So we came up with an idea to teach teens about ministry in the real world.  We worked at a pregnancy center, a youth camp, a ministry for migrant farm workers and at the homes of elderly shut-ins.  Our whole week was just about serving God through serving others.  We started each day of the week with a Bible study and prayer, and then headed out to do that day's activities.

It was so good, that we decided to do it again.  This year, we will be working around both of our churches, elderly shut-ins houses, a youth camp, a ministry for migrant farm workers, and, new this year, one of our local high schools.

I think far too many times in church world, we think of ministry as singing a solo or teaching a Sunday School class or some other "platform" or public thing.  That is ministry, but there is more to ministry than those things.  Ministry and serving many times requires getting dirty, cleaning toilets, cutting grass, painting, pulling weeds or just helping someone with their needs around the house.

James 2:14ff tells us that if we have faith, we need to show our faith by our works.  In other words, don't just tell me you're a Jesus follower, show me.  Don't just tell me you love me, show me.

As a Christian or Jesus follower there has got to be more to our lives than just showing up for church on Sunday mornings.  There has to be a point when we look at the life of Jesus and realize that He came for one purpose, and that was to die on the cross for our sins.  But on His way to the cross, He met real needs of people.  He fed them, healed them and taught them.  He didn't come just to turn water in to wine, but He did that because it was a need at that time.  A person's needs will always be a big deal to them.  So whether it is helping an elderly lady fold her laundry, or mowing the grass for someone who is physically disabled; whether it is painting a cabin or pulling weeds at a high school; it may seem small to us, but can be large and a huge help to the one in need.

Make your spring break count!