For years, we've been extremely blessed to have these types of people in our congregation. One of those people was Rev. Robert Penny Sr. Bishop Penny was an elder at our church and our visitation Pastor. He would show up at the church unannounced and do whatever project needed done.
Why was this prominent leader cleaning and working on projects? Bishop Penny understood this role as fulfilling Paul's calling in Philippians 2:5-7 "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant."
The behind-the-scenes care of church facilities and operations isn't glamorous. At its heart, it means being a servant.
Teachers, custodians, landscapers and service teams rarely receive an ovation. Their work, however, is no less important and no less a ministry than any other ministry in the church.
Rushing in to church this Sunday will be a single mother who hasn't had a moment to herself all week. She'll pass through a clean hallway that isn't cluttered with toys, shoes or coloring books thanks to a cleaning crew who volunteered their time to tidy up his week. Just before she enters the Worship Center she'll realize her babies diaper needs changed. She'll rush to the restroom where she'll find a changing table fully stocked with the wipes she had forgotten to bring from home. Finally, she thinks to herself, we've found a church that cares.
Earlier, a deacon has lead a crew of volunteers at 7:00 am, shoveling snow from the sidewalks around the church and sprinkling salt so that the elderly don't slip and fall.
Sometime before Sunday, the media ministry is preparing bulletins for the video screen that will provide information for the congregation.
Picking out light bulbs, mixing mopping solution, or sprinkling salt is about as glamorous as washing feet. But that's the point isn't it?
Taking care of our church's facilities and operations is noble work. Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 12:22-23 "those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor." Or as Matthew 23:11-12 says, "the greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted."
Are you called to facilities and operations? If so, don't let anyone demean the value of this ministry. It may not seem to produce the spiritual fruit that other ministries so readily do, but give this ministry its due. Through cleaning, mowing, fixing, budgeting and hundreds of other facilities and operations tasks, doors will open in the hearts of frazzled mothers, wayward sons and people through the church will consider the needs of others and learn to meet those needs.
Thinking and acting on the needs of others defines the spirit of servanthood.
