Individual Work
Individual Work
In the previous issue, we spoke about individual work in ministry and gave examples from the Old Testament, from the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ, and from the Apostles. Today we continue our discussion as well about:
Individual Work (2)
The Apostles had individual work, even in their epistles.
An example of this is the Epistle of Saint Paul to Philemon. In it, there was individual work with Philemon, and another individual work with his slave Onesimus, whom Saint Paul made a brother and a useful servant to him in the ministry, and he pledged to repay his debts on his behalf (Phlm. 16, 18).
Likewise, his epistle to Timothy. In addition to what it contains of pastoral instruction and theological teaching, it also includes personal talk to Timothy about his life and conduct, and even about his physical health, as he says to him: “No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities” (1 Tim. 5:23). There are many examples of individual work in the epistles of the Apostles.
Characteristics of Individual Work
Individual work is distinguished from collective work by several aspects, including:
1. Focus, personalization, and direct benefit:
In the sermon delivered in church or in any gathering, the servant speaks in general terms to all people. But in individual work, he speaks to a specific person, touching that person’s private life and the circumstances he is going through. It is a focused service, and its result is clear.
What does the phrase “its result is clear” mean?
It means that in a general sermon, the preacher does not know what effect his words had, or whether they bore fruit or not. But in individual work, he sees the result before him. He speaks to a person whose response or rejection he can observe, and how much he interacts with what he hears, and whether he raises any objection…
2. Individual work also has a special reward, because it is done in secret:
Public sermons, large classes in church education, and ministry in villages are visible and apparent to all. A schedule may even be set showing the servant’s name, his service, and its time. But individual work is in secret; no one feels it, and it does not receive admiration from an audience. Yet, as the Lord said: “Your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly” (Matt. 6:4).
3. Individual work also carries humility in ministry:
There are people who do not serve except on a certain level—either in a large meeting, a large church, or a well-known place. Otherwise, they excuse themselves from service!
But individual work involves humility, because the servant speaks to one person only, far from fame. It is a service that is given and, apparently, takes nothing in return…
4. Individual work is marked by greater love and greater care:
It includes the element of initiative and the element of care. In public sermons, people go to church. But in individual work, the servant goes to those he serves, not they to him. Even if some come to him, they find special attention.
Individual work is love for people. It is a realization of the value of a single soul.
It is a practical realization of the value of the soul for which Christ died, whose price was the blood of Christ. It is a snatching of that soul from the fire, as the Apostle said: “But others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire” (Jude 23). And as the Angel of the Lord said about Joshua when rescuing him from Satan who opposed him: “Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?” (Zech. 3:2). And how profound is the saying of our teacher James the Apostle: “He who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins” (James 5:20).
5. Perhaps an individual work may be dangerous, yet it may turn into a great public work:
Such as the work of the Lord Jesus Christ with Saul of Tarsus, in reproving him, guiding him, and calling him. Through this individual work, Saul was transformed into a tremendous power in evangelistic ministry, and he labored more than all the Apostles (1 Cor. 15:10). Who knows? Perhaps this individual you serve may become something great later…
6. Also, in individual work, you gain deep spiritual experience:
An experience you cannot obtain in public work. Through it, you learn the nature of the human soul and its battles, and the practical obstacles it faces on the path of virtue. You see the difference between theoretical teaching given to groups and a person you speak with who responds to you, exchanging dialogue with you. You explain virtue to him, and he explains to you the practical obstacles that stand in the way of application…
7. Therefore, individual work is more practical than collective work:
A person who has previous or current experience in individual work can be more effective in collective work or public sermons. His words can touch people’s emotions and be practical in teaching, speaking about the reality that listeners live, rather than presenting theoretical words…
In priestly ministry, there are both individual work and collective work together:
Collective work is in public prayers, public sermons, and general services. Individual work is in confessions, solving people’s problems, visits, and pastoral care. It deals with all, and with each individual separately.
Individual work does not necessarily have to be with one person. It may be with two together, reforming them, managing their shared life, or coordinating their service. Or individual work may be with an entire family, yet with an individual character compared to other families. Or with a group of people, such as a committee or association council…
Fields of Individual Work
Individual work can exist within the family:
As Scripture says: “But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Josh. 24:15). And as the Lord said about His commandments: “You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house” (Deut. 6:7). Do you have a spiritual service among the members of your family? Or is your relationship with them merely a social family relationship—or sometimes one of friction? Have you thought of leading your younger brother to God, or guiding one of your relatives to a life of repentance, or teaching him sound doctrine? This is individual work.
Individual work can also be in the sphere of neighbors or acquaintances.
If you are a spiritual person and have neighbors or friends, have they benefited from your spirituality? Does your spiritual life pass lightly over others without leaving an impact, making your presence among them fruitless? Are all your conversations with them devoid of God? Or do you avoid this or feel ashamed of it, lest they accuse you of being “religious”?
The same applies to your colleagues at work or in study.
And also to your companions at the club or in any social activity. What is your individual service among all these? Have you been able to attract anyone to the path of God, or even invite him to a church meeting?
I admire Philip, who, while traveling on the road, had a deep work with the Ethiopian eunuch.
He presented faith to him and baptized him, and he went on his way rejoicing (Acts 8:38–39). And you—how many people have you met on the road of life whom God has brought into your path? Have you offered any of them a spiritual word, or any word of benefit, or a push forward?
How wonderful are the true servants of the Lord. They are distinguished by their witness to the Lord (Acts 1:8). Many people meet you: one offers you his knowledge, another his intelligence, a third his wit and kindness, and a fourth offers a service. But this distinguished type offers you Christ, with gentleness and grace, so that you feel Christ shared between you both…
This may happen on any occasion: a visit, an illness, a condolence, or a greeting.
In an ordinary meeting, he turns it into a spiritual encounter in a calm, natural way… Here I recall astonishing depths in the encounters of the saints, foremost among them the meeting of the Virgin Mary with Elizabeth. Was it merely to serve that elderly woman in the final months of her pregnancy? Or do we stand before this beautiful phrase: “And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary… that Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit” (Luke 1:41). It was a meeting of prophecy, divine revelation, praise, and spiritual discourse.
What about the meeting between Saint Anthony the Great and Saint Paul the Hermit… and what about the meetings of the saints in which they spoke of the great works of God, with His name on their lips, as the hymn says: “Your name is sweet and blessed in the mouths of Your saints”?
You may say: Who listens? Who accepts? Who understands?
No, my brother. You speak, and leave the result to the work of God in hearts. What matters is that you utter the word of God in wisdom. Trust that the word of God will not return empty. As the Lord said: “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it” (Isa. 55:11).
Therefore, be careful in your service that God is the One speaking through your mouth. As for the result, remember the Scripture: “Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days” (Eccl. 11:1).
There are souls that need a period of time before they accept the word of God and before the word can bear fruit in them… The matter requires patience and perseverance.
Every soul with whom you work individually has its own circumstances, its own mentality, its past and present, its environment and pressures, its feelings, emotions, and concepts. Not every soul is helped by the same word.
Therefore, individual work requires wisdom—to choose the appropriate word, the appropriate method, and the type of approach.
If you are dealing with a specific known problem, you may address it in an acceptable way. But if you are dealing with general guidance, the direct method of imposing spiritual work may not be suitable, as it is often not accepted or welcomed by souls unaccustomed to it. Rather, one awaits the right occasion to speak the spiritual word so that it appears very natural and not artificial…
As for how individual work is done and its method, this is what I would like to speak to you about in the next issue, God willing, if the grace of the Lord allows and we live.
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