My Philosophy of Ministry

by Timothy D. Henze

8/7/02

Christian Ministry for me is about service and servant leadership. With that in mind it is important to remember ministry is service to God first. Service to other Christians and to the lost is part of that service to God.

I believe all Christians are called to ministry in some form. The ministry of an individual Christian must be based on the spiritual gifts prayerfully discerned to have been given to that person. Those who are gifted as leaders should be the ones to lead, those gifted as teachers should be the ones to teach and so on. I believe it is essential that Christians be connected to the true nature of the ministry God has intended for them. Only in connection with their spiritual gifts, can Christians experience the joy that God intended for the experience of giving of oneself in ministry and service. When ministries are not staffed in accordance with spiritual gifts we are ignoring God’s call and thus ignoring God’s will for those ministries.

As all Christians are called to ministry, it is the job of leaders and teachers to equip Christians for the work of ministry as stated in Ephesians 4:11-13. A major part of disciplining is to provide the spiritual tools Christians will need to carry out their call and be good stewards of their spiritual gifts and other gifts God has made available for ministry.

I believe that ministry, especially worship ministries, should be culturally relevant. In Corinthians 9:19-23 Paul says:

Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

We can’t expect to reach a poor Hispanic population by using the same tools used to reach upper middle class European Americans.  The language will be different, music will need to be different and the felt needs of the community will be different.  Nor can we expect to reach tomorrow’s generation of youth by singing the songs or preaching with images and metaphors that were current when my Dad was in high school. The Gospel message does not change, cannot be allowed to change, but the vehicle or media through which the Gospel message is delivered must change in order to offer Christ to the lost.

I believe God as trinity is in his essence community within himself. God intends us to live in fellowship with one another in community. Paul tells us to bare each others burdens and this is not possible by ourselves. I believe ministry is best accomplished in small groups and leadership is best accomplished in teams. Small groups allow for the intimate fellowship and connection people are desperately searching for today. Small groups function as a means of support and accountability in the process of growth in our Christian faith. Support sometimes takes form in small groups when one member is hurting all other members are there to uplift and support that person helping to meet their needs during times of personal crisis. Encouragement is given to egg us on in continuing and finishing the race. Accountability is available in small groups as we form intimate spiritual friendships with whom we can confess our sins, and our doubts while those friends compassionately prod us to do better and help us grow in faith. Team leadership is like a small group with a specific duty, task or ministry. While there needs to be one leader of a team who makes the final decision and a place where the buck stops, that leader cannot make a prayerful and informed decision without the input and involvement of other people. Other members of the team offer a variety of perspectives and can see different angles or may even have different gifts or expertise to help the team accomplishing its task. I believe leadership happens best in teams where all input is heard and valued and all work together with a singular vision and mission.

I don’t believe in magical solutions to problems, but rather in graceful application of the gifts and resources God has given us. These gifts are given to Glorify him and expand his kingdom among the hearts and minds of the lost of this world. What I have put forth here are methods that I have seen work and I believe to be valid Christian approaches to doing God’s work. They are not the end of my learning. I pray continually that God expand my experience and continually open me up to new ways and ideas about how to accomplish his work.

In Christ,

Timothy D. Henze

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