaginations. They help us to be present, to empathize, and to understand. They can change our lives, both in the telling of our own stories, and in listening to the stories of others. They can inspire us to act, helping us to better understand the needs of others as we put ourselves in their place when we listen to their stories of struggle and hardship. They help us remember the good things and the bad, each moment that impacted our lives and the lives of others. They help us remember those things that are truly important to humanity. They build community as we become a part of each others stories while we listen and we share. They help us to open our minds and hearts to each other, helping us to recognize Christ in each other. Stories help us to hope, help us to dream, and help us to truly and unselfishly love.
The truth is, each of our lives is a story, connected in deep and intricate ways to the stories of the people we walk beside in life. The ministry of Parable Media is rooted in this ministry of the story, in creating a space for stories to be shared. Creating a space where God can use and connect our stories in ways we can scarcely imagine. Stories have always been a deeply ingrained aspect of ministry. Jesus in his own ministry shared stories in the form of parables. The ministry of preaching is filled with stories from the Bible, the world, and personal experiences. The ministry of chaplaincy is often listening to the stories of others, or becoming a part of the final moments of another's story. As a minister I bring these stories to the forefront in a visual way, as I embrace the ministry of storytelling. Because stories are indeed powerful.
MORGAN PAJAK | THE MUSTARD SEED COMMUNITY GARDEN
The ministry of the Mustard Seed Community Garden is something that keeps me in constant awe of the goodness of God. I have seen relationships created, mended, and solidified through the work of the garden. While the garden does give me a chance to lead and show people how to cultivate life, it also is a space for me to slow down and see where God is working in the world. Behind this faith-fueled desire to meet basic human food needs, we recognize we are needy too. We recognize the communal value of working together in meaningful pursuits and the importance of being good stewards of what God has given to us.
In working at the garden, I am able to minister to students and those in the community that are connected to the garden. This looks like having purposeful conversations with students about how they fit into the role of living on this earth, while incorporating the work with our hands. Growing up in a small farming town, I was practically raised in a garden. I learned to see God in creation. It is my hope that any who enter the garden could see the importance of the work they are doing, the work that changes communities and their own hearts. When you think about what it takes for a seed to become fruitful, there are many things that must happen to eventually spring up into life…and so too are we as inhabitants on this earth called to share our gifts and fruit with each new day.
Learn More About These Ministries:
The Mephibosheth Project
The Mustard Seed Community Garden
Pastor Rob’s Story