A blessing for a church head office
Today’s post is a blessing for church people who work behind the scenes. The lingo varies, but if you work for the diocese, denomination, national church, synod etc., this one’s for you! I’m working on a church generosity presentation for the Salvation Army Inspire conference later this month, and I’ve added territorial headquarters to my vocabulary.
I’m praying today for all the people at church head office. In 1 Corinthians 12:28 (NASB) Paul writes:
28 And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, and various kinds of tongues. [italics mine]
The gift of administration includes people who answer email, arrange venues for gatherings and co-ordinate all the details. When I think of the logistics and potential conflict involved in arranging a church conference, I assume that the gifts of prayer, the ministry of reconciliation and generous portions of perseverance are also required! (It might be heretical to claim church admin work in the miracles category, but at the very least, it’s an act of immense faith…)
Blessing for church head office
Blessings to you who answer the phone, connecting people with one another
Blessings to you who make coffee, sharing the gift of hospitality
Blessings to you who process donations, enabling the spiritual discipline of giving
Blessings to you who share prayer concerns, encouraging the spiritual discipline of prayer
Blessings to you who file T3010 reports, doing what is right in the sight of God and of people
Blessings to you who perform these duties with gentleness and patience, modeling ministry guided by the Spirit
Blessings to you who keep track of schedules, turning plans into action
Blessings to you who arrange for insurance, permits and transportation, becoming the hands and feet of the church
Blessings to you who update church websites, helping people whom you may never meet
Blessings to you who labour amongst spreadsheets, invoices and receipts, ensuring ministry happens in many places
Blessings to you who sort out HR issues and policy updates, nurturing and maintaining the community and its leaders
Blessings to you who connect with people beyond the church, bearing witness to your faith
Blessings to you who are counted as ‘overhead’ and not recognized as essential to ministry, because your gifts matter
Blessings to church head office people, wherever you may be.
May you find encouragement and meaning in your work today.
Amen.
You might also like this post on head office fundraising