OX STRONG
  • Home
  • Ministries
    • OX Strong Saturdays
    • Brown Strong
    • OX Strong Women
    • Church Strong
    • Strong Resources
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • Home
  • Ministries
    • OX Strong Saturdays
    • Brown Strong
    • OX Strong Women
    • Church Strong
    • Strong Resources
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Blog
Search

Practicing a Ministry of Presence

3/12/2020

0 Comments

 
Recently I’ve done a ride-along with our local PD, and attended a Police Department Chaplaincy Conference in the Des Moines area. A common theme that’s already standing out to me is the importance of practicing an intentional presence. During the ride-along I learned that it’s good for the PD to show it’s colors in the community, whether at schools, on the streets, or in businesses. Presence earns trust. And at the conference I learned that a ministry of presence is key to a successful PD Chaplaincy…just to be there for, and to be ready to serve in any capacity the community and our PD ought to be a Chaplain’s goal.
We often hear that we as believers are to preach…and sometimes use words. That’s a ministry of presence. At times Jesus Himself exemplified a ministry of presence for us when He states in John 10:36c-38, 42 that, “‘I am God’s Son’? 37 Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father. 38 But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.’…42 And in that place many believed in Jesus.” The apostle Paul was also intentional with practicing a ministry of presence. He would often be intentional and go to where he knew the people would be…along the river (Acts 16:13); the synagogues and market places (Acts 17:17; 19:8); publicly and from house to house (Acts 20:20).
May we never underestimate the ministry of just being in someone’s presence. We might not have the words to say…that’s fine. Just being there for them, just developing that trust, just providing that smile, just providing that hug is sometimes all that they need…BUT we got to be there. Practice a ministry of presence…let them see Jesus in you. And use words if God so leads you to…in His perfect way and time.
Practicing His Presence,
Nate

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Nate Smith is a college baseball and football coach, a husband, a father of 6 girls, grandpa to 3 granddaughters, a police chaplain, and has a passion to see men grow in Christ.

    Picture
    Picture
    #girldad including granddaughter
    Picture

      Would you like an email reminder when a new post is up?

    Subscribe

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Let us know how we can pray for you.
Request Prayer
  • Home
  • Ministries
    • OX Strong Saturdays
    • Brown Strong
    • OX Strong Women
    • Church Strong
    • Strong Resources
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Blog