By Garth Whewell

I love ministering in a small church. I feel blessed to have been given this opportunity by God. Christ’s church is one big family, meeting in many different church houses around the globe. 

The church house in which our little part of that family meets is in a rural area of Lawrence County, Illinois. Our little church is located in the middle of gravel roads, cornfields, and irrigation systems. We are not rich in population, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t rich in gifts that God has apportioned to us.

God Has Blessed Us with Gifts

“It was he who gave some to be. . . .” (Ephesians 4:11).

In our little church house we have excellent pianists, great singers, and wonderful leaders. But most importantly we have Christians who are willing to serve. We are one team, each person using the talent God has given to serve wherever needed in order to do the work God has set before us. 

The church serves many purposes, but Paul reminds us in his letter to the Ephesians that one main purpose is to prepare God’s people for works of service. It is true that not all are called to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, or teachers, but all are called. 

God Has Blessed You With Gifts

“. . . attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13).

No matter your talent or position within your own church family, you have been called to use the gifts given to you to do your part in the preparation of the saints. Sometimes a preacher has to be blunt, so let me be blunt. If you are holding back those talents, if you are not using those gifts, then you are neglecting your responsibility in the preparation of God’s people and you are simply missing out on the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

This Christmas season you will probably give many gifts, but the most important gift you can give is the gift of yourself and your talents to God. In turn you will receive the greatest blessing ever imagined, and that is the grace that is found in Christ Jesus. 

Garth Whewell is a bi-vocational minister. He is the general manager for a landscaping company and currently ministers at Rising Sun Christian Church and Allison Prairie Church of the Brethren. He lives in Lawrence County, Illinois with his wife, Christy, and their two children, Wyatt and Elsie.