We Are All Ministers
By Hal Haralson
Hal Haralson practices law in Austin and ministers at the drop of a hat. He is a frequent contributor to this journal. He recently presented this material to a joint meeting of the Board of Trustees and the Board of Development of Hardin-Simmons University.
"And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers.
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry for the edifying of the Body of Christ" (Ephesians 4:11-12).
Paul gives us a basis for this in his "laundry list" of the "called" in Ephesians.
I suggest, that we are all called to be ministers.
Most of us minister in ways that are less visible, less frequently noted, than those who minister by virtue of their vocation.
The ministry of "being there" to others finds expression in acts of kindness, awareness of pain in others, and acknowledgment of the importance of another`s feelings of joy, sadness, and loneliness.
There are three areas of this ministry I would like to consider with you.
1. The first is the ministry to your spouse. It is a ministry no one else can perform.
This ministry is critical in times of illness or stress. It means affirming the feelings of the spouse and being present and available to share those feelings. It means flowers when there`s no special reason to send flowers.
My wife`s mother was in and out of a nursing home in Littlefield, Texas over a period of several months. We have made this 900-mile round-trip nine times in the last three months.
The constant need for decisions to be made has been exhausting for Judy. Most of the time, I feel useless because there is nothing for me to "do."
My ministry to her has been in being present.
Most of us have experienced lengthy illnesses and deaths in the past year.
We need to be careful lest we forget this ministry which no one else can perform while we busy ourselves being minister to others.
2. The second of these ministries is to our children; and this is another ministry no one else can perform.
Recognition that the "crisis" a child is experiencing is real rather than suggesting that it is not really that serious acknowledges the reality of the child`s feelings.
Judy was in the kitchen one day when David, then four years old, came barging in and blurted out, "Brad`s not being God`s helper."
(Translation: Brad, his nine-year old brother, wasn`t doing what David wanted him to do).
"Why don`t you tell God about Brad," said David`s mother.
"All right, when I go to bed tonight, I`m gonna tell God about Brad."
"Why not talk to God right now?" asked Judy.
This brought a puzzled look to David`s face. It had not occurred to him that God might be listening in broad daylight.
He put his hands on his hips, spread his feet, looked at the ceiling and said, "God, Brad`s not being your helper, and I want you to get hold of him and just tear him up…in Jesus` name, Amen."
Judy acknowledged the importance of David`s crisis and was "there" for him in it.
Whether it is the first fish (a two-inch perch), the first deer (a spike buck), the first low grade on a report card (or the first high one), only a parent can "be there."
Spending time…there`s no substitute for that…so we are there not only in crises but present when there`s no special need to be present.
No one else can minister to our children the way parents can.
3. A third area of ministry takes place in our daily work day after day. It is an awareness on our part of the people all around us.
Frequently no one knows of this ministry. More often than not, the "minister" is not aware of the impact his/her words or deeds are having on the life of the person who is "ministered to".
I had this experience with four people while I was a student at Hardin-Simmons University. Forty-three years later, they still influence my life. They never knew.
The first was "Prof" Burnam. He was a little man with a wisp of white hair on his otherwise bald head. He had a peculiar way of asking a question and answering his own question while looking at the ceiling.
"Prof" taught math at Hardin-Simmons University. He had done so forever. He taught my mother math in 1926. He was still teaching when I was a freshman in 1953.
I was scared when I entered HSU as a freshman. All 18 years of my life had been spent on a 400-acre farm, 8 miles north of Loraine, Texas. I didn`t know if I could compete with the students from Abilene and Sweetwater.
I was a member of the largest graduating class in the history of Loraine High School. The class of `53 had 23 students.
I worked twenty hours a week for Virgil M. Beadley at the book store. After eating, I went to the library to study.
It was raining that night. I couldn`t work my math assignment. I became more afraid. Afraid I would flunk math, flunk out of college and embarrass myself before my parents and the people at First Baptist Church in Loraine.
