by Rev. Frank Liu
Cornerstone Reformed Church in St. Paul, MN
the Missions Banner, November 2023:  Online Edition

What ministry opportunities should you, your family, or the local congregation pursue?  Perhaps you have asked yourself this question before. We should always be seeking for ways to serve the Lord with our gifts and to be a gospel witness to others. It seems as if this question distills down to answering a handful of questions first. What open doors has the Lord presented to you (e.g., is there a need presented)?  What are the gifts, skillsets, interests, desires, etc. of the people involved? Is the ministry opportunity of a limited duration, or if open-ended, is it sustainable (i.e., is there a person/people willing to own and to continue it)? How does this opportunity fit into the life and schedule that you currently have?

Ministry opportunities generally come in one of two ways: either an opportunity is simply presented to you by God’s providence (type 1), or you go out of your way to seek out an opportunity (type 2). If pursued in faith, both are acceptable, though the former seems to require a bit less work, but more awareness and observation.

Recently, I’ve had the occasion to think through some of these questions myself. This fall, Timothy, our fifteen-year-old son, started as a freshman at the Lutheran high school where Cornerstone meets for church. During orientation, I heard about a shooting club that meets during the first few weeks of the fall. Considering my own interests, I thought that volunteering for this would be a great way to meet and to get to know some parents, students, and also claim a $100 “parent volunteer” credit. This is an example of opportunity type 1.

Also this fall, I thought, since I graduated from seminary fourteen years ago, it would be a good idea to sharpen up on my Hebrew language skills. Instead of doing it all alone (my idea), my wife suggested that I take a class at the local Christian college and meet some students at the same time.  This is an example of type 2. But this is also an aside worth mentioning: A Christian must be able and willing to take advice/counsel from others (Proverbs 12:15— “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise.”). In Scripture, we see that Nabal was a fool, and it showed in that no one could speak to him (1 Samuel 25:17). However, Namaan was a great man and highly respected, and it showed in that he could be approached (and corrected) even by his servants, and he was humble enough to heed their counsel (2 Kings 5:3, 13). And so, I took my wife’s advice and started taking Hebrew at the local Christian college.

I was also presented with an ever-so-small opportunity (type 1) to provide dinner to a handful of police officers. A friend and regular attender at Cornerstone had a special assignment at the state fair which is in the vicinity of my home. I got to meet the officers on his team assignment and provide them with a tasty St Louis pork rib dinner when they dropped by my home [see attached picture].

Well, what did and what will these ministry opportunities amount to? So far, it has provided new contacts, good conversations, and developing friendships, but we don’t know yet what the Lord will do with it. This is where prayer and trusting the Lord comes in!

Thank you for your prayers, encouragement, and support for Cornerstone. May the Lord continue to bless you, your family, and your local congregation as you seek to be faithful in taking and pursing opportunities to serve our risen King!

(pictured above:  Saint Paul police officers stop by Frank’s backyard smoker for a quick bite to eat.)