Care Ministries: Planning with Purpose

Last night I had the joy of spending time with a group of people that think like me. And yes, that can be a good thing! We gathered for the goal of solidifying the organizational structure of Care Ministries at Park Street Church.

Those of you who know me well may be thinking, of course Donna was enjoying putting together a plan for ministry. Yeah, yeah, I do like to initiate a plan and see it through, but I'm talking about something different today. Our meeting's focus was not about planning, but purpose.

We began the meeting with an invitation to share "I'm here tonight because . . ." The responses were amazing. God's purpose resounded through each person's story. And I realized I was in a room with some very special people. People who found purpose in life by giving to others in unique and unselfish ways. It was truly inspiring.

Here's where the "thinking like me" comes in. I've just always found joy through doing small things for other people. I don't say that arrogantly, because those closest to me know, (to apply an overused counseling term), my, ahem, "growth areas." They are blatant and numerous. But there's something positive and satisfying that expands within me when I am focused on giving rather than myself. And for me, I delight in the process. So to sit with others and hear the ways in which they consider the needs of those around them, for their families, and in the church body was both affirming and enriching.

2 Corinthians 1:3-7 was our scripture lesson for the meeting because I do think Paul's voice regarding care giving is one of the most pointed and significant to care ministries.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. 6 If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. 7 Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort."

After a brief look at these verses, we prayed and asked the Lord to remind us of a time when he ministered to a need in our lives. After a few moments of silence, individuals shared their memories. This was definitely the highlight of the evening. Jesus had met them in profound and beautiful ways. No wonder this group of people were so enthusiastic about giving encouragement and comfort Paul spoke of in the scriptures. They experienced Jesus in their most difficult seasons of life. Truly, we can't help but want that for others.

Back to solidifying an organizational plan for care ministries . . . It begins with God's purpose for our lives. Somehow when that's the main point, the plan falls in place.