11 Aug Ezer in Action

Most college students spend their summers taking extra classes, working or just relaxing.  Hannah decided months before school ended that she would spend her summer in Allendale, SC, partnering with leaders from Grace and Allendale to minister to children in the community there.

As Grace Church’s partnership with Allendale County has grown over the past few years, many people in our church have invested in Allendale County, both financially and relationally.  This past spring, a family from our Grace community moved to Allendale, providing even more opportunity for interaction and influence.  This summer, three college students, including Hannah, joined the Espinosas in their work in Allendale.

When you are new to a ministry or team, it can be easy to recognize all of the things that could be done differently.  For Hannah, who brought years of experience working with children in Greenville as well as cross-cultural ministry experience, that is just what happened.  Hannah began working in a school-age camp with a woman who was supposed to provide direction and leadership over the particular group they were working with.  Hannah’s natural instinct was to jump in with fresh energy and ideas and just take over, especially since her partner was not a natural leader and did not step up to give her direction.  But Hannah recognized her autonomous nature emerging, and God reminded her that her role in Allendale was short term.  She was there to lend strength, giving several months of her life in support of a ministry that spans many years.  She was reminded that her role was to come alongside this coworker, and strengthen the ministry under her leadership.  Hannah began to see that though part of her role was with the students, another part of her role was to enable and encourage her partner to lead and make decisions.  As Hannah began turning to her partner for leadership, her partner began to lead more confidently and more effectively.  The result was not only a more effective program for the children but also leadership development in her partner.

Her experiences in Allendale have taught Hannah about herself and who God created her to be as an ezer, something she has learned best in community.  She can see more clearly how God has equipped her to invite, nurture, and partner, giving her gifts of mercy and compassion.  She feels the weight of ministry in Allendale, desiring to see lives and culture changed for Christ.  However, she realizes that she can’t allow the weight to overwhelm her.  While she does have a responsibility in ministry, as we all do, she knows that it is the Lord who brings the growth.  Hannah seeks to be a good steward of the gifts and capacities she has been given.

Where is God calling you to use your gifts to serve others?  Do you need to look at service opportunities from a different perspective like Hannah did?  Comment below.

~Women’s Ministry Team