“Ministry’s not an option for a Christian; it’s a privilege.”
― Lori Hatcher\

 

We can look at ministries as the fulfilment of the Great Commandment of our Lord: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” and “You shall love your neighbour as yourself” (Matt. 22:37, 39). It can be defined in terms of the Great Commission of our Lord: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you” (Matt. 28:19-20). We practise ministry in terms of the early church that taught us to engage in fellowship, commemorate the breaking bread, praying together, caring for one another, worshiping God, and actively evangelizing the community (Acts 2:42-47).

These groups are therefore vitally import here at St Albans cathedral as they help to covert the ritual or routine out of our religion to a living relationship with God, achieving a spiritual rather than numerical growth. This is an integral part

As important as the ‘pulpit’ ministry is, is only part of the whole process of Christian learning and nourishment. It is the teaching, exhortation and encouragement of believers that takes place in a relatable environment of personal study of the Word, cell groups, individual mentoring and discipleship, and pulpit ministry.

Ministry bonds creates the fellowship of believers (Acts 2:42b, 44-45). Our common bond in Christ is the source of our fellowship and our unity. Through fellowship we express the local representation of the body of Christ (1 Jn. 1:7; 1 Cor. 12:26; Eph. 2:19-22). When we are interconnected through authentic, loving relationships, we form a unity that provides strength and stability to our church. This fellowship is demonstrated by caring for each other physically, emotionally, psychologically, economically, and spiritually. We recognise that the care of God’s people is a church-wide ministry where all the members of the body care for the interests of each other, supporting each other in practically, through prayer, and in love (cf. Acts 4:32-37; 6:1; 1 Cor. 12:25; Gal. 5:13; 6:2; Eph. 4:32; 5:21).

 

As Gene Getz said: “Christians cannot grow effectively in isolation! They need to experience each other.”