I never realized how lonely ministry could be until I became a pastor.

Though some family members who were Christians were delighted with our ministry, others weren’t.

One family member told my wife and I that we would not be invited to their family functions anymore. Their were afraid that I was going to try to convert them. Others were not bold enough to tell me how they felt. They simply stopped inviting us over.

Becoming part of a church gave us the opportunity to meet new people.

The church was vibrant in the community and reached out to them with mission efforts. They helped the community with donations to the food pantry, held an annual coat drive, free dinners, and clothing pantry. They also worked with the local Boys and Girls Club and Alcoholics Anonymous.

We quickly became active in the church. They embraced my wife and included her in the activities.

Somehow, the love lost because of the family who denied us was replaced with the love of our church family. Ministry can be lonely, but God promises His blessing.

Still, the love of our church family and the needs of our community embody the saying, “God is good, all the time. And all the time, God is good!”