The Hidden Ministries

As a children's worker I spend a fair amount of time thinking about games and activities etc to do which reinforces the teaching point for the children. There are a lot of good resources out there to use and adapt which is great but the physical preparation of these takes a lot of time.

For the past 18 months my mum has been doing the majority of this preparation for me, be it, cutting out craft activities, going out to buy materials, sticking things together, making costumes...here she is helping me make invites to our all age Mother's Day Service.


I don't know the exact man hours that she has put in over time but it is a lot. And why does she do it? Shouldn't she be enjoying her retirement now? Well she's my mum and wants to help me but ultimtely she wants children to learn about Jesus and put their trust in him as their friend and Saviour. Her doing those jobs helps them to do that and releases me to prepare other things for the children.

On the whole most people 'see' what I do, but not many people know what my mum does. And there are loads of jobs that go on in churches each week that are unseen, that are hidden ministries - the church cleaning, making delicious cakes for Christianity Explored, serving teas and coffee, preparing rotas, doing handy jobs around the church, putting out the chairs for services, visiting the housebound plus many more.

Let's remember to thank God for the faithfulness of those doing these hidden ministries and remember to encourage them in what they do. All ministries in the church are important.