Beyond Traditional Serving Models – Ask Better Questions

TRADITIONAL MODELS OF SERVING

Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. (1 Corinthians 12:27)

I have served in the church for most of my early adult life, sometimes in traditional roles (Sunday School teacher, women’s study leader, committee member, communion helper, usher, greeter, nursery attendant, youth group leader, or hospitality team contributor) and sometimes in non-traditional roles (hosting youth art auctions, sorting clothing for a street ministry, and turning elementary school-aged handwriting practice into a ministry serving elderly and ill church members).

THE MOMENT THE PARADIGM SHIFTED

The moment that shifted the paradigm entirely happened one early autumn Sunday as I sat in church listening to the new study offerings. I reached for my friend’s hand and whispered, “Where are the studies for parents of chronically ill children or marriages breaking under the weight of sick kids? Where is the care for the caregivers?” 

She whispered back, “Maybe you should start one.”

I looked down and thought, “This is why there isn’t one. We are exhausted, wrung out, and desperately hanging on as we raise our kiddos in and out of hospital rooms, preparing them for surgery, managing their medical teams, changing treatment plans, and (whenever humanly possible) doing whatever it takes to help them experience a little bit of normal. How could we possibly also lead a small group?”

I sat there and let the tears fall, realizing for the first time that traditional roles of serving overlook an entire group of people: those affected by chronic illness, mental illness, chronic pain, and disability – and their spouses, parents, caregivers, and siblings. 

Traditional opportunities are simply beyond the reach of many of those affected by illness and pain.

WHAT IF WE COULD CHANGE THE PARADIGM?

What if, instead of expecting everyone to fulfill traditional serving opportunities, we started by asking better questions, like:

• What are your little loaves and fish? 
• How has God equipped you to serve? 
• How is God calling you to serve? 
• What makes your heart sing? 

What if there are dozens of ministries we rarely consider, like:

• fixing broken bicycles? 
• massaging the hands or feet of someone in pain?
• picking up litter in the parking lot? 
• playing video games with at-risk adolescents?
• mentoring others through email, Zoom, or phone?
• offering warm greetings?

Could there be ministries of:

• listening?
• presence?
• creativity?
• noticing beauty? 
• spreading joy? 
• witnessing pain? 
• appreciation?

WHY DOES THIS MATTER?

This matters more than we think because one in two people is affected by chronic illness, mental illness, chronic pain, and/or disability. One in two. Let that sink in. 

That means half of all those:

• in our churches.
• in our classrooms. 
• in our business meetings.
• on a city bus. 
• in a sports stadium. 

Half of the world’s population is affected by pain and illness.

That is millions of people! People who are hungry to connect, thirsty to serve, and wanting to use the grace gifts they’ve been given. The Body of Christ needs every one of our gifts, whether bite-sized or super-sized.

So, let’s start a different conversation. Let’s ask better questions and think beyond traditional service models because everyone has a place at God’s table. 

Yes, that is a commitment of time, patience, and energy, but true connection is incomplete unless every person feels seen, known, and needed. 

We can do better. We need to do better. Too many beautiful people long to offer their unique loaves and fish, aching to become vital members of the Body of Christ on earth.

BETTER QUESTIONS LEAD TO DEEPER, MORE MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY

The place to begin is with better questions:

• How is He calling you to serve?
• What are your grace gifts? 
• How would you like to use those gifts? 
• What would that role look like?
• How do you feel most seen, known, and needed?
• What have you experienced that could now help others?

No gift is too small. No role is unneeded. No one is indispensable.

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. (1 Corinthians 12:4-6)

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, teach us to start better conversations, ask better questions, and think beyond traditional models of serving so that everyone finds a place to connect, a place to invest their gifts and experience, and a place where community is strengthened, faith is deepened, and You receive the glory. May it be so! Amen.