Category: The Ministry

25 Things About Ministry I Didn’t Learn in Bible College

I was reading a book about 25 things a pastor did not learn in seminary… but the book was good in many ways but lacked in many ways regarding likeness in faith and practice and  Biblical ministry philosophy. So, I’m not going to do a book review as planned, but share with you all a list of 25 things I didn’t learn in Bible College! Some of these things are funny, some serious, just read and maybe you’ll find some similarities between us.

25 Things About Ministry I Didn’t Learn in Bible College

  1. How to make church flower arrangements. I learned floral work from my grandmother that worked as a florist for 15 years.
  2. How to talk to women and teen girls about immodesty. Uh… Awkward.
  3. How to entertain your children when you spend hours at the church.
  4. How to be a supportive Sunday School helper. For me it’s easy to teach, but much harder to sit back and let someone else be the leader without taking the reins away from them.
  5. How to plan 20 different activities for the preschool through Kindergarten age group when you’re teaching Sunday School or Junior Church. These kids get bored fast and the class always goes faster than planned! I’ll have no boredom on my watch.
  6. The how-to’s of delegation.
  7. Saying “no” nicely.
  8. Secretary skills. This was something I learned when I was hired as a church secretary.
  9. Developing a working visitation ministry. Also something I learned to do as a church secretary.
  10. When it is the right time to “sit on the ministry bench” for certain times of your children’s lives. Being pregnant, having a newborn, having a toddler, our son’s asthma, have all been reasons I have had to stop performing in certain areas of ministry.
  11. How to be an aggressive planner and organizer. College is a learning process, but planning for home, meals, ministry activities, and self can be a little overwhelming when you transition to single life planning to family ministry planning.
  12. The time and effort involved in organizing and leading a children’s Christmas play. I only helped do this once, and it was a lot of work for the lady that put our Christmas play all together.
  13. The quick turnover rate there is among visitors and members within a church.
  14. What to do when nursery workers consistently skip their duties.
  15. The importance and how-to of maintaining ministry friendships.
  16. Loving and respecting your pastor even with all of his faults.
  17. Maintaining the unique dynamic between yourself and fellow staff families.
  18. The value of sticky tack!
  19. Great meals for lunch and evening on Sunday. This is so hard because you leave in the morning, eat lunch, take a nap/rest, get up and go back to the church early for choir or other responsibilities, then service, then home again. Where do you fit in the evening meal?
  20. That church work allows you to work in so many areas of ministry. Every church need is a ministry of some sort.
  21. How to use a roaster. Okay, so no previous experience for me with this one…
  22. The know-how of setting up a church anniversary celebration. Is it like a banquet or a birthday party? or a little something in between? Other ladies have taught me how to celebrate God’s gift of the church and it’s important yearly anniversary.
  23. How to deal with the weirdos! Eek! They’re in every church. You know it’s true… you’re thinking of someone in your church right now, aren’t you? Ha ha! Here’s some good advice, smile and back up slowly and look for your exit and bolt! No really, I’m only kidding.
  24. That all day on some Sundays you may be so busy serving in nursery, preparing for a meal, or taking care of the needs of others that you will be unable to be a part of the church service.
  25. And last but not least; The blessings that would come from serving God with every day and moment of our lives!

Obviously Bible College can not replace good old experience. I did learn some wonderful things and was very thankful for the specific classes that were geared toward women’s ministry where I went to school. I have files of notes and helps on many other areas that have been useful to me. And many of these things I did not learn will, Lord willing, become future articles and how-to instructions that I will be able to share with you all in the future.

I hope you have a happy day!

The Case for Biblical Modesty: Being Discreet & Chaste

The Case for Biblical Modesty - Discreet & ChasteThere is a Biblical case for modesty! Women either love this topic or they hate it…

When I talk about modesty most people will automatically understand, others will not. I simply mean, the covering of your body as not to distract. And when I talk about intentional modesty, it is something done with thoughtfulness and carefulness.

You can relate intentional modesty to that of a bride getting ready for her wedding. The dress is chosen and fitted, the details of the flowers, the shoes, and the perfect jewelry. The bride is intentional about her dress on one special day for one special man, for one special covenant, marriage. Our dress every other day should be similarly thought out and planned because intentional modesty can be just as beautiful as a wedding dress when a godly woman adorns herself to please the Lord.