I walked in the rain down Ambler Avenue to Old Anson Road to "Prof" Burnam`s house and knocked on his door. It was about 9:00. I shared my fear and frustration with this little old man. He made me a bowl of hot soup and gave me a towel to dry with. For two hours, he explained the math problem.
"Prof" Burnam drove me back to the campus. He had given me much more than the answer to a math problem. He gave me confidence. He gave me the knowledge that my teachers were there to help me succeed…not to fail me.
"Prof" never knew of his "ministry." It was the turning point in this college freshman`s career.
The second "minister" at HSU was my freshman Speech teacher. Her name was Emogene Emery and her first assignment was a demonstration speech.
There were three areas that made up the grade: delivery, clarity of the demonstration, and universality of the subject matter.
I worked hard on this first assignment and was sure I had made an "A."
The grades came back. I had a "B." I was crushed. I went to Miss Emery and asked for an explanation.
"Your delivery was excellent. You have a few normal West Texas pronunciations that will need to be corrected, but we can take care of that."
"Your demonstration was well done. That was not the problem."
"I gave you a "B" because of the universality of the subject matter. I`m sure this will come as something of a shock to you, Hal. There are not that many people who are interested in "How To Build a Hog Trough."
Miss Emery ministered to me that day. She helped me realize that there is another world beyond that farm. My horizon was expanded.
The third "minister" in my college career was a janitor named Otis. He was in charge of the old boys dorm.
No matter what your greeting, Otis replied, "Everything`s mellow, whatcha know."
Otis drove an old Ford pickup with professionally lettered signs on each door. The driver`s side announced "Welcome to Abilene, but come in quiet." On the passenger`s side, Otis allowed, "The world is moving and I am, too."
I loved talking to Otis. He was always cheerful and full of enthusiasm. You could ask Otis if he was working hard and he would always reply, "Just like 50 slaves with a man standing over them with a pistol and a club."
The a cappella choir was singing in chapel one day. They were resplendent in their purple and gold robes and the music was "high church."
The singing was almost drowned out by laughter. I couldn`t figure out what everyone was laughing at.
Then I spotted Otis in a purple and gold robe on the back row, singing at the top of his lungs. He was having the time of his life.
I`ve never forgotten Otis. He ministered to me by showing that joy and enthusiasm for life comes from within and is not dependent on the kind of work we do.
My final "minister" was Dr. George Graham. He was a big man, but very soft-spoken, and held the position of Vice-President of the University.
Dr. Graham was my mentor. He was the one I admired most of all my teachers and administrators.
One warm spring night, I was out behind the new men`s dorm (later to become Anderson Hall) with Gerald Petree and Claude George.
We were watching a storm approaching from the northwest when we spotted a black and white animal moving across the intramural field. You guessed it. It was a skunk.
There was a moment of divine inspiration and the three of us moved in unison without speaking a word. One of us headed for the door and the other two herded the animal into the dorm.
We circled the building and burst through the front door shouting, "Somebody put a skunk in the dorm!" It was a great college prank.
The Dean of Men announced that he would find the culprits and punish them. Everyone on campus knew who was responsible for the skunk…except Dean Collins.
About a week later, The Brand (the school newspaper) came out and the gossip columnist stated, "Rumor has it the president of the student body had something to do with the skunk incident."
I stood before the Dean, along with Claude George and Gerald Petree, and was threatened with expulsion and failure to graduate. There went four years of college and my 3.6 grade average.
The Dean said we would be placed on probation and had better make no more mistakes.
"Well, Mr. Haralson," the Dean said, his voice dripping with sarcasm, "It`s time for us to go to the General Affairs Counsel."
I opened the door to the big conference room and there stood Dr. Graham. He spoke quietly, so no one else heard, "Hal, I`m very disappointed in you."
That was all. He never mentioned the incident again.
Today, forty years later, I stop to consider the consequences of my actions. Dr. Graham`s words are still a part of my life.
Four very different people. Four ministers to a college student forty years ago. This ministry helped to shape my life. They never knew it happened.
We are all ministers. To spouse, to children, to those around us. How important is this ministry?
"Inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me," Jesus said
