 A
Privilege of Ministry
Joel E. Kim,
M.Div.Dear Alumni,
I officiated at a wedding last Saturday. It took place at a
beautiful historic church in Long Beach and ended with a
reception at a nearby restaurant filled with food and good
company. Both the bride and groom were members of the church I
served for four years before coming to Westminster Seminary
California. He is a quiet and unassuming medical doctor whose
humility and thoughtfulness impresses you. She is a cheerful and
caring young woman who brightens up any room she enters. They
love each other, and they both love the Lord.
I enjoy weddings because they are wonderful ministry
opportunities. Even before the day of the wedding when we can
revel in seeing two people become one in marital union and
celebrate the occasion with good friends, pastors have the
important task of meeting with the marrying couple for
counseling and preparation. In these meetings, we have the
unique privilege of entering into their private lives to wrestle
together, through the Word, with the issues of faith and
marriage, and to reinforce personally what we’ve been teaching
publicly. I cherish these moments.
It amazes me that we as pastors have the privilege of serving
God’s people in such a way. Of course, weddings are not the only
occasion. Despite the brevity of my ministry, I remember with
fondness the many hours spent teaching and learning with my
church members through baptisms, weddings, visitations, and
other gatherings when the pastor is made a member of the family
and given an opportunity to remind them of the grace received.
Moreover, who can forget the difficult times – loss of loved
ones, broken families, illnesses, and even sudden departures of
members – when the pastor has an opportunity and obligation to
bring to the hurting the message of the love of God in Christ.
Ministry is such a wonderful privilege and a humbling
responsibility. I am humbled that God desires broken,
inadequate, and insufficient men like you and me to minister to
and care for his people. It is good to be reminded of the words
of Paul: “Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim
anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He
has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant…” (2
Corinthians 3:5-6a). May the Lord fill you with the joy of
ministering to His people as you are constantly led by His
grace.
Joel E. Kim
Assistant Professor of New Testament
Copyright 2006 Westminster Seminary
California. All rights reserved.
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