Effective ministry is a team effort and involves all people being empowered to use their gifts. Building trusting relationships is essential for a community of faith. We are not alone in our joys and struggles, but we celebrate, mourn, support, encourage, challenge, and learn together. I seek to build community through honest communication and a genuine interest in people. In ministry I strive to spend as much time as possible with people listening and sharing.
Authentic community can be difficult as it takes time to develop and requires patience.
It also involves earning trust and a willingness to be vulnerable. Although, in time we begin to recognize the Divine when we look into another's eyes and we know that we have been forever changed. This is the gift of community. I had the privilege of serving as youth director in a remarkable community. I established a program that included Sunday school, youth group, drama, lock-ins, retreats, service projects, and mission trips.