Your Ministry Flows From Your Walk
Ministry can be both one of the greatest and one of the most challenging callings we will ever encounter. We pour ourselves out for others, giving our time, energy, creativity, and hearts in service to God’s people. But over time, it’s easy to drift into doing ministry for God rather than with God. We can find ourselves running from one thing to the next, operating more out of habit or obligation than out of a deep, abiding connection to Him.
Years ago, I heard a pastor encourage his staff with a very specific proclamation. He said, “Your ministry flows from your walk.” We all have some sort of relationship or walk with God that shapes who we are and how we live. We also have a specific ministry we have been called to lead. If we are going to be effective in a real and spiritual sense, then the ministry we do must flow from our walk with God. If not, we are simply doing it on our own, and we will never have the impact we hope to have as we seek to lead people in their relationship with God.
Jesus talks about this idea in John 15:1-8:
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”
We can’t bear fruit, not real, lasting, spiritual fruit, unless we stay connected to the source of life. Ministry apart from Jesus may look busy and productive, but it won’t be fruitful in the ways that matter most. As ministry leaders, if we want to be healthy, we have to stay connected to the vine. That means guarding our time with God, listening for His voice, and allowing Him to prune us when necessary so that we can grow and bear more fruit.
We also have to understand the power of “no.” Let’s be honest, we often like to say, “yes.” Maybe we feel like we have to or maybe we just like being in the middle of everything, but in order to be healthy and have the capacity to do what we do well, we sometimes have to say “no” and move away from being involved in everything. People in our churches have a tendency to rely on us a lot, and we can tend to step in anywhere and everywhere we are invited. Healthy leaders know when they need space and margin in both their schedule and in their minds, and they are willing to create that space.
Finally, when it comes to leading in ministry, please don’t go it alone. I mean this in both don’t go it alone in your personal life, and don’t go it alone in ministry. As leaders, we are always encouraging the people we lead to “do life” with others so they can experience the power of community. The irony of this plea is the fact that many of us often have a lone ranger mentality when it comes to the ministry we are called to do and the practical life we live. We isolate ourselves out of pride, fear, or frustration. Maybe we’ve been hurt by others in ministry. People are hard, and relationships can be messy. We often have ideas and want to do things our way, so involving others can be complicated or painful, both at work and in our personal relationships. We can feel like it’s just easier to do things our way. But the truth is, God designed us for connection. We need people in our lives who can encourage us, challenge us, pray for us, and remind us that we are not alone. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 reminds us, “Two are better than one… If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.”
Healthy ministry leaders stay connected. They stay connected to God, to rest, and to community. They recognize that fruitful ministry doesn’t come from striving harder, but from abiding deeper. So, as you lead today, remember this: Your greatest impact will not come from your busyness, your brilliance, or your effort, but it will come from your walk with God. Stay connected to the vine. Learn to say “no” so you can say “yes” to what truly matters. And surround yourself with people who will walk alongside you on the journey. Because when your ministry flows from your walk, the fruit that comes from your life and leadership will last far beyond anything you can manufacture yourself.
