Ministry is something that comes in many different forms. Through our travels, Lexi and I have had the privilege of working alongside ministries involved in education, medical work, Bible work, and caring for both the young and the old. We have seen ministry take place in some of the most remote corners of the world, often under circumstances that are difficult to comprehend.
But I have often wondered, where does that spark for ministry begin in someone's heart? What causes a person to dedicate their life to serving others? And perhaps more importantly, what keeps that flame alive, even through the most difficult of times? Today, I want to share a little of my own story. My hope is that somewhere in these thoughts, you might find encouragement and perhaps a renewed sense of purpose in discovering where God is calling you to serve.
Story by Aaron Rittenour
My siblings and I grew up in the country on ten acres of land up against a mountain owned by a logging company. We didn't have much growing up, at least not financially. Our family was never in a position to give large amounts of money to those in need, mainly because we had very little ourselves. When I was only a few years old, my grandparents moved onto one side of our ten acres. From that point forward, we had the incredible privilege of growing up with Grandpa and Grandma just a short walk away. It was a blessing I didn't fully appreciate until I grew older.
Grandpa has always been an incredibly hard worker. As we grew up, spending time working on projects with him in the woods became a regular part of life. But along with his strong work ethic, Grandpa had a heart for people. Despite having very little financially himself, Grandpa always seemed to have something to give. Sometimes he would receive a phone call from someone in need. Other times, it would be someone at church who would share about a family struggling. Whatever the circumstance, it usually wasn't long before Grandpa was loading a couple of us boys into his old 1980s four wheel drive Subaru, and off we went to help someone.
I couldn't begin to tell you how many cords of firewood we split and stacked for people over the years, or how many trees we cut down and hauled away. Your roof is leaking? No problem, we'll be there. Need a ditch dug? We'll bring the shovels. Apples need picking? Count us in.
My dad operated his own cabinet shop on our ten acres, and with that business came a one ton cube van used for deliveries. Naturally, that meant whenever someone needed help moving, we had just the vehicle for the job. Need a piano moved? Well, I can't say that was our favorite call, but we'd be there.
There were cars to repair, roofs to patch, trees to remove, and many other jobs that needed doing. Much of this work was for people who had very little themselves. We weren't getting paid, and I don't remember anyone making a particularly big deal about what we were doing. Grandpa also had an old Chevy pickup with a snowplow mounted on the front. For years, he faithfully plowed our mile long private road for the community. When neighbors got stuck in the snow, we were there digging and plowing them out. When the snow piled so high that roofs were in danger of collapsing, we were the kids climbing up with shovels to clear the snow.
At the time, I don't think I gave much thought to any of it. It was just part of growing up. There was work to be done, someone needed help, and we went. But as the years have passed, I have come to see those experiences in a very different light. I think back to those days with a splitting maul in hand nearly too heavy for me to swing, or dangling from the end of a rope while helping repair a leaky roof. I think about those long days when we would come home tired, dirty, and ready to fall into bed. I realize now that something far more important than firewood was being stacked, or roofs being repaired. A foundation was being laid in my soul.
Without ever giving us a lecture on the importance of ministry, Grandpa was teaching us what it meant to be the hands and feet of Jesus. He was showing us that love is more than something we say. It is something we do. Perhaps most importantly, he was teaching us that you don't have to have much to give much.
Lexi could share similar stories from her own childhood. And as we have grown together in our marriage, we have recognized a pattern that has been present in both of our lives for as long as we can remember. A love for people, and a desire to be involved in ministry. In fact, ministry has been woven into our story from the very beginning. While I was lying in a bed in India, dangerously close to death, Lexi was back in the United States praying for me. Later, after graduating from medic school, she spent six months serving in a small, remote clinic in Thailand. I had the privilege of visiting her there on my way home from yet another trip to India.
Long before Aaron and Lexi Travels ever existed, God was working in both of our lives, shaping our hearts and preparing us for things we could never have imagined. And yet, when I look back at where that desire to serve began, my mind doesn't first go to India, Thailand, or any of the other countries we have visited. It goes back to our time spent with a grandpa who couldn't stand the thought of someone needing help when he had two good hands to give.
