Ways to Minister

You do not need to be a preacher to be able to minister. Some churches may want you to get permission if you want to minister in their name. Ministry is not just preaching and evangelism, though that is indeed one way to minister, even if you are not a preacher.

But ministry is also service to others. If you are a waiter or waitress you minister to or "serve"your customers. One of the simplest thing anyone can do is buy someone a hamburger or a loaf of bread, and it may be a waiter or waitress that you minister to when you do that. The office of the deacon was established as an office to "wait on tables". The apostles preached the Word, the deacons administered to needs, including the administering of food to the widows.

Sometimes even organized church leaders make excuses not to meet simple needs. They use excuses like "go to your own church" and ignore the circumstances. They complain about people not having a "church home" and give the person the impression they are not welcome there. These are hogwash excuses designed to weasel out of responsibility..

Here are a few ideas to help you in ministering to your friends, neighbors and others. Some involve simply opening up your heart.

1. Give some a glass of cold water, tea, lemon-aide or other cold, non-alcoholic beverage.

2. Mow someone's lawn

3. Give someone a job

4. Pray with someone

5. Pray for someone

6. Read the scriptures with or to someone.

7. Give, loan or sell someone a bicycle.

8. Help someone learn some job skills.

9. Help someone with the dishes

10. Take someone to the Doctor

11. Take someone grocery shopping

12. Give someone a can or a tank of gas

13. Give someone an old car you are not using

14. Give someone a place to stay out of the cold or heat for a day or night or few days and nights.

15. Help someone, if they ask, with a dating relationship. Especially if someone asks, be a matchmaker.

16. Help someone improve their skills in a game or sport.

17. Help someone learn how to properly socialize.

18. Give someone a pair of shoes, socks, clean underwear or other clothing.

19. Help someone with car repairs

20. Visit someone in the hospital

21. Visit and befriend someone in jail or prison.

22. Help someone find a lawyer.

These are but a few ideas of ways to minister. While it is important to minister in these kinds of ways to poor people, there are other people that need help. People in a nursing home are usually not young, and spending a little time with them may help. Sometimes organizations will not let you visit if you are related, but God knows what talents he gave you, so if you don't ask Him, He will at some point let you know. It may be something simple like writing an article suggesting ways people can minister.