In my younger days I would ride horses with friends. One day we went to a particular stable to ride their horses. One of the girls in our group asked for a mild-tempered horse. She got what she wanted and more. This horse practically had to be dragged along by one of the other riders. We nicknamed this horse “Muley” because she was as stubborn as a mule.
Some of the horses in our group wanted to run. We named these horses fireballs. Still other horses were content to stroll down the path at a leisurely pace. We called these the happy trails horses. I was on one of the happy trails horses. However, our leisurely pace was halted every few minutes while someone tried to drag, push, or spur ol’ “Muley” to catch up. I believe we spent as much time sitting on the horses (not moving) as we did riding that day.
In life and in ministry there are many horses to ride. Perhaps you’ve been on a Fireball before, a ministry that is a runner. And maybe you’ve been on a Happy Trails horse, one that is content to meander down the ministry trail. And it’s possible you’ve experienced Ol’ Muley too.
Finding the right horse to ride is vital to your ministry. Let me encourage you to revisit the stables of ministry often to check out the horses in your stable. What does it look like? What kind of shape is your ministry in today?
Let’s go inside and look at the horses you’ve been riding. We come to your first horse – Evangelism. What kind of horse is she? Is she a runner, a fireball? Perhaps she’s a Happy Trails horse. Or could it be she’s an Ol’ Muley? Is this the horse you want to be riding to fulfill The Great Commission?
Training your Evangelism horse: Mobilize your people for harvest, Develop outreach oriented ministries, Assimilate newcomers into the life and ministry of your church.
Ask God; For effective outreach strategies that will win many lost people to Christ, To help you value lost people’s future freedom above your present comfort, and To break your heart with the things that break His.
The next stall houses a horse named Discipleship. What kind of horse is discipleship? Fireball, Happy Trails, or Muley? Which traits are displayed through your discipleship process? Spiritual maturity should be measured by the lifestyle a person leads, and not by the amount of Bible knowledge one has. What training is needed for a better discipleship ministry in your stables?
On the door of the next stall is the name Fellowship. Is fellowship a fireball, happy trails, or Muley? Close, loving relationships are at the heart of a healthy, growing church and relationships cannot be built without healthy fellowship. Fellowship is at the heart of Christianity, Develops healthy interpersonal relationships, Cultivates authentic community, & Incorporates the love of God to a lost world.
As we continue to the next stall we see a golden stallion, Ministry. Is ministry a working horse in your stable? Is she a stable horse only? Or does ministry like to get out of the barn and run? Are the tasks of the church distributed according to the spiritual gift mix of individuals or based on the needs of present ministries inside the church?
Inside the fifth stall we see the black horse, worship. Is this horse a mighty, sleek coated warrior, a big footed, broad shouldered work horse, an underfed swayback has been, or a newborn weak-kneed hopeful? Worship’s lifeline is prayer. Without fervent prayer your worship horse is dead.
When worship is inspiring it draws people to services and to God. Inspiring worship is infused with the presence of God, and results in times of joyous exaltation and quiet reverence. Inspiring worship is not driven by a particular style or focus – but by the shared experience of God’s awesome presence.
What do the horses in your ministry stable look like? Where is your stable headed? What horse(s) are you going to ride to victory?
George Yates is an Organizational Health Strategist and coach, assisting churches, organizations, and individuals in pursuing God’s purpose for life. Click here to receive this blog in your email inbox each Tuesday.