Ministry work is a challenge every day.
That is due to the fact that we work with needy people and the ravages that sin
creates in their lives. This alone is challenging work. But we are reminded
that God will never leave us to fend for ourselves. This work is guided each
day by Him. We are reminded, however, by Scripture that we must not forget to
work at the administrative side of our ministry. The clients come first, second
to them is remaining diligent in the areas I believe are critical to our future
faithfulness to God.
Remaining Christ
centered in our approach to providing services to the homeless and poor can
never be relaxed. It is because of Him that we are in ministry to begin with.
He has saved us in order that we might be used by Him to reach back to minister
to others. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not
your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one
may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works,
which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:8-10)
In Matthew 9 we
read that Jesus “saw the crowds; he had compassion for them, because they were
harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 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.”(9:36-38)
The goal of ministry has not changed since Jesus’s times on earth. It is
critical that the Mission enlists workers (paid or volunteer) who are committed
to Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and who all see evangelism as their
primary goal in the work they do at the Mission.
Since the
beginning, Jericho Road Ministries has been blessed with faithful and
God-fearing men and women. As we look to the future it will be important to
further develop our Board of Directors for telling the story of Jericho Road
Ministries in the community and the Churches. To further this work of
communications they will be drawn into a greater oversight of the operations
through the executive leadership at the Mission. In this way the Lord will
guide them in receiving greater resources to provide our shelter programs to
more of the homeless and needy among us.
Lastly, the work
of the staff and the Board will continue to be seen and judged by the
community. To date we have had wonderful community support and cooperation. For
this to continue we will need to remain faithful to our Mission Statement. The
community respects our diligence and truth in sharing our goals openly and
honestly. Trustworthiness in doing and being what Christ has called us to as
His followers will always find favor with God. To receive similar favor from
mankind will be a blessing from God, too.