Defining the Win

In any endeavor one undertakes there is an expected result that, if achieved, serves as a "win." In sports this is easy to define, a "win" is a win, just score more than your opponent to claim victory. In business the win is usually defined in monetary terms, increased sales, lower costs, or increased profit. In ministry the "win" is sometimes harder to define.

Most people, myself included, tend to want to tie some tangible result to ministry work to define the win. Usually we enter into a ministry with the expected result being either an increase in attendance or even better, saving the lost. However, some ministries do not lend themselves to such concrete results whereby we can claim victory.

This past weekend at Waynesboro was one such occasion. Saturday morning the church, in conjunction with The Second Harvest Food Bank, was able to distribute over 12,000 pounds of food and necessities to deserving families in our community. In all, we were able to help over 100 families and about 400 people in total with this massive distribution of produce, frozen food, and dry goods. I guess for some the "win" here would be in the numbers, but for me and those of us who worked the food drive the "win" was something else entirely.

The "win" Saturday was evident in the faces of the people we were fortunate enough to be able to help. The win was the erasure of worry from the face of a single mother as to how she would balance paying the bills and putting food on the table for her children. It was expressed in the relief of an elderly couple who, at least for this month, wouldn't have to make the choice between food or their needed prescription medicine. It was evidenced in the heart of a Mom & Dad as they collectively realized that they wouldn't have to face the choice between food and Christmas presents. You see, sometimes defining the "win" is not as simple as counting the numbers, sometimes the win comes from the simple act of helping those who need help.

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me." (Matthew 25:35-36)