Church pioneer ministry is often thought of as the sexy and cutting edge new frontier of church development. Pioneers are the chosen few, specially gifted to think outside the box and start something new and different. The reality is that every minister is a pioneer.

Pioneering Happens In The Small Things

The Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed. It starts off small, but imparts great flavour to anything it is mixed with. When planted it grows large and spreading and gives shade and places for the birds to rest.

It is the small things which grow the kingdom in ways which are often unexpected. The Kingdom grows in ways which cannot be controlled, like seed blown on the wind which lands and takes root and grows without anyone planting it. All our efforts are little more than chasing after the wind when we forget that God will grow the kingdom where God wills it.

So very often the pioneers of that kingdom go unotived and unrewarded.

Pioneers Are Not Superstars

It is easy to see a person who accomplishes big things. Converting hundreds. Bringing a whole new way of working to completion. Achieving contracts worth millions. Getting loads of media coverage. Doing great big things for the sake of the kingdom. It’s hard work, and there are rewards for it.

But so many pioneers are invisible.

Most Pioneers Are Invisible

The people doing the ordinary everyday things for the sake of the kingdom. Taking some food to a hungry neighbour. Helping someone with their shopping. Ringing someone who is lonely. Sitting with someone who has no one to sit with. These are the day to day work of a pioneer.

We need to take the time to look for the invisible pioneers. The people who give themselves daily in acts of kindness and compassion, of love and mercy. These are the people who need to be encouraged and supported in the work that they do.

If the kingdom of God grows from small things into bigger things, then it is the small things that need the most attention being given to them.

The temptation is to look at the big things. To put our attention on the big projects, on the things that seem the most successful or important, the things which might give the most rewards.

The temptation is always that of ego, to see bigger as better.

Don’t Chase The Shiny Thing, Do The Ordinary Well

But Christ reminds us against that. Points back to the small. To the gentle and kind ways of service which transform people’s lives in ways which are often impossible to know or forsee.

If we want to see the Kingdom of God coming where we are. If we want to be pioneers for that kingdom, then we need to do the small things as well as the big.

Feed the hungry. Serve the needy. Protect the vulnerable. Speak for those without a voice. Stand in front of the oppressed. Visit the lonely. Advocate for the prisoner. Stand up to the powerful. Love the unloved.

These are the tasks of a pioneer, the herald of the kingdom of God. Let’s cast some light on the invisible pioneers and remind ourselves to give time to the small things.

If you want to keep up to date, sign up to My Theology Corner Newsletter for a weekly lite-bite theology hit. Get short-form reflections from topics on the main blog and or on other interesting topics from that week.

https://chrisbutton.substack.com