One of the things I like to say is that if you are living in communion with God and in community with people you cannot do other than minister. Ministry is not something you do next. I have a terribly hard time with ministry as something that consists of techniques you have to apply. Ministry is the overflow of your love for God and for your fellow human beings. Someone said to me, “ministry is when two people toast their glasses of wine and something splashes over. Ministry is the extra. The question is not, “How do I bring all of these people to Jesus, or how do I make these people believe, or how do I now do the hard work of ministry?”
Jesus never did much ministry. Jesus spoke what his heart was full of. And anybody who touched him was healed. He didn’t sit people down and diagnose them, or say to them, I can help you but I can’t help you.” People touched him and were healed. He was even wondering what was happening. You cannot but minister if you are in communion with God and in community with other people. People want to know where your energy comes from. They get the overflow. It’s not something that requires professional credentials. Ministry isn’t something you do for certain hours during the day and then you come home and relax. Who knows? Ministry might happen while you are relaxing.
…The whole incarnation thing, God-with-us, Emmanuel, is first of all being with people… Ministry is being with the sick, the dying, being with people wherever they are, whatever their problems.
That is the mystery of ministry. You can’t solve the world’s problems, but you can be with people.
(“Parting Words”)
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