When I was in high school, I felt the call of God in my life to go into ministry as a full time vocation. The thing is I only knew I wanted to be at church – all the time. I couldn’t picture myself heading into an office building and working the 9 to 5 job. I liked kids, but the thought of being in a classroom all day as a teacher scared me. So where was I going to fit? It all seemed so wide open. So many options!
Then the Lord brought Jeremy into my life. Jeremy was the intern at my home church. He was active in children’s ministry and right around the time we started dating he was offered the position as children’s pastor at my home church. This was very exciting for him and I was so proud of him. I was away at college during this process so when I came home for that summer, he was curious if I wanted to teach a class of girls on Wednesday nights and help with children’s church on Sunday mornings.
Being just out of high school, I was still in the youth mindset, but I knew that church was much more than a youth ministry, so I decided to jump into children’s ministry. I figured if God wanted Jeremy and I to be together then I would need to find a fit in children’s ministry. If I didn’t fit, then I figured maybe this wasn’t the right direction for my ministry calling.
That summer was so important for me as a young person with a passion for ministry. I fell in love with children’s ministry and it set me on the path I’m now walking out. The great thing about my ministry is that I’m not doing it alone. I get the joy and the pleasure to walk beside my husband in truly a partnership of ministry.
Being able to share my ministry with my husband is so important for strength. We are able to support strengthen each other. We process the world differently, so we have two perspectives that help us to think outside of the box and openly discuss life and ministry from various angles. My strengths are not my husband’s strengths and his are not mine. We are able to round each other out.
Ministry is so rewarding, but it also can be very draining. By sharing the load, in a partnership, I am able to go farther and do more. I am also empowered to be who I am and how God made me to be. I don’t have to worry about trying to be just like my husband and mirror his ministry. We can see where we each shine differently. Every person is blessed with unique spiritual and leadership gifts. Using these unique gifts brings balance to ministry. We are energized to be an allied force for good.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.” I get to live out this principle every day at work. I know that I am better off for working in a team. We get more done together then we do alone. Our labor has a good return and we have the support and strength of each other. It is so nice to know that someone is there to catch me when I fall and that we’ll be able to get up and keep going. No getting stuck in a pit for this girl, I’ve invested in the buddy system.
Now I realize that not everyone has the blessing of sharing their ministry with their spouse. The ideas and principles still apply to anyone. We are not meant to it alone. Ministry is best done together because it is so central on relationship. We need to build partnerships into our lives and share our loads. Not only will the burden be lighter, but you have shared joy and shared triumph. Build people into your life that you deeply share your ministry with. Don’t walk this path alone. It’s truly better together!
Amy Scott's Thoughts 