There is something I desperately want to communicate through this story. Ministry is for everyone.
I fear that sometimes we have made ministry into something far more complicated than God ever intended. We picture missionaries traveling to distant countries, pastors preaching from pulpits, or evangelists sharing the gospel with thousands. And while these are important forms of ministry, they are far from the only ways God calls His children to serve. Please don't ever allow someone to convince you that ministry is limited to collecting the offering at church, leading a Bible study, or moving halfway around the world to live among people of another culture.
God has a purpose for you, right where you are, in this very moment.
Some of the most Christ centered, Spirit led missionaries I have ever known were quiet old-timers who had very little to say. They weren't standing behind pulpits or speaking to crowds. They were underneath someone's broken down car, quietly trying to get it running again. Others were ladies who spent many hours quilting blankets for people they might never meet. Or someone preparing a meal for a family who had none. Or a neighbor who noticed a need and quietly stepped in to help.
We have had the privilege of meeting extraordinary missionaries in some of the most remote places on earth. People who have sacrificed nearly everything to share the love of Jesus. Their stories have most certainly impacted our lives, and we don’t want to underestimate the importance of their work. But I have also come to realize that the same spirit of ministry that leads someone into a remote jungle can lead someone across the street to help a struggling neighbor. The circumstances may look very different, but the calling comes from the same God.
You do not need to be wealthy to be generous. You do not need to be a preacher to share the love of Jesus. You do not need to travel the world to be a missionary. You simply need a heart willing to be used by God.
I sometimes wonder whether Grandpa ever realized the impact those ordinary weekends would have on my life. I wonder if he knew that all that time spent helping people in need was teaching us something about the character of Jesus. Perhaps he never gave it much thought. But those experiences helped shape the person I am today, and the ministry Lexi and I now have the privilege of sharing.
Often the greatest influence we have for Christ is found not in the words we speak, but in the lives we live.
So wherever you find yourself today, whatever your age, your financial situation, or your circumstances, I want to encourage you to look around. There is someone who needs the love of Jesus, and perhaps God is asking you to be the one to show it. You may never know the full impact of that simple act of kindness. You may never see where the seeds you plant will grow, or how your willingness to serve might shape the life of someone watching. But that doesn't make your ministry any less important.
God is calling you to a life of purpose, right where you are. As long as there is breath in your body, there is an opportunity to be His hands and feet.
You have something to give, and you have a God who can use even the smallest act of service for something far greater than you could ever imagine.
Don't let anyone tell you differently.
Personal Update
Well, we have made it through another month, and we are quickly approaching our third year of ministry. As we were working on this newsletter, it dawned on us just how blessed we are to have the opportunity to share these stories and the thoughts God has placed on our hearts over the years. It is a privilege we don't take lightly, and we want to thank each of you for taking the time to follow along on this journey with us. It truly means more than you know.
We first want to briefly mention that we recently released two new designs in our merchandise store, available in T-shirt form and also journals. We hope you'll take a moment to check them out. We also recently shared a Studio Talks episode where we talk a little more about the new designs. You can watch that video on YouTube by clicking the link here. https://youtu.be/CJ-uM4oolg0
As we look toward another year of ministry, we also want to take a moment to thank those of you who have faithfully supported this work. Whether through your prayers, financial gifts, or words of encouragement, you have played a part in making these stories possible. We truly would not be where we are today without those who have caught the vision and chosen to be part of it.
We also have a small favor to ask. If the stories we share have encouraged or inspired you, would you consider sharing our ministry with your friends and family? We believe God has led us into this work, and we have seen His hand guiding us day by day. As the ministry continues to grow, so does our need for people who believe in this mission and are willing to stand alongside us, both through prayer and financial support.
We have some big dreams for the future, including opportunities to involve a younger generation in this work and help them experience firsthand what it means to serve others. There is so much we hope to accomplish, and while we don't always know how everything will come together, we continue to trust that God will open the doors in His time.
Every day is a walk of faith for us, and we are so thankful that we don't have to walk it alone. Thank you for being part of this journey, for believing in what God is doing, and for helping us share the stories of those who are quietly making a difference around the world.
God bless,
- Aaron & Lexi
