I’ve recently been encouraged in two different venues that administration work is important, even in the Kingdom. Neither are new revelations, but they were well-timed reminders as I continue serving to support church planting through mostly education administration.
I was able to join a new Bible study this fall that covered the first half of Acts. In Acts 6, we rightfully mostly focused on Stephen’s life and legacy, but there are notes at the beginning about the need for deacons in the new church so that all would get their food service. Our teacher made mention of the need for such administrative gifts within the body of Christ to ensure the care of Christians and as a testimony to non-Christians. In God’s providence, my Bible study small group includes another Ethnos360 missionary serving remotely. She and her husband are church planters that have faced opposition. It was such a joy to share with our small group that day about both the support and church planting work needed to reach unreached people groups as we discussed what those things looked like in Acts 6.
Additionally, this month Desiring God also published a daily article on people important in the work of the Reformation. One such person with theologian and pastor Johannes Bugenhagen, with the author noting, “Bugenhagen’s work testifies to the value of administrative gifts to spread the gospel.” The acknowledgement of the role of the gifts of administration in such an important movement more than 500 years was a reminder that the service I do now is a part of the Kingdom, as it has been for a very long time.
Apparently, my calendar for updates is not getting my administrative attention, as it appears I have not posted since August. I have taken on two additional significant roles since then in the education realm, and I do have a lot on my administration plate. And on that note, soon I’ll post an article written by our communications department about our need for support personnel. There are roles for people with a host of skills in reaching the unreached!