Be There - A Ministry of Presence

"Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." - Galations 6:2

In a world driven by speed, schedules, and screens, the simple act of being there for someone can feel rare and even radical. But Jesus modeled something different. He was present. Whether he was sitting with Mary and Martha in their grief, touching the leper, or eating with outcasts, his ministry was grounded in showing up with compassion, patience, and love.

Being there for those we care about doesn't always mean having the right words or being able to solve a problem. Sometimes, it just means showing up. This is something I'm calling the ministry of presence. Let me explain.

Recently, I attended a retirement party for a teacher friend of mine, who - after 32 years of teaching - is ending her career when this school year ends. She has family in another state, so she invited some select friends to join her as she celebrated her career. I was honored to be invited, and thankfully able to attend.

At the conclusion of the event, we went to dinner as a group (there were 6 of us total), and discussed the events of the day. She repeated several times how much it meant to her that we made the effort to be there. As we left the school that day, we ran into one of my friend's teammates who had not attended the event because she was working on a lesson plan.

At dinner, my friend remarked how her teammate had not attended the event, even though she was just down the hall.

"She didn't even need to stay," my friend remarked. "We've taught side-by-side for many years, and it would have been nice if she had come to wish me well. You guys drove over an hour to be here, after all."

That's when it hit me - my presence there was powerful. It reminded my friend that she is not alone. I was able to reflect Christ's heart and her value in my life by just being present.

Several years ago, I got convicted in my spirit because I was one of those people (I know you know them, too!) who would frequently say I would do things, but then I would bail out when the time came to actually show up. Not showing up for a social gathering, bailing on a volunteer function because I got a better offer, or canceling on one friend to go out with another.

• I came to realize, over time, that my unwillingness to follow through and actually be present was making me untrustworthy. My Christian witness was impacted. Then later, as I became a ministry leader myself, I learned who I could count on, and who was not trustworthy when they committed to fulfilling a role or task.

• When I consistently show up for others, I'm reflecting the steadfastness of God's own character. Trust is not built on grand gestures, but on small, faithful moments; being there to comfort someone in grief, listening in a time of need, and valuing someone enough to say "you matter to me."

Sometimes, people we care about are going through things we can't fix. But our presence plants seeds of hope and healing, as well as faith that life will continue.

That's why it means so much to pay our respects when someone we care about dies. A dear friend of mine lost both her husband and her mother eleven days apart to COVID a few years ago. She was the only family member who survived, and she was wracked with guilt and in deep despair over her loss and loneliness.

Though we had not been as close as we once were, and in fact had drifted apart in recent years, when I learned of the deaths on social media, I made a point to be there for her. And after the funeral, we stayed in touch, and she ended up moving to my area. As a result, we rekindled our friendship, and she has since remarried a wonderful man, and they are both such a blessing in my life.

Recently, she told me with tears in her eyes that it meant so much to her that I was there with her during that very difficult season of her life. She said she would always remember how we came alongside her in a time of need, even though we had drifted apart.

Who has God put in your life that might need your presence? This is a question to thoughtfully and prayerfully consider. Just showing up for them can speak volumes to them about the love of Jesus. They have value to Him, so therefor they have value to us, as believers.

How to expand your ministry of presence:

• Pray boldly: “Lord, please bring those into my path who need to see your love. Allow me to bless them with my presence when it matters.”

Just showing up for someone (or failing to show up!) means more than we realize. Let's be a trustworthy, hopeful people who model Christ's love by being there to love and support one another.