Ministry in the Trenches
by Suzanne Hadley Gosselin on 08/27/2008 at 10:47 AM
"Who has had the greatest impact on your spiritual life?"
When Drew Dyck asked this question at a retreat, the answers surprised him:
I expected to hear about best-selling authors and big-time preachers. Instead, most members of our team cited virtual unknowns: youth pastors and teachers, parents and siblings. We have a bookish team, which includes editors and authors, so thinkers such as Henri Nouwen and G.K. Chesterton were also mentioned. But for the most part, my colleagues talked about ordinary people that influenced them during critical phases of their lives: a youth leader who took a special interest in a student, a college roommate whose habit of Bible-reading made a lasting impression, a father who challenged his son to be serious about his faith.
Dyck cites as his greatest influence his father, "whose humility and example did the most to smooth the path of my spiritual journey." I can name many godly influences, including my parents, my choir director and a worship leader at the summer camp I attended during high school. Dyck explains a misconception he has had about ministry:
I have to admit that, for me, the word "ministry" still conjures up images of what happens on a church platform. I picture preachers delivering sermons or worship leaders ushering congregants into the presence of God. Sure, I know that one-on-one ministry is essential, but often it’s easy to think that the most visible efforts made by the professionals are the ones that matter most.
And yet when he asked his colleagues the question, it was the "ordinary" people who had made the greatest impact. A big name or big ministry had nothing to do with it. So what about you? Who has impacted your spiritual life the most? Why?
1. obewan said the following at 11:44 AM on Aug 27:
I have to say it was C.S. Lewis. Youth leaders, pastors, and other Christians were there too, but they all had about the same impact. I read most of the works of C.S. Lewis in High School, and he really solidified my faith. He was a brilliant apologist and strong defender of the faith. I did a project on allegories for my Honors English class, and C.S. Lewis was the centerpiece. I got to present faith issues to the teacher and other students.
2. Rachael said the following at 11:59 AM on Aug 27:
My mom!!
A picture of a burned boy in the newspaper I saw at age 3 led to a spiritual conversation with her that led to my possible conversion (I say 'possible' because from a couple things I said in my youth I think I didn't have a solid grasp on who Jesus was and that salvation is by grace through faith. Anyway I wanted and embraced Christ with the limited knowledge my 3-year-old brain had).
She was a stay-at-home mom and homeschooled me for a number of years, which helped shape my spiritual foundation of my younger years.
She has a deep, strong (she might not feel 'strong', but from an outside human persective it is definitely strong) faith and hunger for the Word of God. Because of her convictions, I think, our family left a theologically unhealthy church.
Throughout my life, she has OFTEN placed others' needs before her own. Evidences of the Spirit in her include humility, selflessness, and love.
She has an absoutely solid belief in the power of looking to Christ. I'm hoping to taste the power of that, as she has.
3. Tamara said the following at 2:45 PM on Aug 27:
My youth pastor and my youth small group leader. They were there to encourage and answer my questions when I got sick in high school. And they just lived what they belived so well. There are many things from the time I spent with them that still influence me today.
Also, my parents and grandparents. I come from an amazing Christian family. They challenged me to grow and make my faith my own rather than something that I believed jsut because they did.
4. Ana said the following at 2:53 PM on Aug 27:
-My parents
-My friends moms
-Several really close friends
-My church family
-The ministries of: http://visionforum.com
http://therebelution.com
5. J. Tucker said the following at 3:13 PM on Aug 27:
My father is most certainly the one person who has had the most spiritual impact on my life. His granite faith and strength during incredibly hard times has been the most inspiring spiritual example I have ever encountered. He was also the one to dedicate me to God when I was born and the one to baptize me when I graduated from college. I only hope that I can serve as such a momentous spiritual guide as my father when I have children.
6. Jaime said the following at 5:37 PM on Aug 27:
My best friend (school years) who told me about Christ, her father (my surrogate dad), and my youth pastor. Each of these people lived their faith whether is was popular or not. They encouraged me, taught me, and showed me how to teach and myself from the Bible.
7. John the Aggie said the following at 9:02 PM on Aug 27:
I'm right there with obewan on CS Lewis. Same exact story for me - I read his stuff in high school and it cemented my young faith firmly into place.
I also have four men who I consider to be my spiritual fathers; most prominent among them is my actual Dad. They are all godly men in the church I grew up in whose lives showed me what walking with Jesus really looks like.
8. TS said the following at 9:22 PM on Aug 27:
People in my church family and camp ministry have been a great blessing through their teaching and passion in living for the Lord! Also benfited greatly from resources of Jerry Bridges, Joshua Harris, John Piper, Paul Washer, Boundless articles, Council of Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, Voice of the Martyrs and Spurgeon. Ultimately the author and perfecter of may faith has had and continues to have the greatest impact on my faith.
9. TiNA said the following at 10:47 PM on Aug 27:
I wrote an article about the moment I realized I was doing singles ministry in the trenches. Enjoy: http://tmbcello.blogspot.com/2007/09/singlehood-in-trenches-ministry.html That was quite a humbling experience.