Cheryl Rice, VP of Ministry Development at the Goodyear, AZ Lighthouse shared the different things that the group has been doing at their monthly meetings.
Starting off the year, the group planned a wedding for their worship leaders, Melvin and Krisa, who has been leading worship since the new Lighthouse began in May, 2023. Everyone joined in with creative ideas making the wedding meeting a beautiful celebration of their love for each other and for the Lord.
In February, we went out into the community and had our 1st outreach for the homeless at a local church. We were able to bless them through the donations of many blankets, jackets, clothes, shoes, and toiletries. After choosing what they needed, they were able to enjoy a hot lunch and listened to our worship team praising the Lord. It was such an honor to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Our hearts were blessed as one person accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior, and many others received prayer.
This group of Lighthouse leaders love to receive the assignments the Lord has for their community. They know that they are part of the help God has sent to Goodyear and they can’t wait to see how the Gospel is shared in practical ways each month.
If your Lighthouse group doesn’t have a VP of Ministry Development, maybe God has written into your identity the ability to accept that place. Here is the opening of the job description:
Vice-president of Ministry Development
Dorcas was known as a woman who was full of good works. Benevolent, compassionate, and devout, she gave generously of herself to others. She was known for stretching out her hands to the needy both physically and monetarily. With her sewing needle in hand, she established a service that reached to the far corners of the earth. Scripture tells us that Dorcas was the only woman to be referred to in the Bible as a disciple, and the fruit of compassion and kindness poured out of her just like Jesus. She lived out of the spotlight and operated behind the scenes to help the people who were in need the most.
Dorcas lived a short distance from Jerusalem at the port of Joppa, an important Christian center during the years when the new faith was spreading from Jerusalem to the Mediterranean. The beautiful harbor was halfway between Mount Carmel and Gaza.
Perhaps Dorcas’ home had a large roof guest house that was reached by a stairway. From this vantage point, she could see the needy as they walked the streets of Joppa, going down to the sea in search of rags that washed up to use for clothing. As she watched, a desire began to stir within her to help.
Dorcas had great compassion for widows and orphans who often were clothed in ill-fitting rags. Each one who worked with Dorcas, worked with great care to see that all they helped left feeling renewed in spirit and lifted to great worth simply because someone saw, cared, and dared to make a difference.
As the Vice-president of Ministry Development, you recognize opportunities to step in and make a difference in your community. From the high advantage point of seeing like God sees, you will see gifts and talents in others and link them with ministry opportunities within the community. Not stopping there, you help take the ministry of Aglow out of the four walls of the gathering place as the group becomes known in the community because of the compassion and care shown toward the needs of others.
Like Dorcas, your role opens the door for unnoticed people groups to find that Someone truly cares for them, hears their cries, and comes on the scene with help. Those in the Lighthouse are His hands and feet to the lost and hurting community in your town. You are the help that God has sent and like Dorcas, you are like glue that holds the group together by the amazing gift of practical service that can change an entire community.
Now, here is a prayer you would pray over yourself as you step into this position. Go ahead and say the prayer and prepare to pray the prayer
Open your hands and pray this prayer over yourself:
Father, what a joy to step out in faith, trusting that You have called me, anointed me, and given me all that I require to see my community as You see it. My dependency is upon You as I sense Holy Spirit nudging me to open my eyes to see the vast needs. You have positioned me perfectly having formed me in my mother’s womb. My Heavenly identity goes before me and prepares the way. I willingly step into this position for such a time as this realizing that You are the Provider. You go before us and have made a way for everything we have need of. I am grateful to be trusted by You. In Jesus’ Name, I receive all the anointing and the sure mantel that goes along with this position.
We can’t wait to see what YOU will do in your community.