Karen and I like to teach people to do what we call “stride-of-life ministry.” Sometimes Christians can believe that it is solely up to pastors and vocational missionaries to spread the gospel, or that ministry is something individual Christians do on trips or during events.
“Stride-of-life” ministry, though, is the idea that God owns every day of every believer (Galatians 2:20). Being a light for Jesus isn’t something we turn on and off, or set on our calendars. When we wake up each day re-centering on what Christ has done for us and who we are in Him (2 Cor 5:21), the Holy Spirit strengthens our faith, allowing the unconditional love and peace of God to fill us to overflowing (John 7:38-39). As we set out each day to engage in the world around us (at work, in our family, in our neighborhood, or with our friends), it is that love and peace that people see evident in our lives (2 Cor 4:7). Life becomes an adventure with the our heavenly Father, keeping our eyes open for the good works He prepares in advance for us (Ephesians 2:10).
Karen is my favorite example of this. Everywhere she goes, Karen truly sees people. Just the other day, it happened again. We split up in Walmart to run some errands. When I found her again, she waved me over with excitement to meet her new friend, Jonathan, whom she met in the toy aisle. Jonathan travels around the area making sure his company’s supply is stocked and displayed properly, but he also makes it a point to be kind and helpful beyond his official responsibilities. It was amazing to see how God opened his heart to share with us about his family, his back pains, and his emotional journey. We’ve kept in touch, and have been praying for him ever since. Would you pray for him, too, and look out for the Jonathans God may be putting in your path?
Grant Ministry 