Courage for the Unknown: Sharing Our Lives In Ministry

As we continue our summer season,  we are spending these weeks with the Apostle Paul. Paul’s ministry was filled with new communities, difficult conversations, moments of conflict, and questions about what faithfulness looked like in changing times. Again and again, Paul discovered that God was already present in the unknown, guiding him forward.

This week, we turn to 1 Thessalonians in a passage where Paul reflects on the kind of ministry he hopes to embody. Paul lived in a time where traveling teachers, philosophers, and religious figures often deployed charm, promises, or spiritual language to gain power and influence. Paul makes clear that the ministry entrusted to him was not about personal success. His calling was not to build a following, but to share the good news of Jesus.

One of the most beautiful images Paul uses is when he describes himself like a nursing mother caring tenderly for her children. It reminds us that ministry is not about standing above others with authority, but about nurturing and sharing life together.  We also must remember that the ministry of the gospel is not carried out only by pastors, staff, or those with official titles. It happens every time someone welcomes a newcomer, teaches a child, visits a neighbor, tends the altar, cares for our building, offers a listening ear, advocates for the hurting, or shares their gifts for the good of others. The church becomes a living witness when we share not only our beliefs, but our lives.

At Bethany we practice asking how God’s love is calling us to respond in the world around us. The gospel invites us to recognize the dignity of every person, to resist systems that harm our neighbors, and to seek a community where people who have often been pushed aside can find belonging, safety, and hope. 

Paul’s life reminds us that courage is the willingness to keep loving, serving, and sharing the good news even when the next step is unclear. May we trust that God is still at work among us, forming us into a people who embody the gospel.

We hope you’ll join us this Sunday as we explore what it means to offer ministry shaped by humility, compassion, and courage for the unknown. See you in worship!

Peace,

Pastor Katie