GROW WITH US
1Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.
ICAM
WE REALLY WANT YOU HERE!
What are you good at? What gift and talents do you have that can be consecrated to the King to help to build up the Kingdom of God.
1. Hospitality
Most people don’t realize how valuable a talent this is. To be able to either have someone in your home and make them feel loved and accepted by providing good food and an inviting setting, or provide food for church dinners or those in need, is a ministry to the body, soul, and spirit. It is very hard to focus on God when you are hungry.
Can you imagine what it would feel like for someone who is down and out to be invited to your home and treated with dignity and as a valued guest? Ministering to people’s physical needs with love opens the door to minister to their spiritual needs as well.
2. Working with Children
Kids are fertile ground in which to plant the seeds of God. They have this capacity to amaze you one moment and have you completely frustrated the next. That is why it takes a very special type of person to work successfully with children.
Many times, children’s ministry is thought of as something less than, but in my opinion, it is one of the most important. If you can grab a child’s heart for Jesus while they are young and secure it with good teaching and opportunities to work for Jesus, you will not lose them when they get older.
3. Working with Seniors
Seniors are another forgotten area of ministry. They have so much to give and share. Many of them are prayer warriors who are never noticed or recognized on this earth for the results of their prayers.
4. Intercessory Prayer
You can pray, intercede, and see lives changed for God. It is not glamourous, and most times the only one who will know you are doing it is God, but lives are changed when people pray.
5. Administration
Are you good at organizing people, places, or things? Do you have amazing computer skills? Are you fantastic at numbers and accounting? These are services much needed in the church. They are behind-the-scenes jobs that need to be done with excellence and serve the body of Christ by taking care of the logistical needs of the church.
When someone gifted in administration does these tasks, it frees up those who are not good at it to do the work that they have been called to do.
6. Encouragement
Did you know that being able to encourage people is a gift from God? In Romans 12:6-8, Paul lists a number of spiritual gifts, including encouragement (verse 7). We all need each other if the Kingdom of God is going to grow.
There are times when a person needs someone else to come along side of them and pick them up and get them back on track again, and that is what an encourager does.
7. Giving
If God has blessed you financially or with the ability to earn money, then some of that is meant to be used to finance His Kingdom. There is much work that can be done and people who are waiting for the money to do it, and you have to opportunity to meet that need.
Here’s the thing. It doesn’t matter what you gifting is, it must be done in love and obedience to Jesus. Your gifting will be tested, and as you pass the tests, God will entrust you with more and more. Never think that what you do is too small. God can and has used the smallest acts to produce big results.
In 1 Corinthians 12, the Apostle Paul says “God put our bodies together in such a way that even the parts that seem the least important are valuable. He did this to make all parts of the body work together smoothly, with each part caring about the others. If one part of our body hurts, we hurt all over. If one part of our body is honored, the whole body will be happy.”
Most of us have heard or read that passage many times. It’s a beautiful verse that reminds us that we are all valued equally. It reminds us that we all deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. Finally, it reminds us that we all have a place in the Kingdom of God.
But what if we also applied that verse to the ways in which we serve our parishes? What roles do we play in our parish communities? Are we using the distinct, precious gifts that God has given us to enrich the lives of our fellow parishioners and the people who our parishes serve?
We all know that singers and organists have talents that are needed in our churches. After all, the joyful, wondrous noise a talented choir – accompanied by an equally talented organist and music director – makes can be moving and uplifting during the Mass. It’s also a magnificent way to praise God. But it’s not just singers and organists that our churches need. Your church needs you to share your talents as well.
Artistic
While choirs and singers have the ability to stir our souls with their renditions of sacred hymns, artists stir our souls in a different way. The images they create on canvas or in murals can help the congregation connect with their faith. But artists can also help their fellow congregants in another exciting way. They can help them experience prayer through art by teaching them at church workshops and events.
Musicians
When we think of musicians serving in our churches, we’re likely to think of Organists, Drummers, Guitarist, Saxophone etc . If we’re thinking of a contemporary Mass geared towards youth and families, we might think of an acoustic guitarist and a drummer as well. Church-approved musicians play a glorious part in entire church service especially in Praise and Worship and altar call.
ICAM welcomes saved anointed musicians who are living for Jesus to use their gift for building up the Kingdom God.
Praise Team / Dance
Abraham’s wife, Sarah – expressed their love of God and joy in His blessings through the art of dance. 2 Sam 6: 14 Sam: Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the LORD with all his might,
Dancing helps move people into worship God more deeply. Dancers could also offer their talent to help teach Children / Teens / Young Adults at the local church how to praise dance.
Writing
Skits, plays or musicals are important to the church that the children attending them can perform. Many people who have a gift for writing, Plays, Skits, and musicals might lend their talent to their church of membership or attendance. For church events, milestone anniversaries coming up in the near future, writers could also offer to help create a publications that documents all or some aspect of the history of the church. This gift unique in its own style.
Culinary
While our churches clearly need artists, crafters, performing artists and writers, they also need people who have culinary talents and skills. And talented cooks and bakers are in high demand by more than one ministry. Not only can people with these underrated gifts bring hope and sustenance, in Jesus’ name, to people who are impoverished, they can comfort the grieving and support other valuable church ministries and service projects.
Many churches also have a ministry dedicated to helping the homeless and people who are indigent. Some run soup kitchens or hold monthly community dinners. Others regularly provide full meals to local homeless shelters or soup kitchens. Finally, bakers are frequently needed to help raise money for church service projects and ministries.
Unique Talents
These are just some of the notable talents that our churches need now. But there are many others that could also make a wonderful difference in our parishes. You may not be able to read music. And your joyful noises might not bring joy to the other members of your congregation. But the gifts that God has given you can bring an infinite amount of joy to them, the people your parish serves and, above all, to God.
ICAM
CHANGE HAPPENS!