One Piece Ministers

Integrity is one of the most important qualities of any ministry. We servants of God teach with our lives. Children learn from the continuous observation of their parents. Churches learn from the continuous observation of their leaders.

It is not just about what we openly preach from the pulpit, although that is of great importance. After preaching for nearly three decades, I am convinced that Sunday's sermon is not the most important intervention we can make in the lives of our parishioners.

It is in your daily interventions, your people's observation of how you perform in conflict, in crisis, in failure, in the daily challenges of ministry, where you truly mark the people you serve and minister to.

Integrity comes from the Latin word “integer” which means, “whole”. Integrity means, being made of one piece. There are no fold or hidden compartments. Everything is in the light. Much has been said about the fact that the soldiers could not divide the garment of Jesus. They had to risk it all. They could not distribute it because it had no pieces, but was made of one piece. And that's how the son of God must be, the servant of God, the servant of God.

We have to be in one piece. Within that piece there will be inconsistencies even at times. But what the person of integrity does is that when there are those falls, when the defects become evident, when there are those inevitable inconsistencies, the room is immediately closed again, because the confession comes, the recognition of sin is given, there is humiliating oneself before others, giving accounts and acknowledging the mistake made. And even if there is a momentary break, the armor, let's say, that covers the life of the servant of God closes again. It is very important that there is that kind of integrity, integrity, in what we do.

A ministry no matter how excellent it is in finances, in preaching, in evangelism, if there is no integrity sooner or later it will collapse.

The devil is very observant and keeps very long accounts so that a lot of interest accumulates, and at the most advantageous moment then he destroys and destroys everything, because he knows that there is an entry into the life of the minister that does not exercise that element of integrity and transparency. .

Even if we do not do everything perfectly, our people will learn from the way we admit our mistakes, when we ask forgiveness for a fault we have committed, or when we admit our frailty or fears.

People need to see transparent and authentic ministries. People are blessed when they see their spiritual mentors governing their lives by principle and not by ambition or mere natural endowment.

That is what imparts a sediment of life to the people under our cover, as we see ourselves each day trying to do our best in ministry, imitating Jesus in a life of integrity and consistency.