Our Shared Ministry
David Francis
Sometimes we simply need to stop, rest awhile, and look around.
Last week, God blessed us with three and a half peaceful days at a campsite with only two other visitors in the field. My wife, Helen, found a beautiful 350-acre third-generation family farm on a hilltop near Robin Hood's Bay, along the east coast of Yorkshire — truly “God’s own country’.
The cool breeze, blue skies, and uninterrupted sea views felt like a ‘Balm of Gilead’, soothing the soul. With no sightseeing agenda, we had time to reflect on what had been a busy season personally. Sitting on the soft grass after our cliff top stroll along The Cleveland Way, surrounded by the beauty and wonder of creation, I found myself spontaneously raising my hands wide in praise and thankfulness to God.
Of course, it doesn’t take long for the troubles of the world to reappear – like persistent weeds in a farmer’s field. I was reminded of the many people, family and friends who still have not heard about the grace of God in Jesus, let alone responded to it. At the same time, I was reassured that God’s heart for reconciliation is far more persistent than those weeds of our weaknesses, distractions and sometimes half-hearted passion for the Gospel.
Many will know the phrase often associated with Vineyard founder John Wimber: ‘Everyone gets to play’. It captures the truth that every Christian has a role to play in the mission of the Church, not just pastors or leaders. God has given all of us a share in the ministry of reconciliation.
"All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation...”
(2 Corinthians 5:18)
“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.”
(2 Corinthians 5:20)
Jesus lived in an agrarian society that depended upon good harvests, rain, and God’s faithful provision through every season. I feel the same principle applies to evangelism.
As Ecclesiastes reminds us:
“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1, KJV)
God called us in the right season — a time when we were ready to respond to Him. As we go about daily life, perhaps we too need to pause regularly and seek God’s peaceful perspective on His ministry and ours. He knows the right time for every person.
We do not carry the burden of anyone’s salvation — that belongs to God. But we can be intentional, open-hearted, and available in our everyday relationships.
John Kirkby, founder of Christians Against Poverty and the ‘i61’ Movement (inspired by Isaiah 61:1 ‘The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news’), encourages Christians to share their faith in three simple steps:
Share Life — build genuine friendships.
Share Faith — share your story of God naturally within those relationships.
Share Jesus — invite others to meet Him as you feel led, according to that relationship you have built, inspired by the Spirit.
That way, on reflection, we can “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” (1 Peter 3:15)
