You know that dream of Africa that most people have; the one where you picture cute children and just imagine yourself there playing with them, and it being the best thing in the world. Or, that picture you get of wanting to experience a different culture. Those are all fun and great until they fade! No one ever tells you that it won’t last forever! Once the Romantic Picture of what you thought it would be like disappears, and reality hits, you hit a wall! That’s where our team is right now.
Most of my life I’ve defined ministry as all that I can accomplish for God. I’m starting to learn that living in this way couldn’t be farther from how God calls us to live. Over the past few weeks our team has really been battling with the desire to do more in ministry. We feel like we’re not really making much of an impact. Playing the same games at the Care Points every day isn’t doing it for us anymore. The reality of how people live here is starting to really set in, and now we find ourselves struggling with the meaning of ministry.
I’ve started to learn that ministry is not about doing, but about being. Ministry should be defined as living life. That is, if we’re truly living the life God has called us to. Every breathe, word, deed, etc. should be ministry. Simply holding a child, or feeding the hungry, whatever it is it should be part of the bigger picture.
I’m seeing that all of these things should flow out of our relationship with God. He keeps teaching me about grace, and I’m constantly seeing how my deeds should flow out of my being in Him. Wherever I am, and whatever I’m doing should be ministry.
I know my thoughts are kinda mixed around in this blog, but I hope you get the picture of what God’s been teaching us over the past couple weeks!
God Bless You Guys!
Jon
Thanks for the comment Mark. I’d love an email man. What’s your skype account?
Jon — you’ve already come such a long way in your walk. i can tell it with each new post. I’ve been trying to dwell on God’s grace lately and i know i cannot truly grasp it but what i’ve seen absolutely blows me away. I can’t wait to sit and talk with you about all that you’ve learned through this experience. hang in there and remind your team that there is an even bigger team of people back home praying for each of you, every day! Love you!!!
Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to introduce to you, the man, Jon Melo. You are getting, and at the same time challenging all of us to do the same! Thank you!
I Love You, I Love You, I Love You 🙂
Jon,
You have really grown in the Lord over the past few months. I am glad to hear from you. Every time you hold one of the children in you arms you are sharing the gift of love – God’s Love – with them. Thanks, Jon, for being the young man that you are, and for becoming the awesome young man that God desires you to be. I look forward to talking with you when you come home. Take care and God Bless you and your ministry.
Sincerely,
John Murray
Jon,
Wow, such an encouragement and something that makes me think as well!
God Bless!
I don’t think your thought are mixed around this blog at all. You are right on the money my friend. Recently the Lord spoke and said “Stop trying so hard defining your ministry and just “be”. You can only truly minister from your overflow of your daily relationship with Him and I believe you understand that perfectly. I’m very blessed to see what the Lord is doing in you and for others around you. The essence of who you are comes from being with Him. You are one who will truly have many close encounters of the God Kind. Praise the Lord Everybody!
I love you Melo! Keep doing what you’re doing and more!
-Emily
🙂
So proud of you man. Can’t wait to see you in a couple weeks. This is great stuff!
Praying for you!
Jimmy
Hey Jon, it’s a big little question you raise here, pal. I don’t have all the answers, but I will submit to you that works and prayer are similar in that they have to do with intimacy with God. He doesn’t need ’em (our works or our prayers), but they are two ways he pull us into a deeper relationship w/ him. We are not servants, we are sons — he has shared his business with us by inviting us into his work, as sons. What is happening with you now is a trying, a testing, of your works, to see what they are made of. The test is not so God can see — he already knows, man. But the test is so you can see. He’s going for your heart, dude. Remember why he made you. It was for his pleasure — not for what you can accomplish through your works. The whole thing is him drawing you, wooing you. Drop me a line if you want to email or skype.
Jon,
Thanks for sharing what you and your team are learning. I think you got it right when you said that all the ministry should come out of relationship with God. That’s a big lesson to learn, and I’m excited to see what He does with your team as you walk it out. Praying for you.
Erin
Skype: markalm
email: [email protected]
Haha! Thanks P. Matt! Thanks Ryan! I’m looking forward to some awesome conversations when I get back!