If you want God to use you, read this

[servant]

Are you a minister just waiting to be used of God, or to be used MORE than you are right now? Well, my friend, there's a lot more to it than you may think. Get your eyes off the pulpit. There's tons of things you can do (yes, YOU) that are very valuable and needed.
I'm sure every minister here knows of elderly shut-ins who would appreciate a visitation. How about sick folk or hospitalized? How about home bible studies? How about doing some chores or going to the store for a faithful widow woman? Or how about witnessing to someone on your job?
I sometimes suffer from an occasional flare up of "pulpit fever" myself. I get to feeling like I'm not accomplishing anything for God unless I'm behind that coveted desk. Then I get to looking around at many of the things I do "behind the scenes," that very few notice or even realize I do. God sees it every time, though.
The bible says to be not weary in well-doing, for in due season, you shall reap if you faint not. I know there's a lot of young ministers on this board (and some old ones, too!). Don't be afraid to get your hands dirty doing the work of the Lord. Don't worry if you don't get to preach as much as so and so. Find something to do in the kingdom, and do it with all your might!

God bless,

Serv :)

[Pastor D]

Serv
Thanks for a great post. We all have to be reminded that ministry is not just a pulpit thing. I was saved at nine and called to preach at eleven. As a boy preacher, I was a novelty, but as the novelty wore off, I was not in demand or given many opportunities to preach often. When I was thirteen, I was a member of a church in New York City with over three thousand members and at least 20 associate ordained ministers. I knew I would not have the chance to preach in the pulpit, so I began working with the outreach teams that conducted street meetings throughout Harlem, Times Square and other place in NYC. I was given a chance to preach there. That preaching developed my love for evangelism and it taught that if you are really called, you will preach anywhere God opens a door. Today, I pastor a growing church in NC, but I continue to love preaching anywhere--small missions, jails, resthomes, outreach meetings, etc.

Pastor D