By Brenda Cannon Henley
I wrote in my last column that I was enrolled in and enjoying a seminar on The Ministry of Encouragement taught by Dr. Harry Mills. Since I have been actively engaged in thinking about and learning in more depth about this valuable service to others (and to ourselves), I have literally been amazed at the many opportunities God has shown me to exercise what I am learning.

And, the icing on the cake in this matter is that every time I have made a conscious effort to encourage someone else, God has heaped blessings upon my life. This morning, for instance, I made my Monday morning jaunt to work, opened my desk drawer, and noted two extra white envelopes that were not there when I left last. One was a paycheck for some extra hours and one was a bonus check for an extra busy Mother’s Day week.

Nothing encourages a hard worker like your employer or team noting that you are giving it all you have to make it all work and to accomplish a goal for the entire organization. We often need to encourage each other in our work environments.

I wrote last week that we need to learn to be intentional and creative when embarking on a ministry of encouragement. We must decide, and make a matter of prayer, what we’d like to say, how and when to say it, and determine in our hearts why we are saying it in the first place.

Scripture teaches us to encourage others. How can we be true encouragers to others? If someone is on your heart, tell them so. Ask others how you can pray for them…and then be certain you do it. As you pray for the needs of others, tell them you have. Send a quick email, message, or note letting others know you have prayed for them. Keep your own prayer list current. It is encouraging to mark off answered prayer as you hear of them being answered.

Go in person to encourage when you can. Call or write when you cannot.

Learn to send cards of encouragement as a part of your ministry. People of all ages still enjoy getting real Mail. One of the most blessed of all ministries I have ever been involved in is the sending of greeting cards and small gifts to all the shut ins of our church on a monthly basis. A study group I teach, The Broken Pots, has been doing this for more than three years, and I can attest to this ministry being a dual one. It blesses the recipients and the senders.

Look for ways to encourage those overlooked by others and include children, youth, and the elderly. Communicate with those that have suffered loss long after the funeral and friends and relatives have returned home. The loss of family or personal pets can also spur the need for encouragement.

Remember physicians, nurses, and medical teams that care for us and our family members. Acknowledge marriages, births, graduations, promotions, and our veterans and active military personnel, as well as our law enforcement officers.

Learn to keep a warm and soft heart for people you meet in the course of your work day, family members, neighbors, and others who are needing someone to care. Perhaps God has let your paths cross to help meet their immediate need for encouragement. It can cost so little and mean so very much.

Brenda Cannon Henley can be reached at 409 781 8788, or
[email protected]

“And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works.” (Hebrews 10:24)

[May-24-2022]