I’m often asked, “How did you get into ministry?” I sheepishly respond, “ I kept showing up.” With a shared chuckle, the conversation moves on. Many people ask, expecting a huge testimony or a God-given dream or vision, and I confess I am expecting that too from ministry leaders because that seems normal. I expect a big testimony highlighting the many breadcrumbs God left for them to follow. However, dull as it may seem, my answer is true. I never wanted to be a ministry leader, but I kept showing up.
I didn’t grow up in church, and when I began attending women’s ministry events, most leaders were lifelong Christians or pastors' wives immersed in church 24/7. Leadership was never the goal; it never crossed my mind. I began the routine of regular church attendance on Sundays and attended Women’s Ministry events to learn, experience, and grow in my love for Jesus. I didn’t join the Women’s Ministry with a desire to lead, but a desire to be led. I didn’t know what it meant to be a Christian, and I certainly didn’t know how to live a Christian life.
The Power of a Christ-Filled Culture
My experience in women’s ministry was a blessed time where I was pastored and encouraged to practice my faith. I was encouraged to create spiritual disciplines like prayer and reading my Bible. I was invited to serve alongside the other women as they modeled how to serve Christ.
I never felt I was being molded for leadership. I never felt part of a “leadership pipeline,” where upon completion, I would rise to a designated role in the church. I just showed up. I willingly helped serve at events and happily did any job needed. I was a worker willing to work.
In Matthew, we see Jesus address his disciples. “Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.’” Matthew 9: 37-38.
I was young in my faith when I began serving. I did not know how to serve in church, but I was a worker. As a worker, I was willing to work– or as the verse says– labor.
I was often corrected and received biblical guidance as I served. I was extended a lot of grace, and I gratefully accepted said grace. I wasn’t laboring for man’s approval, but for God (Colossians 3:23-24). This grace-filled environment encouraged me to continue on my path to a life of service. I didn’t always get it right, but I was never rejected or offended by any leader, authority, or fellow sister while serving Christ.
I understand my experience may not reflect your story. It may not be a typical story for most women, which hurts my heart. If you ever felt unwelcome or rejected by ministry leaders, I’m sorry. If you showed up ready to labor for the Lord and were misguided or mistreated, I want to embolden you to try again. I want you to keep reading and decide to change the culture that didn’t create or encourage the cultivator in you.
My story should be the norm, not the anomaly. We should welcome the laborer, even if she is learning. We should want to gently and gracefully guide her to Christ. We should allow her to see our victories and our battles. We should model Jesus' acceptance and excellence, all while helping her find both in her relationship with Jesus.
The worker willing to labor is a gift from God. How are we to treat her?
The harvest is plentiful, but we need to ask ourselves:
Am I supporting the laborer?
Am I encouraging and raising up the next worker even if she doesn’t look like me, act like me, speak like me, or lead like me?
Protecting Christ-Filled Culture
I was welcomed into a culture of women who modeled a Proverbs 31 woman; not because they were on display but because Christ had truly transformed them into this picturesque woman. Titus 2: 2-8 was lived out before my eyes, and I was not shunned or rejected for the things I did not know. Instead, I was trained up, like the child mentioned in Proverbs 22:6. I was trained up as a child of the Lord who had not reached maturity, and I was embraced and trained in the ways of the Lord as I began to grow into a mature woman.
As a ministry leader, I work very hard to protect this Christ-filled culture. Without grace and guidance, I wouldn’t be serving in the church. But if this Christ-filled culture isn’t protected, the threat is far worse than losing a laborer. Without grace and guidance, I wouldn’t know Christ.
Let us not be a barrier to the women who are looking to Walk Worthy in the calling they have received. The harvest of Christ's love, grace, and mercy is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Let’s pray that as we are sent out into the harvest, we welcome other ladies to labor and harvest, too.
~ Kelsey Bryant, Guest Writer
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