Challenges of Growth in Ministry

I hope you are enjoying a blest holiday season with family and friends. Looking ahead to 2009 I covet the advancement of your ministry – sustained and strengthened personal integrity, a deepening walk with our Lord, a healthy and happy family, financial blessing, continued spiritual growth of those under your ministry, and many more souls coming into the Kingdom of God through your ministry and church. I pray your ministry will expand to the glory of God and for the sake of souls.

Ministry presents many challenges, not the least of which is growth. Jesus exemplified effective steps to deal with expanding ministry. There are many measures of success and one is growing crowds. As the crowds increased, “Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve – designating them apostles – that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons.” (Mark 3:13-15).

Success can drive you. You find yourself in demand with increased expectations placed upon you. Jesus experienced this and took time to get away from the demands as He went up on a mountainside. Jesus set priorities and boundaries to maintain His effectiveness and sustainability.

Success can deceive you into thinking you have all the answers. In Luke’s account it says, “…Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God…” (Luke 6:12). Jesus prayed before making the important decision of selecting apostles. His success did not relieve Him of the need to seek the Father’s will. Humility remained characteristic of Jesus throughout His life.

Success can isolate you. Jesus called to him those He wanted to be with Him and to do ministry. Ministering as a “lone ranger” is perilous in many ways and Jesus invited people into His life and ministry. In so doing He provided for them and Himself an important level of accountability. I don’t think the Son of God needed accountability, but He conducted His ministry in an exemplary way to show us an effective way forward, given our vulnerability to sin, and error.

Success can also entrap you. On the mountainside Jesus was preparing to delegate ministry to meet immediate ministry needs and provide for future succession. The work was too great for one person. He designated them apostles and began the process of training. I find it interesting that He selected “those He wanted”. Since God shapes the desires of the heart of those who seek Him, I think Jesus chose people He liked, and people He believed the Father had called to be apostles.

We face many challenges in ministry, such as sacrifice, disappointment, spiritual warfare, problematic personalities, etc. – and the unexpected challenge of success. Don’t let it defeat you.

Cheering you on,

Don Steiger