Most would respond something like, “that’s what we pay the priest for.” or ask “why do we even need ministries?” These replies reflect a common misconception within the Orthodox Church. “Ministry”, or “ministering”in its simplest form, means serving others. The truth is, every Orthodox Christian is called to ministry. In other words, we are all called to serve.

Our lives as Orthodox Christians take root in worship and within the Divine Liturgy. That is the center of our spiritual and temporal lives. Worship and thanksgiving to God for the blessings He gives in our lives and following His commandments.

Ok, but what does that have to do with church ministry?

In his article, Why We Are Called to Serve, Gerald Largent reminds us, “Every year, on Meatfare Sunday, two weeks before the start of Great Lent, we hear the Gospel reading about the Final Judgment (Matthew 25:31–46). In this passage, Christ offers a sobering account of how the righteous and the wicked will be judged. The righteous are granted eternal life, their acts of mercy serving as proof of their faith in Christ. The Lord places them at His right hand and says, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.” Conversely, the wicked are condemned to eternal punishment for their lack of mercy. “Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to Me.” Our Lord identifies with those in need, and our response to them reflects how we respond to Him.”*

So, if serving others is a paramount virtue for us as Orthodox Christians, how can we guide our communities toward this understanding? The answer is twofold.

First, we as Orthodox Christians, clergy and laity, must lead by example. How can we expect the Church to continue making disciples if we don’t exemplify service ourselves? How can we care for others if we have not yet made ourselves healthy? What does this look like? If there is a glaring need for service, volunteer opportunities, or helping in the Church, we must act! We cannot expect our overworked and overwhelmed clergy to send us an explicit, personal invitation because by then it’s too late or at the very last minute.

Many times we hear in the Gospel of people seeking out Christ for healing and help. If there was a need, the Disciples jumped into action, even if they had questions arise in their hearts on the purpose. This is the sense of trust and love that we must foster in our communities and with our clergy. This is also why engaging in the so-called “ministries” of your parish is important. The extra-ecclesiastical activities that the parish offers give the faithful, catechumens and inquirers the opportunity to deepen and enhance their connection with the faith. Many times they seem like social groups on the surface, but their importance cannot be overstated. Ministries are, in one way, how we begin to serve others.

Second, we must realize that our youth, our children, are watching everything we do. “Parents, grandparents, and godparents often have a significant influence on the younger members of their families, especially in matters of faith. Not to mention the outside influences of school, friends and the internet. Their example—or lack thereof—can shape children’s attitudes toward the Church and the importance of serving others.”**

The world wishes to entrance our children in the pleasures of life and distractions from Christ. It is vital to steep our children in Orthodoxy as early and often as possible, both in church on Sundays and throughout the week at home and engaging in ministries at church. Along with praying together as a family every day, it is also helpful to reinforce your child’s Sunday school lesson or gospel theme from the previous Sunday. This is one way we lead by example to raise good Orthodox Christians and God-willing, future saints of the Church.

There are many ministry opportunities available for Orthodox Christians, both within the parish and in the broader community. Most parishes offer roles such as altar servers, chanters, readers, greeters, church school teachers, and ministry leaders, among others. Once the ministries of the Church have a solid foundation of leadership and service, it then becomes important to extend our service beyond the church walls and into the larger community.

The Church offers us an invitation to minister, to serve, alongside our fellow Christians and clergy. We must be proactive and respond to this call. How do we do it? Contact your priest after you read this and ask! It’s that simple. Our Lord says, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8)

This is your invitation from your priest. Call, text, or email them to get involved in the meaningful work of the Church today.

* https://www.goarch.org/-/why-we-are-called-to-serve

** https://www.goarch.org/-/why-we-are-called-to-serve