The Biblical basis by which I am sharing this with you today is found in Titus 2:4 which explains that older women should teach younger women to be discreet and chaste.

“To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the Word of God be not blasphemed.” Titus 2:4

Discreet in this text according to Strong’s Biblical Concordance means: of a sound mind, sane, in one’s senses; curbing one’s desires and impulses, self-controlled, temperate

Chaste according to Strong’s means: properly, clean, (figuratively) innocent, modest, perfect: – chaste, clean, and pure. Purity from carnality and fault.

The order in this verse is right,  we have to be discreet first before we decide to be chaste. Notice discreet means: “of a sound mind” and “curbing one’s desires and impulses.” What we act out or do is a direct result of what we think about.

We have to get the issue of dress established in our minds and hearts before we will decide that we will dress to be chaste and modest.

Modesty in our clothing choices, is a decision to put out of our mind the thought of pleasing others with what we wear. Women seek to please others in many areas, whether it be pleasing men by wearing clothes that accentuate the body or pleasing their peers by trying to fit in to a certain clothing style that our friends or desired friends have. Modesty should have God in mind at all times.

Little girls that wear big fluffy dresses tend to twirl in them and watch as the skirt comes in close and wraps around their legs and as they turn the opposite way, it ruffles back out to wrap around them again. Our dress can determine our behavior. How we act in what we wear often gives away our heart’s intention of our clothing choices. Some people truly have not learned how to dress or act modestly… others choose to be immodest to attract unrighteous attention to their bodies to satisfy their own desires for acceptance or lust.

At the point of salvation, we become a new creation. Ephesians 4 speaks about putting off the former conversation (lifestyle) and putting on the new man who after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

If there is an old lifestyle in which we wore certain clothes and behaved a certain way wearing them and God tells us to put away those lifestyles, then naturally, we should put away these clothes.

If our clothing sparks a desire in us to be impulsive sinfully (the opposite of discreet) then we should recognize that red flag immediately and get rid of that clothing. We can immediately think of the type of clothing that we wear that makes us want to walk differently and act differently. Now think of the clothes that make you feel like a beautiful ambassador, as God’s child, the kind that make you proud to serve the Lord. These two types of clothes should be very different, like water and oil, they should not mix.

As a new creature our outward appearance should reflect something new, lovely, and righteous!

You may be thinking, “well, I already put away all of my old clothes that tempted me to have a lack of self-control and do things that were not godly, what now?” It would be easy to make a list of do’s and don’ts but it would just be easier for you to consult God each day about the clothes that you put on and allow the Holy Spirit to speak in your heart as you go through your day so that when you notice the private parts of your body being shown or accentuated or the spark of lust that makes you want a man to look at you in a sexual way, you will quickly be alert and repent. Then, if God tells you that you probably should put that shirt or other article of clothing in the trash can, you will do it gladly because you now have an understanding that modesty begins in the heart by obedience.

There are practical helps that I like to give to people to help them understand how to keep themselves covered and modest while doing real-life every day activities, but today I just want you to look into God’s Word out of this one simple verse and test your heart and your wardrobe yourself without any thoughts about my list or ideas and whether you think that type of clothing is right or not.

“To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the Word of God be not blasphemed.” Titus 2:4

When you are in transition from your former lifestyle and your new one, God has a way of working on one article of clothing at a time, beautifying women that really want to please Him. He likes producing women to look godly in their modesty! He continues to speak to women as they grow in Him about their clothing, always helping women maintain discretion and chastity. Be willing to do whatever He asks you to do with your clothes. If God knows how to clothe the lily of the field, then He can clothe you modestly.

Matthew 6:28-30 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

A word of warning, when you buck the Holy Spirit when He speaks quietly in your heart, then your heart hardens toward God’s voice. If you harden your heart long enough, then you won’t even listen to what He has to say about anything in your life, least of all your clothes. Discretion and chastity go out the window like a piece of litter. The choice to reject God’s promptings by the Holy Spirit is to choose the way of impurity.

Impulsive and sinful decisions leave blotches of impurity on the heart and life of God’s child that sometimes even though they can be forgiven, are not easily wiped away or forgotten.

