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Two days after getting back into SVG I started a minor-prophets class at Baptist Bible College of the Caribbean. As exciting and enjoyable as that first day of teaching was, I was more excited about what would happen after class.

On the way back home I purchased some incredibly important ministry tools….

Seven plastic chairs!

On weekdays I’m involved in Bible clubs, and reading help ministries for children in the community. Till recently I drove from place to place using metal folding chairs. However, the Lord began challenging me about reaching other areas in the afternoon, which meant I’d have to walk instead of driving. Since carrying lots of metal folding chairs was out of the question, I purchased seven stackable plastic chairs that can easily be carried with one hand.

It isn’t just about reaching new areas though. Those stools were tools that God used to make ministry effective.

The thing about ministry is we can become used to just doing things the same way we always did it. I’m not someone who believes we should change things just for the sake of change, but at the same time ministry that NEVER changes leads to a lack of passion.

It can eventually get to the point where ministry is something we do mindlessly….like just pressing a button and it happens.

Because of this we must always ask ourselves “how can ministry be made better?”

Usually this leads to making one part of ministry more effective. With the stools my physical fitness became better (I walked instead of driving) and ability to minister anywhere since the seats were in my hand. This doesn’t mean the portability of ministry is perfect of course, but it’s better than the earlier version.

Making ministry a little bit better than it was is quite difficult. In a sense your “starting over” so to speak with the ministry so it takes lots of work. Also, the new way of doing things doesn’t always bring the excitement we desire since people are used to the old way. And that change rarely results in fruit right away.

But we still make things a little bit better……

Because when we stop growing, we start dying.

I’ve already started brainstorming ways of how I can become a little bit more effective reaching the children of Saint Vincent with the Gospel. But for now I’m grateful my plastic chairs, and the opportunity to do ministry a new way.