Even if you aren't familiar with the Encouragement Ministry, which was organized two years ago, you've probably been touched by it in some way. This ministry allows members to express care and compassion in an intentional yet flexible way.

Acts of encouragement include visits, calls and pats on the back. And creative thinking can lead you to many other ways to encourage others, such as running errands, helping out in an emergency or preparing a meal.

Even if you're not an official team member, you can participate informally. "It's more an individual kind of thing than a committee kind of thing," said Mary Carver, who has just become the Encouragement Ministry coordinator.

One way all members can participate is to send encouragement cards to members. Look for them in the James Gallery, the library, the second-floor music suite, and the second- and third-floor coffee areas on the north wing.

Carver has been involved in the ministry for several months and recently has taken the reins of leadership from Jessica Capps, who developed the idea of an encouragement team. Mike Imhoof also was instrumental in envisioning the possibilities of this ministry.

Carver is planning a brainstorming session for sometime in June. This meeting will be open to current team members, people who signed up at the Missions Fair, those who indicated encouragement as a spiritual gift when filling out Wilshire's ministry interest surveys—in fact, to anyone who wants to get involved.

"One possibility the group will consider is to challenge the church as a whole to call or write a note every week to encourage someone in some way, even if you don't think that's your gift," Carver said.

"Mary Carver will be a strong team coordinator," said Minister to Adults Carolyn Shapard, who is the staff liaison. "She has lots of ideas and is an encourager herself in inviting others to join the ministry team. I expect her vision to be both contagious and productive."

Books On Encouragement

New books have been purchased for the church library on the subject of encouragement. Encouragement is a God-given spiritual gift of uplifting and affirming others.

Even though encouragement carries a wide range of avenues in ministry, there are basic skills and understandings needed to realistically minister to the community. If you have ever considered encouragement as one of your gifts and would like to polish up some of your ministry skills, visit the library and check out these titles:

The Barnabas Way: An Unexpected Path to God, by John Sloan.
Are we missing out on God's blessings for our life? Sloan reminds us of a simple truth found in the life of Barnabas. When we reach out in service to others, God comes near to us.

As an encourager himself, Barnabas is a wonderful teacher of ministering to a hurting world, including those not in our community of faith. Reaching out to those who need a second chance or seem to be overlooked may be more the key than the popular notion of praying to receive a blessing.

Effectively communicating to those who need encouragement and hope is a product of one's gratitude of God's abundant love and grace. Give and receive. Sounds simple but not always easy. This is an exceptional book of encouragement and a firm reminder of our responsibility to be an active light in our hurting world.

Encouragement: The Key to Caring, by Larry Crabb and Dan Allender.
This book has a wealth of information with practical application. Crabb and Allender take you beyond the typical pat on the back or compliment to a deeper understanding of encouragement and how to effectively be prepared for a caring ministry to the community.

Direction is given to develop a careful selection of encouraging words, cultivate active listening skills, use biblical fellowship to move beyond superficial smiles and shallow greetings and recognize subtle opportunities for encouragement. This book is for individuals who are ready to roll up their sleeves and get serious about caring for others.

Encourage Me, by Charles Swindoll.
This light and easy devotional read addresses both the personal needs of the heart and the fact that God is there to meet those needs through the gift of encouragement.

The first half of the book addresses receiving personal encouragement from God. Swindoll encourages us to be genuine, acknowledging who we are and not what the world expects us to be, and to ask God for help.

The second half calls us to accept ourselves as encouragers, people who affirm and encourage with tact and tenderness. Genuine, Christ-inspired encouragement is a valuable treasure. The value is immeasurable to those in need. These truths are not new, but the reminder may provide a fresh look at what God desires of his children.