Be wise dear women, and listen to God’s biblical case for modesty by studying and learning His Word, and allow Him to make changes in your heart and wardrobe if He wants to.

We will learn more about the reason we should be modest in our biblical case for modesty in The Case for Biblical Modesty: God’s True Purpose. It’s amazing how God’s Word can teach us just what we need to be what He wants us to be. If this topic bothers you, then please pray and ask God “Is there something in my life that I need to change?” Then listen… you might be surprised at what He has to say!

Gift Idea List for Traveling Missionaries

Want to know the best gifts for missionary families on the road traveling from church to church on deputation? Lots of ladies in churches around the country and even missionary wives have helped compile this list for families, men, women, babies, children, their car, and their ministry.

Gift Ideas for Traveling Missionaries (Luggage)

Missions Conferences and other special services allow us the opportunity to be able to be a blessing to many other families. Missionary couples and families are on the road for weeks and months at a time and sometimes that is a challenge. All the big items we would like to give a family might not fit into their vehicle, that is why we have compiled this list of gift ideas, to help you know that the bigger an item is, in this case, is not always better.

One great way to find out what a missionary and their family need is ASK! Many churches send the family an e-mail prior to their arrival to their church to find out exactly what they really need. You could create an easy copy and paste form you can put into your e-mails to send. Remember if you do this well in advance, it will give the busy missionary time to reply and time for you to buy well before they arrive.

Now, for the gift list:

Gifts only a Missionary Could Love…

  1. Gift cards, gift cards, gift cards! – They’re packed full of money and able to fit anywhere! (For restaurants both fast food and sit down, gas, Wal-mart, Target, other department stores the entire family can shop in, shoe stores,  Visa gift cards, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Jiffy Lube)
  2. Cash, Cash, and more cash! Okay, so let’s be practical, traveling and families cost money, and we do not always know the needs that need to be met, so this can be a BIG blessing.
  3. Healthy Snacks* – Fresh fruit & granola bars were on the top of the list of healthy snacks missionaries love
  4. Water bottles and drinks in easy-open containers
  5. Microwave foods that do not need refrigeration.*
  6. Hand Sanitizer
  7. Instant Spot Remover Pens or Shout wipes
  8. Kleenex
  9. Christian Music CD’s**
  10. Family Friendly DVD’s**
  11. Postage Stamps
  12. Quarters for the laundromat
  13. Maps, coupons, and tracts to your church so they can travel around your town without getting lost and invite folks to your church.
  14. Gum and Mints
  15. A digital camera, SD cards, or memory sticks
  16. USB travel charger that can charge cameras and other electronic devices
  17. Car Organizer for the back of a seat
  18. Sunscreen
  19. Package these lovely gifts into easy to pack packages, such as, large Rubbermaid containers that can be recycled for other purposes during their travels
  20. The gift of TIME. Each family needs time to rest in their hotel, to do their homeschooling, to do their personal shopping, and wash their laundry. Please be mindful that even if they are there for your services that they need time to relax, study, and shake themselves loose of car time.

For Men

  1. Flashlights
  2. Shine his shoes or buy him new shoes
  3. Buy him a new suit
  4. Bible Software
  5. Take him for a haircut
  6. E-books or gift cards for e-books
  7. Suitcase
  8. Sermon CD’s or audio books**
  9. Free dry-cleaning at a business you trust
  10. A laptop or other needed computer equipment

For Babies

  1. Linkadoos or Bright Starts links- These are little links that can attach around the strap of a car seat or on the back of a head rest, add toys to the links, and a child can play without dropping the toy all the way to the floor
  2. Diapers, wipes, and disposable diaper trash bags
  3. Snack Traps or Catchers and bowls that hold snacks inside without making a mess
  4. A sippy cup
  5. Travel toys
  6. A small backpack like a Skip Hop Zoo backpack
  7. Window shade
  8. Board books
  9. Baby Mirror
  10. My Little Seat Infant seats Travel High Chair for 6+ months
  11. Melissa & Doug chunky puzzles
  12. Bibs
  13. Baby neck pillow
  14. Disposable stick-on placemats
  15. Squeezable infant baby food or infant bowls and spoons

