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In This Issue...
Articles
- A Theology of Humor by Cheryl Taylor
- Ministering With Humor by Stephanie Nance
- Christian Leaders Having Fun? by Pam Morton with Kathy Jingling
- The Health Benefits of Humor and Laughter by Dwenda Gjerdingen, MD, MS
Resources
Book Reviews
- Anatomy of an Illness by Norman Cousins
- The Purse-Driven Life by Anita Renfroe
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God Thinks Outside the Box: Thinking Creatively About Ministry
Introduction
After years of trying to have children, my husband and I spent a summer in Uganda, Africa. As we taught throughout the country, each time people discovered that we had been married for twelve years and yet did not have children they would offer, “Well, you know, Sister Christine prays for wombs and they are opened.” On our last day in Uganda, who should approach me but Christine. She asked if she could pray for me. Always ready for prayer, I eagerly responded, “yes!” Christine proceeded to read a Psalm, which declared that the barren woman would rejoice for God would give her a son. She then laid hands on me and prayed a simple prayer of faith that I would conceive that month. At the conclusion of her short prayer, she requested that I write her a letter when my baby was born. Nine months later I gave birth to a son! In future correspondence I discovered that Christine only prays for those whom God directs her to pray. I was the 31st person for whom she had prayed, and all 31 had become pregnant the month she prayed for them. I thank God for this woman’s sensitivity to hear God’s voice, and obedience to follow His prompting. As a result, she is being used by God in a unique way.
Boxes and Women in Ministry
My experience with Christine reminds me that God is not limited to the ministry categories or boxes that are so easy to construct. As a Christian woman, you may have a mental box defining how God can use you. When we do this we limit Him. The exciting news is that we don’t have to be limited in our thinking, for God thinks—and works—outside the box! We should strive for “creativity in ministry,” or cultivating fresh ideas about how we can most effectively reach today’s generation for Christ.
Biblical Foundations for Creativity in Ministry
Creativity is biblical. Even a cursory glance at Scripture reveals that creativity is consistent with the very nature of God. The very first verse in the Bible, Genesis 1:1 tells us that “In the beginning, God created…” The first mention we have of God refers to his creative acts. With complete effortlessness He created something out of nothing—and what a diverse universe He has created! Furthermore, Genesis tells us that God created all people in the image of the Creator, which includes this creative element. Ephesians 5:1 commands us to imitate Him. As a result, we have the privilege of expressing our innate creativity to the glory of God.
Not only is creativity consistent with the nature of God, but biblical precedent for creativity in ministry can be seen repeatedly. Scripture is full of examples of how God worked uniquely through women. Consider Deborah, a political and military leader, or Esther, a beauty pageant winner who saved the Jews from mass extermination. Tabitha used her seamstress abilities to serve God, while Priscilla was the first tentmaker missionary. God may even work through the person we least expect. Remember how God used sweet little motherly Jael, to be the tent-stake murderer, and thereby save Israel (Judges 4:17-24). Tent stakes aside, the point is clear—God works uniquely through people to meet the needs of others.
Creativity in ministry can also be seen in the example and teaching of Jesus and Paul. The very essence of Jesus’ ministry represented one willing to be innovative in order to most effectively meet people’s needs. Paul too embodied innovation in ministry. He declared: “I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some” (1 Corinthians 9:22b). We see this demonstrated in Acts 17, when Paul adjusted his approach in order to communicate effectively to the philosophers of the day. Paul connected to and affirmed the Athenians’ culture, and used their language and methods of communication in order to reach them. We can learn from these ministry examples the tremendous importance of catering one’s ministry to most effectively meet people’s needs.
1 Corinthians 12:11-12 reminds us that we are one Body, with many parts. Our purpose-full God designed the Body with diversity, in order for His Body to function effectively. God has provided each of us with a unique ministry “design,” making use of our backgrounds, experiences, personalities and spiritual giftings. We honor God when we strive to be who He uniquely created us to be, not trying to fit into some predetermined mold of what an effective minister must be. Not only does God delight in His people developing creative, contemporary, relevant ways to point people to the wonders of Christ, but we will have much more fun in the process, fulfilling who we were created to be.
God Is Still Working “Outside the Box”
Thankfully, God has never stopped working in diverse ways. He is still using some pretty incredible women, in some pretty amazing ways. Consider Donna. One day, while making donuts in her kitchen, she had a vision and God inspired her to use her culinary background to make a difference for Him. She now runs teahouses in the Middle East, reaching out to Muslim women. I think of Joan. Dedicated to urban ministry, you’ll find her in the trenches training leaders to make a difference in the inner cities of America. Lois is dedicated to helping Jews meet their Messiah, while Cindy assists teenage girls who have become pregnant and now have nowhere else to turn. Heidi, a mortician’s wife, ministers to families in distress, some who would never darken the doors of a church otherwise. Rhonda, who is an endorsed chaplain in Washington State, ministers to motorcycle gangs. Alicia Chole, a former atheist, is now touching women everywhere through her speaking and writing.
You may be thinking, “That’s great, but God could never use me like that.” Consider Billie Davis, daughter of migrant workers, who grew up in tents and in the family car. She followed behind the government trucks as they tossed bread to the poor. She went on to become one of the first women in the Assemblies of God to earn a terminal degree, and founded the Social Services Department at Evangel University. At 85 years young, she is still using her mind to reach the academic world for Christ.
In my own life, God as led me down paths I would have never anticipated. He has opened doors for me to assist church leaders in preventing moral failure and helping Christians maintain sexual integrity. Believe me, I had to break down several mental boxes of how I expected (and wanted) God to use me. God can—and will—use women who are willing to be obedient to His leading.
Conclusion
God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. God has worked “outside the box” through women in the past, He is still doing it today, and you can be sure that He can work “outside the box” through you. If you have a heart for ministry, don’t limit God when it comes to what He can do in and through you. Be open. Who knows how God is going to use you? Allow Him to work in you in whatever way He desires—not just how you expect it. Women who are willing to think creatively about ministry can set themselves up to maximize their God-given ministry potential.
Dr. Cheryl Taylor serves as the doctor of ministry program adviser at the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary in Springfield, Mo. She taught at a Bible school in Singapore for a few years, and served with her husband in pastoral ministry for seven years. The past 12 years have been spent in higher education. Every summer she and her husband teach in overseas assignments.
