Philosophy of Ministry

George F. Guild Jr.

I have been in ministry officially since November of 2004. My friend had been diagnosed as terminally ill and I did not want the hospital to turn me away during his time of need and departure from this life. We studied through the Gospel of Mark and he believed its message and I baptized him. Sadly, I also did his funeral, but happily with the knowledge that he was now with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

A few years later I felt a call to preach God’s Word. My goal was a pulpit in an established “church.” I graduated with Honors with a Bachelor’s degree in Christian Studies. After a few years and “interviews” no “church” was interested in “hiring” me. So I had a “come to Jesus moment,” wondering what was wrong and if I was on the correct path. I was a part of a men’s small group that was studying a book called “Friend of Sinners, An Approach to Evangelism” by Harvey Turner. Though I struggled internally through this study the main point that I got was that I had to do something. Like tires spinning in the mud but getting no where. Which lead to my “come to Jesus moment.”

I asked Jesus what was I supposed to be doing since I have a mountain of college debt and no pulpit to provide the desperately needed income. Then I had a thought that I believe was Holy Spirit inspired, a question really. It asked “what do you like to do?” I answered “ride my motorcycle.” Then another question followed, “why don’t you minister among bikers?”

This was the path that I am on now. Other doors of ministry opportunity have opened since. I am a motorcycle missionary, a veterans’ chaplain, and a prison preacher. My “Philosophy of Ministry” can simply be summed up in the three words
HEAD, HEART, and HANDS.

HEAD
God’s Word says that “So Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). Ears are the instrument of hearing and you need to think over (or use the brain inside your head) if you believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ or not. Someone needs to be the mouth to proclaim this Good News of Jesus Christ. That is where I come in when given the opportunity (or invited to do so especially on a personal level).

People also see with the eyes in there head. So being out and about and participating in their functions and fund raisers/benefits is important. “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). This also aligns with the Chaplain’s principal of being a “ministry of presence.”

HEART
With my mouth I preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The hearer believes the only message of salvation. Now God takes a heart hardened by sin and replaces it with a heart of flesh. God said through His prophet “I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.” Ezekiel 36:26-27). This heart grows as the Christian matures in Christ through his daily walk. To be weaned from the milk (or simple things of God) and onto the meat (or more mature and spiritual teachings of God’s Word).

HANDS
Hands are the symbol of doing work, When a Christian has matured enough the good works that we were created for come into play. As the Apostle Paul says, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). This fits in with the Chaplain’s principle of “serving God by serving others.” We use our hands through our finances (and other means of material giving). We use our hands through our time to others. We use our hands sometimes by just simply being there.