Doing Ministry “To” or “With”?

Eliot and Emily Roberts are two of my ministry heroes. When they started Neverfail Community Church on the Cumberland Plateau of Tennessee about 20 years ago, they realized that the challenges were significant. This area has one of the highest rates of production and use of methamphetamine in the nation. At least 33 percent of those in the area have not achieved a high school diploma or GED. Only a small proportion of families have heads of household with year-round full-time employment.

Early in the life of the church, Eliot told me a key part of their philosophy: ministry must be done with people rather than to them. Often, we assume what others need and seek to supply it, then we are disappointed when they do not embrace our generosity. The rejection is not necessarily due to hostility but because we are not offering what they really need.

Before we invest in helping others, we might first ask them what they need and how they can first help themselves. In every community, people have skills and abilities that may only be marginally tapped. Wouldn’t they be more motivated and productive if we helped them use what they already have, rather than imposing something on them?

Every person is made in the image of God and deserves respect. Before we can really help people, we need to know and love them. I think that is what the Roberts have attempted to do for the last 20 years.

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