Ministering among God’s people has been my life’s work and a source of great fulfillment. I have always been drawn to the vision of a Jesus centered community of faith, love and abundant life because it’s wonderful when human beings are together and at their best, and it’s something I have always hungered to experience as well.
For 21 years I have served as pastor of several churches in San Francisco – First Chinese Southern Baptist Church, New Covenant Baptist Church, and currently, 19th Ave. Baptist Church. These three communities are related as conflicts over women in ministry and church structure split the first, new hope led to a replant as the second, and more struggles birthed a merge with the third. Long story, lots of God’s grace and unexpected blessings throughout!
I find great meaning in walking with people on their journeys from birth to death, and in using my gifts to build up the church – a visible witness and concrete expression of God’s reconciling work of redemption in the world. Along the way I have discovered that the best advice given to me, the challenges and the joys of ministry are all the same.
First, ministry is about being faithful, not successful. What minister wouldn’t love to accomplish great things for God and see all humanity healed and whole . . . right now! But ministry is about seeds (in all kinds of soil), as much as it is about harvest. Being faithful to the task over the long haul without seeing much expected result can be difficult – especially in the seasons of vulnerability when pastors are susceptible to what I call the “HELLenization of the church” which unfortunately happens when a pastor goes on a “gotta work my butt off to validate my existence and keep everyone happy” spree that is doomed (but engaged anyway) and which starts with reviewing and parsing the New Testament in the original Greek, in an effort to revolutionize God’s people, “get back to being a New Testament Church,” lead 1000 people to Christ, implement 100 new programs and save the world. When a colleague experiences this phenomenon, there is nothing to do except say the words, “You go, buddy . . . give ‘em Hellenization!”, wait for the insanity to run its course, and then show up with oxygen and wheelchairs for everyone involved. Ministry is about being faithful, not successful. And therein lies the challenge . . . and the joy.
Second, ministry is always about the people, not the programs. Sometimes people problems get in the way of the program. But we are not about making programs of all nations. We are about making disciples of all nations – people who know God’s love and love in turn. In other words, the people are the point. And therein lies the challenge . . . and the joy.
Third, doing ministry means that you will always be moving in and around mystery you cannot (and probably should not) control. The challenge is that what we do matters, but doesn’t matter . . . because there are things that only God can do, and you might never be sure about what’s in God’s hands and what’s in yours. But that’s the challenge, and the joy.
Ministry is messy and sometimes unpredictable and full of adventures. But I love what I do. Thanks be to God for God’s invitation to this wonderful work.
Joy Yee is pastor of 19th Avenue Baptist Church in San Francisco, California.