I know hospitals are typically the kind of place most people prefer to avoid. Even if the reason for a visit is childbirth, my sense is that “going to the hospital” is not at the top of someone’s wish list.

But if you need care, who’s grateful that hospitals exist? My hunch is that we’re not just grateful; we’re hopeful that the people who take care of us are effective and skilled. Hospitals have a unified mission yet a remarkably wide array of people with talents, roles, and skills.

I believe that a church is a spiritual version of this same dynamic. 1 Corinthians 12:4-7 says: “There are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”  Ephesians 4:4-7 says: “There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.”  From One God, as one church, with one mission, one Savior, and one empowering Spirit, yet we have a variety of gifts, activities, or services.

So, what do you think your role is? Where are you passionate? At a hospital, there are medical staff (doctors, nurses, radiologists, anesthesiologists, specialists, and so many others), there are support staff (HR and financial personnel, IT specialists, nutritionists, cooks, security, janitors, etc.) and there are those who offer care that are not employees at all — parents, kids, siblings, friends, pastors or counselors. What unifies all of these people is that they are not receiving care; they are there to offer it.

At Trinity, all of us come through the door as those who need care — from Jesus, as our Great God and Savior. But then He puts us to work in His Kingdom, on His Mission and with His people. At Trinity, how many specific roles can you think of? (And if you can’t get to a dozen, you really need to think more; when you get to three dozen, you’re starting to get somewhere).

Also, quality service or work is a matter of passion. Just as there may be medical professionals who are skilled but indifferent, I suspect you would prefer a physician who is passionate about their work over someone who is merely going through the motions. When it comes to a gift or service in the body of Christ, passion matters greatly!

Consider one more parallel. What if a hospital is expanding because it sees a need for care that its current staff can’t provide? Then, it works to hire and fill out a team for a new specialty—all because it sees people who have needs.

In a similar way, that’s where our leadership is as we assess needs within our congregation and yet we have a void in our current team. A shepherding pastor has a highly specialized role, and we need his skill and passion, in keeping with Ephesians 4:12, “to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.”  As we search for a shepherding pastor, of course, he will help point people to Jesus, which is not highly unique, but he will have a passion to do that with people who are in the emergency room as it were — they’re in places of struggle, pain or brokenness — which is very unique in our context. His specialty will be to care for those in need and to “equip the saints for ministry,” helping improve our comfort level and effectiveness in helping people in need.

So everyone has a role — a gift, a skill set, a history that uniquely positions someone to help. Let’s pray for our Lord to provide this one that we lack. While we wait for His provision, let’s all pull on our particular oar — to fulfill our particular roles in this spiritual care center we call Trinity.