Equipping the Saints.

11 He himself granted that some are apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body ofChrist. 13 until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ.- Ephesians 4:11-13 (NRSV)

"To equip the saints for the work of ministry...." I remember when I had to explain to one of my congregants at my first appointment that the pastor was neither charged to do all the work of ministry within the church, nor a "hired hand" working for or on behalf of a congregation. Apastor is to equip the saints for the work of ministry for building up the body of Christ (that's all of us), so that we all support one another in the unity of faith.

I'm always encouraged by the saints of the various churches I serve: the ones who have true servant hearts and look out for one another, for their faith communities, and for the communities in which their churches sit. They serve on committees; as greeters and ushers; take care of the buildings under their charge; volunteer for all sorts of things; watch out for one another; visit the homebound, sick, and dying; and generally live out Jesus' expectation that we all are the church. They are the true hands and feet of Christ in the world.

It's the responsibility of the pastors) to provide the spiritual substance to ensure the saints of these faith communities are equipped - supplied or prepared for a particular task - for this work with and among one another and the community. I pray about this daily.

To what ministry or ministries are you called? And what do you need to be equipped for that ministry?