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My first year
as a paid children’s pastor found me in beautiful Farmington, Minnesota.
The church was growing as was I.
I learned one day that our janitor had quit.
Discovering that the janitor was paid more than the children’s
pastor, I quickly took advantage of this knowledge and volunteered to
become the new janitor.
I was
so thrilled that first day as janitor/pastor.
I had more than doubled my income in one meeting with my senior
pastor. Now I not only got to
minister to the children, but I entered a whole new realm of ministry to
their floors, walls and unmentionables.
In the time that followed I learned much about life and ministry. I was no longer limited to development of craft projects,
special meetings and activities. Now
I could clean up after their implementation.
It has been
over twenty years since my janitor/pastor experience.
When I begin losing a proper perspective, I think about the things
I learned while being a church janitor.
Here are some of the things I learned.
Perhaps they will help you keep a proper perspective in your life
and ministry.
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Wipe your
own feet before walking all over the church.
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Always say
thank you, especially when people leave a mess.
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Leave it
better than you found it.
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Some people
are messy and others are too.
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Church
doesn’t have to be messy to be good, but messy is a lot more
interesting.
-
Clean up
after yourself.
-
Glue, gum,
and grease do not a clean carpet make.
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Begin
setting up for next week’s class today.
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Pick up the
large pieces before you vacuum.
-
Christians
that leave dirt behind are much happier than those who carry it.
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Serving is
ministry.
-
People are
not an interruption to the work. They are the work.
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Naptime is
still a good idea.
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Church
property is everybody’s responsibility.
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When liquid
spills, wipe up the spill at its highest level before moving lower.
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Pray
without ceasing.
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Cleaning up
after church people is a never-ending task.
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Consider
even the most menial task as something to be dedicated to God.
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No matter
how bad the stink, the Body of Christ can always produce a nastier
one.
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Share with
others. Share your broom,
mop, sponge and life.
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Thank God
for indoor plumbing.
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Every
healthy body will leave a mess behind.
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Extra
change found unexpectedly belongs to God.
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Treat the
hired help with respect and dignity.
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Listen to
those who serve in your church.
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Take out
the trash and leave it out.
http://www.DickGruber.com |
