How to Create a Ministry Around an Activity

[carp614]

I have to get this across without telling the whole story: I have a ministry idea I need help developing. If you think you can do something with it, go with God.

God healed me through experiences working with rescue horses. I was a Christian already, but my conscience was seared and I was not submitting properly to God's Will. I wanted to, but I couldn't let go of my sin and fully accept God's Grace and Mercy.

Something about working with the horses penetrated the strongest and oldest barriers I had erected between me and God. In practicing compassion for these animals, I was able to appreciate the overwhelming power of God's love and compassion for me in a new and truly awe inspiring way. Since I started working with the horses about 3 years ago, God has given me victory over my most insidious addictions and I have gained freedom from antidepressants after more than a decade of use. No experience in my life has advanced my Kingdom walk like this.

And now all I want to do is share God's love with other people. I want to show people how much God loves them and I think there is a way to use these animals to help make it happen. I just don't know how. Is anyone already doing this? Can you point me towards them? Any ideas?

 

[Itwill Beglorious]

How about bring them to church for a Sunday. Maybe doing something special in the children's area.

Another idea would be to take your horses to town festivals or events and hand out tracts or invitations to a local church.

People are naturally attracted to horses and you having a horse with you will open up doors that others would not have.

 

[John Bowen]

Thats wonderful I seen stories where horses are used for disabled kids helps them with confidence helps them get their bodies moving sitting on the horses. Troubled teens it helps them to take care of the horses learning responsibilities , gets their mind off their problems .Just follow your heart you will be guided .

 

[carp614]

How about bring them to church for a Sunday. Maybe doing something special in the children's area.

Another idea would be to take your horses to town festivals or events and hand out tracts or invitations to a local church.

People are naturally attracted to horses and you having a horse with you will open up doors that others would not have.

Good ideas. Thank you.

 

[AnnaDeborah]

Try searching for Christian care farms in your area - even if the way they work doesn't match your vision, they should still be able to give you some ideas and pointers, plus maybe some support and encouragement.

 

[Greg J.]

@carp614, do you have skills that people would be thankful for if you did them for free (such as for their horses)? You can mention a personal experience of Jesus in that situation. But either God or you has to want to do the work for free, otherwise you may get bitter if no one responds (making it "worth your time and effort"). However, any situation where it is appropriate to talk about personal matters is an environment where you would be able to share the Good News. Seek the Lord in a serious way about what he wants you to do. He will respond to your faithfulness. He may want you to do what you already have in mind, in which case pressing in to Him may give you more confidence that you have thought of something He desires for you.

 

[carp614]

@carp614, do you have skills that people would be thankful for if you did them for free (such as for their horses)? You can mention a personal experience of Jesus in that situation. But either God or you has to want to do the work for free, otherwise you may get bitter if no one responds (making it "worth your time and effort"). However, any situation where it is appropriate to talk about personal matters is an environment where you would be able to share the Good News. Seek the Lord in a serious way about what he wants you to do. He will respond to your faithfulness. He may want you to do what you already have in mind, in which case pressing in to Him may give you more confidence that you have thought of something He desires for you.

I think being willing to give without thought of reward was a key catalyst in my transformation. It's the first place I ever really gave like that.
It's also the first place I have ever been where I realized I was standing in the mission field. There are a lot of lost, broken people in rescues. These aren't just people who don't know God, they have been kicked out of churches and families and believe God does not love them. They are wary and untrusting of people even as they have almost limitless compassion for the animals. I see an opportunity to help lead them back to God. And that is only one example of what this could be.

My biggest challenge is that I am fearful. I fear this is not God's Will but my own. More than that I fear my ham handed attempts to share the Gospel will add to the distance between hurting people and Jesus instead of helping them to get closer to Him. I've never led anyone to Christ. The only time I attempted it, it blew up in my face. God forgive me I am so fearful.

 

[Greg J.]

I know the fear. There are many, many ways to help others evangelize people. There is training available for those that want to get more comfortable doing it themselves. Check with your local churches. If you can't find any, ask your pastor to train you. Be patient.

Because of the fear, it would probably be beneficial if one aspect of your training was role play. Face people acting angrily as well as people who has difficult questions. If you're like me, it doesn't take much pressure for my brain to shut down. It is possible you just won't be able to handle it in the short term. If that's the case, you shouldn't worry about it too much. Being and staying faithful to God means you can rest in the assurance that God will help you get where He wants you to go. But daily, pray and try to understand some Scripture. God doesn't command people to do anything it is impossible for them to do (although all things are possible with God's help; but praying for the help doesn't mean it will show up in the form you expect; a lot of people need a lot of healing time first).

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. (Philippians 2:12-13, 1984 NIV)

 

[bekkilyn]

I was fearful and afraid and God sent animals (giraffes) to minister to me during a dark, wilderness time. Your horses can continue to minister to you too if you let them, and they would be with you in this ministry so you wouldn't be going about it alone.

Human-wise, I second the idea of talking about it with your pastor. Your local church may be excited by the idea and want to become involved too!

 

[carp614]

I have an update. I am now responsible for orientation of new volunteers at the rescue. Every second Saturday between 30 and 100 people come to learn what it takes to volunteer at the rescue.

As we go through the information I talk through parts of my story. I have opportunities to tell people I am not who I was and that there were two things that fundamentally altered my life; Jesus and the horses that the Lord put in my path.

As I write this, I have just realized that God has answered my prayer. I have been given this opportunity to talk to more people so that I can share this experience and the Gospel in interesting ways.

I have a lot of work to do...thank you brothers and sisters. Please pray for me.