Hot chocolate and iced-in cars, or: what is ministry?

Issue No. 3     Dec. 2008/Jan. 2009

The word “minister” is often used as a noun.  But I think the verb form and the word’s origin give a better depiction of what being a minister—Campus Minister or otherwise—is truly all about.  Here it is:

min·is·ter  |’minəstər|

1 (minister to) attend to the needs of (someone)

• archaic provide (something necessary or helpful)

ORIGIN ministrer (verb), from Latin minister ‘servant,’ from minus ‘less.’

~definition from New Oxford American Dictionary

Last weekend was a busy one for me, so Monday afternoon I took a short nap.  While I was napping I missed a phone call and a text message from MaryElise.  I woke up a little before 3:00, and I saw the text message.  Her car was stuck, and she needed a ride into Mt. Vernon to babysit at 4:00.  I called MaryElise, and asked if she still needed a ride.  She said, “Yes, and…I’m actually in your parking lot right now” (we live within walking distance from campus), so I invited her in.  I opened the door and asked if she was okay.  As soon as she got inside our door, she started to cry! 

I gave her a hug and asked again if she was okay.  She said she had pulled an all-nighter last night, and she was just stressed and emotional because of it.  Her car was stuck in its parking spot because of the ice (this is before the big melt we recently experienced).  She kept crying.  I asked if she wanted some tea or hot chocolate.  Through tears, she said she didn’t like tea.  So I told her I was going to make her some hot chocolate, and I made some for Kelly and me too.  Her mom called, and MaryElise started to cry more, feeling helpless; she talked briefly with her letting her know she was at our place.  We all sat down on the couches and started to drink our large mugs of hot chocolate.  She began to calm down with that.  “I can’t do another all-nighter…” 

“We can give you a ride there and pick you up, too.  It’s not a problem,” Kelly and I agreed.  But then MaryElise realized that she had to drive one of the kids to an afternoon commitment.  “I knew there was something more.  I knew this wasn’t going to be fixed so easily.”  She began to tear up again when she realized that she would need her car every day.  She said nobody had pushed it, but her tires just spin and spin when she tries moving it.  I said, “Let’s finish our hot chocolate, and go try to get your car out.  If we can’t, you can borrow our car this week.”  She let out a deep sigh.  “Okay, but this is a big mug,” she smiled, and kept drinking her hot chocolate. 

I put my boots on, and we got in our car and drove to hers.  She got in and started the car.  I pushed and she slowly accelerated.  Nothing.  “Is it in reverse?” I asked.  “Yes,” she replied, downhearted.  “Okay, this time accelerate a little bit more.”  I pushed, she accelerated, and the car was dislodged!  She thanked me, made it to babysitting on time, was able to drive the boy to his appointment, and she parked elsewhere back at Kenyon.

We didn’t discuss anything biblical or otherwise profound!  Now, Bible Studies and deep conversation is certainly a lot of what we do as ministry here at Kenyon.  But last Monday, we drank hot chocolate and moved a car…and that was most definitely ministry!  Her mom wrote me an email that night:  

Dear Jeff & Kelly,

Thank you SO much for taking such good care of MaryElise this afternoon. When she called me crying because she couldn't get her car out I felt so helpless. Once I found out she had made it to your house I knew she'd be in good hands. It must have been the hot chocolate that did it!     

Thank you again. She is lucky to have such good friends she is comfortable turning to in time of need.  

Jesus said that he did not come to be served, but to serve (Matt. 20:25-28).  Thank you for helping us to serve!