The
beginning of 2019 has taken off with lots of ministry and blistering cold
weather! Sometimes we feel like we must be in Alaska instead of Illinois.
Regardless of the weather, we work to keep our focus on the goal: encouraging
people to consider the truthfulness of the Good News that Yeshua our Jewish
Messiah brings Salvation for all who will believe in him!
That
being said, ministry
is a people business and so ministry is often busy and messy!
Certainly it’s possible to do “religious work” without actually spiritually
ministering into the lives of real people, but at Devar Emet it is our
vision to connect with people, Jewish people, so that G-d might work through us
for their spiritual benefit.
I
have often noticed that the farther away one is from directly interacting with
people, the more money one can make. Compare the pay of the employee servicing
the customer with their boss or the CEO behind the desk. Unfortunately, this
sadly is often true of people in ministry as well! Consider the local congregational
leader or outreach worker dealing with the constant pressures of serving the
spiritual needs of real people, overworked and underpaid for their effort,
compared to those in administration of secular or religious non-profits far
removed from the daily stresses of personally meeting people’s needs, yet paid
significantly more for their efforts!
Ministry
can never be about the money, yet Yeshua’s words remind me never to forsake the
hard work of people ministry for the easy pay of management: “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Pray
to the Lord of the harvest that He may send out workers into His harvest
field.” Pray for us to keep
our focus clear and pray for others who will answer Yeshua’s call to the
Harvest as well!
Forward for Messiah,
Kirk
Gliebe
Rabbi & Director
