Our Missions Pastor Is an Enzyme (Now I Am, Too)

I want to say here in this public forum that I have been jealous over the years of our missions pastor at CHC, Jim May.  Particularly in one aspect of his ministry.  I have watched Jim many times over the years receive money from a church member to anonymously pass on to another church member for a mission trip or to meet a need.  I’ve often thought, what joy there must be in that.  Think about it: he gets to experience the joy of the giver and the joy (and often, astonishment) of the recipient of the gift.  He’s an enzyme in the body of Christ, the church.

A Definition

A quick biology lesson from Wikipedia: 

Enzymes (ˈɛnzaɪmz/) are biological molecules that catalyze (i.e., increase the rates of) chemical reactions. In enzymatic reactions, the molecules at the beginning of the process, called substrates, are converted into different molecules, called products. Almost all chemical reactions in a biological cell need enzymes in order to occur at rates sufficient for life. Since enzymes are selective for their substrates and speed up only a few reactions from among many possibilities, the set of enzymes made in a cell determines which metabolic pathways occur in that cell.

Enzymes, then, serve as catalysts.  They don’t create; they cause or speed up a specific reaction.

Enzymes in the Body of Christ

Enzymes are extremely important in the body of Christ.  Enzymes in the church cause the speed of ministry to accelerate.

Since we began the 4theVoiceless ministry, our team has had the privilege of acting as a catalyst for movement toward God’s command to care for orphans.  One of our team members suggested sending the young adults who went to Russia earlier this year to minister to orphans to our small groups to lead worship and tell their stories.  Our groups served as catalysts to help them go.  Young adults tend to have more flexibility than, say, families with young children.  Young adults also tend to be broke.  The enzymes of the body of Christ (in this case, our small groups) sped up the process of the body (in this case, these six young adults) being able to reach the need (in this case, orphans in Russia and the college students there who regularly visit with them).

During last Wednesday night’s message, I was able to pass along a sizable check to help a family in their adoption process.  I was able to pass along a Wal-Mart gift card from one of our church members to a couple who are serving as the “go-to” couple for a family waiting for their first foster child.  We have sold bracelets and paper bead jewelry that will be a catalyst for ministry that we are able to do.  All these things may have happened anyway; catalysts have certainly sped up the process.

There is one important difference between enzymes in the body and enzymes in the body of Christ.  Enzymes in the body of Christ may be anonymous, but they are not left unchanged. Helping others – whether givers or recipients – live out the commands of Christ can’t help but change us.

I can tell you from years of talking with Jim May and now from my own experience that there are few things more rewarding that getting to act as a catalyst for ministry and, ultimately, the gospel.  Keep in mind, though, that for catalysts to work in the body of Christ, there have to be those who are willing to go and those who are willing to send them.  Back to Wikipedia for this:

“Enzyme activity can be affected by other molecules. Inhibitors are molecules that decrease enzyme activity; activators are molecules that increase activity.”

When it comes to ministering to orphans, are you an inhibitor or an activator?  We who get to serve as catalysts in the body are always ready and willing to accelerate ministry in the church.  Give us the opportunity.

Thanks for reading.  Feel free to continue the discussion.

4theVoiceless,
Al

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