Have you ever had Christians tell you about how we should have a "ministry" to our next door neighbors? They explain to you how they visit them, help them and at the same time "witness" to them. At first you may have felt that this is what all Christians must do and you might even find yourself making excuses about how it is hard to "knock on doors" to get to know neighbors--and how few of them you may really know anyway because when we were in the Worldwide Church of God we isolated ourselves from others, since we were taught to "come out of the world."

In the WCG our labor was never called a "ministry"--and the emphasis certainly wasn't on the Lord giving us a "ministry"--but it was always a "service," and the ministers wanted to know how much were we serving others? Remember how we were never made to feel we could do much of anything outside of "God's Church" except be examples to the world? Our greatest "service" was done "within the Body and for the Body."

But stop and remember the many ways God has already worked in your life since you've exited. The realization will perhaps dawn on you how much He has been with you and how much He has helped you. We each have a "ministry," but it may not be visiting all the neighbors in town. Have we shared ourselves and our talents with others? Have we visited someone in the hospital? Have we listened to someone that needed our understanding? Have we simply spent time with and shown love to our family? Have we supported others? Then you will realize that you do indeed have a "ministry." 

Yes, in our own way we each have a "ministry," because Jesus works with each of us individually. His Spirit in us produces fruit. No, God is not working with all Christians the same, but how wonderful that He works with each of us.

By D. W.
Exit & Support Network™ 

UPDATE: Since the new doctrinal changes, the WCG has been referring to itself as a "Christian ministry" and tries to make outsiders think it has always been such. The word "ministry," however, has always been a trigger word for those from the WCG, PCG, UCG, etc. This writing is not intended to give it that meaning.