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Over the years one reflects on the lessons learnt in ministry. Every generation will face new challenges and
gain new insights. And each generation will make its mistakes. But there are signposts for ministry that can help avoid some of the mistakes of the past and move forward constructively. In this
newsletter I would like to introduce a concept which has been of great help.
The 3 Stages of Maturity in Ministry
Back in the seventies I came across a book called “Ministering to Alcoholics” by John E. Keller. In it he wrote:
“The story is told of the retired pastor who, looking back upon his ministry, divided it into three phases.
In the first phase the people were in the river and he was on
the bank telling them how to get out of the river and up on the bank where he was.
In the second phase, he was on the edge of the bank reaching down and out to help the people get up on the bank
where he was.
In the third phase, the phase of real wisdom and understanding, he ministered with the realization that he
was in the river with the people, they were holding him up, he was holding them up, and underneath them all were the everlasting arms of God.”
One can reflect on that many times and the truth of it becomes more real as one
experiences more of life. It is amazing how clear everything can appear when we are helping someone else and we haven’t struggled with the circumstances they’re going through.
But, somewhere in life — and life is a great leveller — we go through a crisis or a very
difficult challenge and suddenly it all isn’t so clear. We think dark thoughts, or have anxieties and doubts that are not very noble. And it is in moments like that we sometimes
remember how “above-it–all” we were to the person we were helping or advising years ago.
It is then that we can come to see that we are all in the river of life together and we all need
God’s rescuing. We begin to understand more deeply how God has rescued and continues to rescue us in the mediation of Jesus Christ.
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