Ministering is a tool Heavenly Father gives us to serve others in need. When you minister to members of your gathering group, you can help everyone feel loved, joy, and motivated to learn.
Pray for opportunities to serve
When you pray for ways to serve, the Holy Ghost will make them available to you. Ministering to members of your gathering group is one way you can serve and impact their lives — and yours.
As you seek the Holy Ghost’s help to find ways to serve, He will become your constant companion and aid you in your efforts. President Henry B. Eyring taught, “Great ministers have qualified for the Holy Ghost as a nearly constant companion. And they have qualified for the gift of charity, which is the pure love of Christ. Those gifts have grown in them as they have used them in serving out of love for the Lord.”
Develop friendships
Making a sincere effort to make new friendships in gatherings provides more ways for us to minister. We will not only help others feel welcome, but the weekly gathering will likely become more enjoyable as well. BYU-Pathway Worldwide students often share that their group comes to feel like a family.
Becoming friends with your group members will also help Heavenly Father direct you to those in need. Your desire to help others have joy and success will increase! Sister Jean B. Bingham said, “What does ministering look like? It looks like becoming a part of someone's life and caring about him or her.”
As you develop a love for others at your gatherings, you will gain long-lasting friendships, support, and encouragement that can help you through challenges in life and your courses.
Reach out to others in need
Ministering can happen anywhere, not just at gatherings. BYU-Pathway is part of the gathering of Israel, which means sharing Jesus Christ’s restored gospel.
It provides a gospel-centered environment where students can learn about Christ and His teachings.Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf invited all to share the blessings of BYU-Pathway Worldwide and encourage anyone who could benefit from a gospel-centered education, to enroll: “Inviting people to join BYU-Pathway will help them feel of the Savior's love as they progress both spiritually and academically,” he said. “As you do so, you will not only help others to see more clearly what the Church is all about, but I promise you that you will feel the love, gratitude, and blessings of the Savior in their lives, and yours.”
Laboring with the Lord
As you minister to the members of your gatherings group and create lasting friendships, you are helping others come closer to Christ. Often, our small labors of love can be the answer to someone’s prayers.
Elder Jeffery R. Holland taught, “May we labor side by side with the Lord of the vineyard, giving the God and Father of us all a helping hand with His staggering task of answering prayers, providing comfort, drying tears, and strengthening feeble knees. If we will do that, we will be more like the true disciples of Christ we are meant to be.”
How have you ministered to your group members? What blessings have you received as others ministered to you? Comment below!
Article published on January 18, 2021