“What are you doing for ministry now?” My husband, Tom and I have struggled with this question since returning to the States from the field. Recently, a friend described our ministry as two hands. One ministry hand outside the US and one in the US. The hand outside the US includes weekly Bible studies, encouraging phone calls, periodic zoom coaching meetings, and prayers for those we so deeply miss from our time in Romania. The other hand in the US is still unfolding but includes neighbors, family, Bible studies, and life coaching.
Before we left Romania three years ago, we began praying for the relationship we would have with neighbors. It is exciting to see God at work in our neighbors’ lives as we take an interest in them and walk, pray, and support them as they experience sickness, grief, and life decisions. We have seen one neighbor move out and separate from a partner with unchanging addictions. She is now doing well and is glad she made a healthy decision for her and her son. Another man who has had an interest in spiritual conversations shared that a recent hospital stay prompted him to begin attending a Bible-believing church with his wife and they are growing in understanding what a saving knowledge of Christ is. The loss of her beloved sister and cat prompted our neighbor to ask me to pray. Yesterday, she told me she had called my church and talked with a pastor about her significant losses. Discovering we were neighbors, our pastor encouraged our neighbor to reach out to me and go for a walk together. Recently, we had a conversation about her grief and her significant losses. I listened. She wanted to close our time with prayer. I am thankful for the two hands of ministry, near and far. It’s a joy and privilege to join God in His work near and far. God determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live (Acts 17:26). Where are you joining God in His work, near and far places where you live?
Jill Clark
Jill and her husband Tom have been in Iowa for the past three years after spending 20 years ministering in Romania. They now minister with two hands, near and far.