For Kids

  1. Small hand-held games
  2. Bubbles or bubble bath
  3. Little notebooks and pens
  4. A Bible Cover to protect their Bible because it is in and out of the car all the time.
  5. Crayola Color Wonders Marker sets
  6. Make a notebook full of scavenger hunts and road games printed off the internet. Make an extra notebook so parents can play in the front seat too.
  7. Dot-to-Dot and other fun activity books
  8. Flashlights and glow sticks for night travel
  9. Chuck E. Cheese or McDonald’s gift cards just for them*
  10. A family pass to the zoo or science museums. Many zoos and science museums accept these passes at multiple locations across the country. A little research can find out what type of pass is most accepted.
  11. Take their family to a local park or children’s museum to get them out of the car!
  12. Spending money
  13. Children’s magazines like Highlights, Zoo Books, Nature Friend Magazine
  14. Window Clings
  15. Brain Quest games come in different grade levels as well as a family vacation set
  16. Magnetic or flannel book sets
  17. Children’s Bible songs, books with an audio CD, or other type of audio book**
  18. A t-shirt or hat with your city, state, or local sports team
  19. Stickers
  20. I Spy books or Where’s Waldo books

For Women

  1. Take her to the salon for a haircut, manicure or pedicure.
  2. Give her specified money or gift cards just for her. No spending for husband or children allowed!
  3. Do you have a lady in your church that could give them a makeover? Think Mary Kay representatives or some one with a genuine talent for making ladies look beautiful that might provide them with samples or products they can use. This would be a gift, not a sales opportunity.
  4. A shopping trip to buy a new outfit or pair of shoes
  5. Bath & Body Works products and other nice lotions and body products
  6. Facial cleansing wipes
  7. E-books or gift cards for e-books
  8. A single rose bud or other flower in their hotel room, bedroom, to take with them on their drive
  9. A cute travel cup
  10. Free babysitting for a few hours by a trusted church member so she can go shopping, out on a date, or take a nap

For the Car

  1. Check the car for needed repairs and maintenance, including tires
  2. Fill it with gas when they get into town or before they leave
  3. Give it a bath! Take it out for a car wash.
  4. A Garmin or GPS system that will give them directions
  5. The Next Exit Book ($15 at Cracker Barrel) tells all the exits in the U.S., what restaurants, hotels, etc. that are at each exit

For Their Ministry

  1. Read their missions letter or e-mails to find out the needs they have for their particular ministry and find a way to give the items or money needed.
  2. Be faithful to pray for them, each missionary family desires that people truly pray that God will lead, guide, and protect them while they are traveling and while they are serving Him.
  3. Some ministries need Sunday School curriculum, speakers for sound systems, pews or chairs for their new building, hymnals. Look around your building and in your storage rooms to see if there is something of quality that you can give. Offer to ship these large items and take the burden of the cost from their shoulders. They may not be able to travel with these type of items or it may be a burden to their travels to pay for shipping.
  4. Make a new copy of their ministry presentation if they have an old or scratched DVD. This can help them as they present to other churches without any glitches. Make sure that the copy you give them works entirely and you give both copies to them.
  5. Provide listening ears! Listen to their stories, their blessings, and their struggles. Encourage them when they need your advice or feedback.
  6. Pray with them. Pray with them as they are with you and share their needs and burdens. Then, pray with them before they leave town. A heart that truly listens to another will take the burdens off of the other person and take them to the Lord in prayer. To go to Him with their needs is truly a special gift.

*Find out about allergies and food preferences ahead of time if you can. To buy a bunch of snacks the family is allergic to will be a waste of money and go against your good efforts of being a blessing. Remember the season, chocolate in the car during the summer doesn’t work out very well.

**And with books, movies or music, when in doubt, ask!

While these lists are not exhaustive, these are tried and proven gifts that have pleased many missionary families. We always wish to be a blessing and not a burden to those traveling on deputation. Their duty to report to the churches is a greater duty because it involves living their daily life inside a vehicle.

Caring for missionaries is a hospitable task that should be a joy to you because they are serving the Lord in areas where you cannot go yourself to preach and teach the gospel. Give and give abundantly to meet their needs! And someday, you may be in their shoes.

I owe a special thanks to the many other ladies that have contributed their ideas and time so that we could compile such a great list. Thank you!