Unsung Heroes

This is an exciting time for our church. We are about to move into our new building in a couple of weeks after meeting in the gymnasium of an elementary school for the past 5 ½ years. This past Sunday, we took some time to reflect on the past 5 ½ years and took time to recognize the effort of those who have contributed by serving behind the scenes. These are those who are not generally in the forefront, but are really the backbone of the church. The people who are involved organizing and running the children’s ministry, the people who perform all the miscellaneous chores, including the set-up team that is responsible for arriving extra early to set up the facility so that we are able to conduct the Sunday morning service. This includes those who must be up at 5:30-6:00 AM to hitch up the trailer to the truck to haul the portable church equipment to the school. These are the “unsung heroes” that seldom get notice of the hard work and effort, those who work behind the scenes that perform the duties that enable us to do what we do. I know that there are those on the set-up team that have worked at this steadily over the past 5 years. It will certainly be nice having a permanent facility that is ours and does not require the constant set-up effort each Sunday. It will also be a great tool for ministry that should open up many opportunities.

Many people contribute significantly to the ministry of the church in various ways, according to the gifts and talents that God has given them. The church is likened to the body having many parts that contribute their part in the overall functioning and health of the body. Every part plays an important role. The parts that are not as visible and presentable are given greater respect for their necessity. (internal organs) No part can deem another as unimportant. But they all work together for the proper functioning of the whole body.

“14 For in fact the body is not one member but many. 15 If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? 18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. 19 And if they were all one member, where would the body be? 20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. 21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." 22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. 23 And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, 24 but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, 25 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.” (1 Corinthians 12:14-25, NKJV™)

Each of us has a spiritual gift or talent that God has given us to use for His glory and to edify the body of Christ. Just because you may not be in a highly visible area of ministry does not mean that your contributions are less important. If it were not for the people that contribute significantly behind the scenes, the church would not be able to function effectively. Hats off to the faithful unsung heroes.