I stacked the craft supplies and children’s books into a Tetris-like placement in clear plastic bins. Team members arrived and toted the bins from my church office to the van. 

“No rain today! We can take the kids to the basketball court,” one member commented. We nodded. It was the eighth week of the Friday afternoon program in a nearby under-resourced community. This was the fourth year of our summer involvement. 

“Did anyone get the oranges from the refrigerator?” Silence. 

“I’ll get them,” responded the last person entering the van. 

And, so it went. Our afternoon with the children proceeded as planned. We made paper butterflies, played HORSE on the basketball court, read books, and snacked on oranges. We shared a brief lesson on character, using the Old Testament story of Joseph.

The ninety-minutes passed quickly. We hugged the children good-bye and climbed back into the van. 

As I put supplies away and team members drove home, I was struck by the difference between now and the first year of the program. In the beginning, we arrived 30-minutes early to pray and prepare. At the end of the day, we prayed for the children by name. We shared concerns about their families’ struggles, calling boldly on the Lord to work through us to serve this neighborhood.

I left the church building and sat in the parking lot thinking on this shift. Faithfulness to the community remained, but the work with the children felt different. Our zeal for ministry had gone missing. Excellence and administration had become a central focus. The program was indeed continuing well, but we had moved away from dependence on God. While prioritizing programmatics we had forgotten our first love, the Lord Jesus Christ.

In my conversations with other outreach leaders, I have found this to be an all-too common drift. Amidst the commitment to serve, long-term callings present a unique set of challenges. We need honest conversation about this mission drift to enable sustainable ministry over the long haul of time. 

Interestingly, the Bible contains accounts of similar occurrences in both the Old and New Testaments. The church in Ephesus, for example, stands out as a vivid illustration. The church began as a beacon of light for the kingdom. Its reputation as a vibrant congregation committed to serving and loving others had quickly reached the Apostles’ ears.

Paul praised the congregation in Ephesus. He wrote, “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers” (Ephesians 1:15-16).  Not only was their faith noteworthy, but so was their care for others. Paul continued his letter with encouragement to continue to deepen their roots of faith and to remain united as they served. Together as one body, working by the power of Christ, Paul expected them to “Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Ephesians 5:1-2).

Then, a few decades later, the Apostle John called out the Ephesian church. His words, however, were not ones of praise. Instead the church was the first in the seven admonishments he wrote to the first-century churches. “I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance…You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary” (Revelation 2:2-3). But then he continued, “Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen!” (Revelation 2:4-5a).

When passion to serve dulls to perfunctory duties, our mission no longer resembles divine calling. Ministry reduces to a mere phone notification for an upcoming meeting; and, our lives become more faithful to the calendar than to work inspired by the Holy Spirit. Our lost passion further emerges as boredom and doubt. When such influences dominate our choices, we become trapped in indecision that overshadows God’s calling. We have lost sight of our first love. 

Perseverance is not our only call. It’s not even our first calling. Our foremost call is to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Out of this great love births love for others, followed by patience, self-discipline, and all the fruit of the Spirit. When our first love remains intact, the fulfillment of all other things becomes possible.  

When our heart is no longer in the mission, yet the Lord has not called us elsewhere to serve, we would be wise to pause and follow John’s words penned for the people of Ephesus. “Repent and do the things you did at first” (Revelation 2:5b). Remember and repent. John drew attention back to their love for the Lord, imploring the people to return to how they used to serve. He called them back to the heart of God alone. 

Are you, or someone you know, in this place of lost-love? Follow the wisdom of Scripture and seek the Lord through prayer and study. Truly, pause to allow the Lord to speak through his Word and his people. Faithful repentance and meditation lead to the path of recovering one’s passion to serve.

Perseverance does indeed provide strength to accomplish long-term goals, but it transpires daily through the expression of our heart for God. The incremental, ongoing, mundane choices are necessary and are building blocks for tomorrow. They need not, however, steal our joy nor our passion to serve. Perhaps the Lord may be calling you to a new direction, but maybe he still has plans for you in your current ministry. It is best, however, for the Lord to decide and not your calendar notifications. 

“Peace to the brothers and sisters, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.” (Ephesians 6:23-24).

Are you, or someone you know, in a place of lost-love? Seek the Lord through prayer and study. For, faithful repentance and meditation will lead to the path of recovering one's passion to serve. Click To Tweet

To read more from Sharon Hoover, check out her new book: Mapping Church Missions: A Compass for Ministry Strategy