Finding Your Ministry

by Connie Sager

 

What is your passion? What are your interests or desires? God has gifted each person uniquely with individual gifts, talents, and abilities. Use your uniqueness to minister to those around you. Serving with your personal gifts can lead to ministry with more energy and passion, as well as motivation to meet specific needs. After identifying your gifts, think about what needs in your community those gifts could serve. Below are some ideas to get you started:

 

Do you enjoy making crafts? Invite some people over or set up a location on campus to teach a small crafts class. Keep your supplies simple so that there is little cost. If you have other crafty friends, you might have several options from which people can choose, such as painting, jewelry making, scrapbooking, card making, and decorating. This is a great way to meet new people on campus with interests similar to yours. Through your crafting skills, you may form a new friendship with an unbeliever on your campus.

 

Do you love to cook? Take time to volunteer at a local food kitchen or homeless shelter. You may not only get the opportunity to cook the food, but you may also get to serve the meals and meet the people receiving the food. This is a great ministry that usually needs many willing volunteers.

 

Are you a great student? Is there a subject that just clicks with you? Learning can be very natural for some students, and yet a challenge for other students. If you are someone who is blessed with a knowledge or understanding of a specific subject, offer to tutor someone else in your class who is struggling. Perhaps you know someone who is a year younger than you in a class that you have already completed. What a great way to use your knowledge to reach out to others!

 

Do you love to talk and listen? Are new friendships exciting to you? There are people in each community that would love to have someone come sit and have a conversation with them. Are there physically disabled individuals you know who can’t leave their house? Maybe you could visit a nursing home or a mom who is at home taking care of an infant. Some time spent sharing a conversation—which has no monetary cost—can be a very meaningful gift.

 

This month think about how the unique ways God has gifted you can be used to serve those in need around you. How will God use you to make a difference?