Ministry Shaped by 1st Peter
by Margie Chiang - GUM Newsletter, Spring 2009
As a congregation we have been reading Peter’s first epistle, which has challenged how we see our identity as God’s Church in our life together, and in our world. According to Apostle Peter, “God’s elect, a chosen people, a royal priesthood” is called out of darkness into light to live as exiles in the world to proclaim that “by His great mercy He has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading” (1:4). Because Christ suffered and healed us by His wounds, we can follow in His steps and enter into the suffering living for righteousness (and dying to our sin) will produce (2:21-24).
These words have shaped the way I lead, and enter into, our congregation’s dental screening ministry at Sanchez Elementary School. As the coordinator, God has graciously given me a place to practice dying to myself and my abilities. I am learning that it is not about running a successful charity program but leading others in ministry that is best understood as a journey of following Jesus’ footsteps to the cross. We learn to put our agendas aside and surrender ourselves to whatever He would have for us in our work with the kids, dental partners, and school staff, trusting that He is at work in all those unexpected moments and relationships. I am learning that loving the brothers and sisters who serve at the screening means letting go of trying to create a “positive experience” for them and, instead, invite them to experience God’s blessed provision and purposes as they serve…no matter what surprises (or chaos) might arise.
While chatting with a fourth grade boy who was waiting to be screened I asked him if he was at all nervous about seeing the dentist. He said he was OK, and that he had seen a dentist before. I asked when he had last seen the dentist and he replied, “Well, it was last year when you came to Sanchez.” While I was grateful that he had good memories from our last visit, I was saddened that he, like so many others, lacked a regular dentist and so probably many other services that I take for granted. Also, although we could identify his dental problems, we were limited in what we could do to alleviate them. And yet, we could heed Jesus’ call to love him, walk with him, and suffer with him because Christ has gone before us and suffered on our behalf. As we join in Christ’s deep love for these children, we ourselves are broken, humbled, blessed and converted.
“After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you” (5:10).
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