It was probably seven years ago that I heard my first sermon on five-fold ministry. During the message, our pastor taught about each grace gifting. I listened intently to each one. I took the test. And I couldn’t get past the results: Apostle. That can’t be right, I thought. I’m a woman. Things got a bit more complicated during the altar call moment. As a demonstration of agreement, five ministry paths were established by our pastor. At each landing spot at the altar, a prayer minister stood...

I tried not to look as I passed by the sign at the front of the children’s ministry building. Truth be told, most weeks, I failed.    “Your greatest contribution to the Kingdom of God may not be something you do, but someone you raise.”  It was probably just my immaturity and the chip on my shoulder, but I didn’t love that quote. It always felt a little too cute, a little too convenient. Some days, it felt like a cry from stay-at-home moms like me to prove that we mattered, even though we...

I’m relatively new to the concept of five-fold gifting, but I’ve always had an internal drive to shepherd. Maybe you, too, have felt a desire to guide those around you, talk through scripture, and see them grow stronger.  As a journalist, I love learning how context and perspective shape situations. And I love sharing that information to help others understand, adjust perspective, and grow.   Turns out, not everyone shares that passion. As I learn more about five-fold graces, I’ve reflected...