MESSAGE FORM THE PRINCIPAL:

Rev. Dr. Tissa Weerasingha

8 Building Blocks for Successful Ministry

1. YOUR CALL

The call to ministry is the most important call you can ever receive in your life. It is God who calls you, not a human being or an organization.  And, only you can be absolutely sure of your call.

“And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because HE counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry.”

1 Timothy 1:12

2. YOUR CHARACTER

Build your Christian character through developing your relationship with God.  You cannot control the thoughts and opinions that others form about your character, but you can choose to develop your Christian character with God’s help.

“Nevertheless, the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal:  ‘the Lord knows who are His,’ and ‘Let everyone who names the name of Christ DEPART from iniquity.’”

2 Timothy 2:19

3. SPIRITUAL GIFTS

Sometimes heavy involvement in administrative work, burdens, weariness, and such things can keep you from exercising your spiritual gifts.  When this

 happens, it will not be long before spiritual dryness sets in.  Make a conscious effort to continuously exercise and develop your spiritual gifts.

“But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to EACH ONE, for the profit of all.”

1 Corinthians 12:7

4. FAITH

According to the area of ministry that you have been called to, and the specific responsibilities that you have, God will require you to take certain steps of faith.  Taking these steps of faith, will open the door for the miraculous power of God to flow through you, and will propel you to higher ground.

“By FAITH Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.”

Hebrews 11:11

5. CREATIVITY

Every new environment or opportunity for ministry demands a creative approach which you have to develop, in order to succeed.  Learn to creatively adapt what you have learnt through experience or formal training, to your specific environment.

“…but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know HOW YOU OUGHT to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.”

1 Timothy 3:15

6. PURPOSE

God has called each person into the ministry to fulfill a specific purpose.  Serve within the limits of what God has appointed for you, and seek to deepen your specific ministry.  Widening it is God’s responsibility.

“Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended, but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the GOAL…”

Philippians 3:13-14a

7. SUFFERING

Suffering and persecution are an integral part of Christian ministry.  Those who serve God will face various difficulties for the sake of the people of God, or the ministry, which normal Christians do not have to endure.  But, God gives grace to overcome them.

“I now rejoice in my sufferings for you and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ for the SAKE of the body, which is the church.”

Colossians 1:24

8. WISDOM

As you progress in ministry, experience and knowledge, continue to ask God for His wisdom and His mind, when making decisions.  It is easy to use human understanding and human wisdom, instead of continuously depending on God and listening to His voice.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let Him ASK of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

James 1:5