Ministry is...

Ministry:

the period of service or office of a minister or ministry 

the act of serving

one that serves as a means; an instrumentality

Sorry Webster's Dictionary, but I'm afraid as nicely as you tried to capture what ministry is all about you completely missed the target. Yes, ministry is all of these things but it's also so much more! What is ministry to me? You'll probably wish by the end of this that you hadn't asked;)

Ministry is reaching out to people who you've just met and lifting them up in prayer. You may not know the language but prayer is a universal language. 

Ministry is being ready at a moments notice to give a Bible study. About to walk into a house and asked to give a Bible study? As unprepared as you may feel, you're ministering.

Ministry is singing a song for church even if you're scared, if singing isn't your "thing" or you can't really play an instrument well.

Ministry is talking to people who may have never set foot in a church before. It's also talking to people who have been to church every Sabbath of their life. Ministry is relating to all of these people!

Ministry is trying new foods that we're not sure we'll like and sharing a humble meal. It may even consist of eating something that you'd never eat in the States.

Ministry is eating chocolate that had fallen on the floor to show that you're no different than the people around you.

Ministry is laughing at jokes you may not completely understand but understand enough to realize it would be very funny if you understood Portuguese.

Ministry is staying up late to go over the sermon and waking up early to practice. It's working hard to make the sermons relatable to our individual audience. 

Ministry is using Spanish/English/French/Sign Language/drawing or whatever language we know to build relationships and friendships.

Ministry is a simple smile or "Feliz Sabado".

Ministry is a way of life, not a single event or behavior. You can't minister to people if you haven't incorporated ministry into what you do each and every day. It's a lifestyle, a way of being. 

Ministry is the living, breathing Gospel in the lives of every follower of Christ.