By: Toni Crawford

I’m going to talk about something that I’m sure many dealt with or currently dealing with. I grew up in Church and I knew early on that I was called to ministry even before I got save at 18yrs old. However, because of what I witnessed in ministry (Bad Representation of Christians) I wanted no parts in being ordained as anything. I was ok with being behind the scenes. Isn’t it funny how those who aren’t trying to be upfront, be the ones God is calling to come out of their comfort zone?

In the past, I was apart of the Usher board, didn’t want to be. Let me explain. I was the one that loved to shout a lot in Church and praise God and I felt like being an usher got in the way of that. Hear me out. Here I am passing out Kleenex to people crying out to God, placing prayer sheets on those who gotten slayed in the spirit on the floor and etc and I wanted to get my cry on and praise on too. However, the position didn’t fully stopped me. At times I was on the other end as the one crying and praising. I was also apart of the Choir, Praise and worship team and fit in wherever needed. When it came to the choir and Praise team I did enjoy it more than ushering.

Further more, I say all that to say, I always knew God wanted me to do more. Ushering, praise team and etc was all good, but I knew then and even now years later God was calling me to do more. I had people give me titles even til this day, as though I was ordained in these offices. I don’t mind being called Evangelist or Minister but I had to let it be known a few times, I’m just a Sister in Christ. Listen, I know that I’m whoever God says I am. Though I wasn’t ordained by man/woman even after coming so close to it years back, I know it’s coming and I’ve been ordained by God already. I mean as dope and honoring as it is to have the title, I’m not moved by it.

In closing, I’ll be honest many are on the run from ministry and I was one of them. I’m at a place in my life where my heart has begin to soften. So the reasons why I didn’t want to get ordained then, I didn’t want to mess up. I didn’t want the responsibility, I was scared, I didn’t want to be held accountable even more and Ministry isn’t always fun. Seems like the more you say yes to God, here comes Satan and his little helpers trying to start some mess. Lastly, I know to serve in ministry is indeed a blessing; we’re called to serve others as Christians as well as sharing the Gospel and to be called by God as a Pastor or Minster and so forth is a blessing. It’s going to be a challenge but it’s a challenge that the Lord will help his people with. I could go on and on but I’ll end by saying this, whatever your ministry is and you’re having a difficult time saying yes to Jesus, stay prayed up and seeking Him. May the Lord soften your heart. Amen.

Ephesians 4:11-13 – And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.