A few days ago, I received a call from one of my FEMA contacts asking me for help. You see, there are typically two options of housing for the evacuees. One is a 3-bedroom mobile home and the other is a small travel trailer. Most of the time, families get the mobile homes and individuals or couples get the travel trailers.

My FEMA friend, Jim called me needed help with the travel trailers. The problem was that the people were running out of propane. Normally, this isn’t a problem – the people take the propane tank off, get it refilled and then reinstall it. But for some people this is harder than others. There are several single, elderly ladies who have no transportation and shouldn’t be lugging these things around anyway. So, they call the FEMA man.

Unfortunately, FEMA can’t really do anything about it. Their job is to get people into housing, not fill propane tanks. In acts of kindness, Jim has gone over to the trailers and made sure the propane tanks were refilled anyway. But as he explained to me, if he is constantly refilling propane tanks, he can’t move people into trailers. Hence, the call for help.

Of course, I told Jim I would do anything that I could to help him. As Anouk and I talked about it, we were reminded of how ministry opportunities come in various forms. Jim was asking us to help him with mundane tasks; God is presenting opportunities to minister.

We were reminded that this is really what the Christian walk is all about – serving others while growing closer to Christ. We must remember that the life of a Christian is an active one. We are not called to stand and watch, but rather to serve and be active. Even the terms we use to describe a Christian life denote action – Christian walk; spiritual journey; pilgrim’s progress etc. Paul tells us to “walk” in Christ – Colossians 2:6. In the first chapter of his book, James teaches us that action is the only option for a believer: “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (verse 22). He makes the point even stronger in chapter two when he tells us that works (action) are the proof of genuine faith (verses14-26). The writer of Hebrews also underscores the importance of action when he wrote in the twelfth chapter, “ . . .and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” (verse 1). Finally, consider II Peter 1:5-11 – here Peter tells us we should be adding things to our lives. (All emphasis mine)

Look around: ministry opportunities abound! Helping refill propane tanks probably won’t get you an invitation to speak at the next Bible Conference or people asking you to sign their Bibles; but it will help build relationships so you can present Christ in a personal way – by reflecting a small part of His sacrificial love.

Don’t wait for your pastor to approach you with a ministry opportunity. Don’t wait for the announcement from the pulpit or in the bulletin. Be active! Open your eyes, look around – people need the Lord. Go and serve them, because in doing so you are serving Christ (Matthew 25:31-46).