Ministries of awareness and availability

Miscarriages.

Eating disorders.

Cancer.

Grief.

The list of things that the church doesn’t speak enough about is lengthy.

The shame about this list, and it could cover dozens of topics, is that it is made up of the very things that those within their congregation (and those around them) are struggling with.

These unspoken needs need a voice.

And, ideally, a face.

For, far too often, those who struggle feel that they are suffering alone.

I wish the church dealt with these issues better.

But, I have little idea how it could effectively happen.

For, these topics aren’t ones where you can have a weekly meeting. 

You don’t create a program for these topics.

Or do a ten-week sermon series.

But, the church can do two important things.

Awareness and availability.

The church must be aware of these topics.

The church must be prepared to speak about them.

The church must make room for them.

Beyond that, the best way the church can effectively minister to those struggling with these neglected topics are believers who are available.

Those who have gone through it.

Those who have struggled through it.

Those who have come out the other side of it.

These people need to be made available.

Ideally, the church should have some kind of list of those within their congregation who have endured adversities, deeply thought about what they went through and emerged with their faith intact.

Speaking with these available people will minister to someone far more effectively than a spiel from the pulpit.

The church needs to exercise the ministries of awareness and availability…