Every Role in Ministry Matters

What I Learned While Interning at Avant Ministries

Over the last few months, I’ve had the privilege of interning with the Recruitment department in Avant’s home office. I’ve been able to use my writing degree to describe ministry opportunities and outline a new internship initiative. Here, I have truly seen that there are many roles needed to help advance the gospel. Some people have spent years overseas before returning to work in the home office, and others have worked in the office throughout their time with Avant. But all of their experiences and backgrounds combine to make a team capable of sending missionaries to the ends of the earth. I have learned more about my talents—I’d much rather organize the internship program than recruit! But I can use my unique skills to support a missions organization, which I’ll prayerfully continue to do in the future.

Faithful and Generous

One blessing of working at Avant is hearing people’s stories. As one retiring missionary reported to the home office team, she shared her heart. The missionary life, she said, is not always easy. She and her husband have faced many ups and downs over the years, and they have seen many missionaries burn out, especially singles who do not have as much support as the married couples. But, as she and her family tried to follow the Lord in their daily lives, God always provided for them, both financially and spiritually. Her encouragement to us? Be generous, pray for missionaries, especially the singles, and, most importantly, be faithful.

Ministry is Not Done Alone

Whether as a missionary or as part of a local church in their own culture, all believers are called to faithfulness in fulfilling the Great Commission. As we share the gospel, give regularly to make sure that our missionaries do not lack, and pray over every newsletter that hits our inbox, God is faithful to honor these sacrifices of praise. Ministry is not just for those who love the spectacular—which is encouraging, as my idea of an exciting time is reading a book while drinking coffee. It requires that the little things, such as processing donations and writing emails, are done well. Ministry is not always serious. It involves laughing with coworkers in the hallway, eating a leisurely lunch together, or throwing a baby shower for the newest member of the Avant family. It is not done alone, but with the combined effort of missionaries, pastors and local church members, counselors, accountants, mission visionaries, trainers, and many more types of workers. Praise God; He uses faithfulness to accomplish a thing that is much bigger than the sum of its parts—an eternity of innumerable souls triumphantly rejoicing in Christ, who, through the message of the gospel, saved them.

Join in Generosity