No Milk Without Manure

I was talking to a friend of mine yesterday about spiritual growth. He's a missionary to the University of Texas, particularly the international student population. For the last 21 years, Kelly Brown has been the leader of ISFM (International Students Friendship Ministries). We were talking about the many challenges of ministering to such a wide range of cultures. It takes constant work to evaluate, plan, implement, re-evaluate, re-plan, and re-implement (and so on...) effective ministry strategies.

So many ethnic groups. So many languages. So many cultural barriers. So many attempts to build bridges. (...and so many failed attempts to build bridges.)

The work is never done. The strategies are always changing. The satisfaction is ever elusive...

But, even though it's a challenge, Kelly shared one of the Proverbs that has often encouraged him, and kept him focused during this season: "Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but from the strength of an ox comes an abundant harvest" (Prov. 14:4). Then he shared his college-ministry-translation: There is no milk without manure.

The work of God in our lives will always be just that: WORK. But it is necessary for effectiveness. Sure, you can have a perfectly clean barn without any animals in it...but you would also have no milk, or eggs, or whatever else you get from barns! There is always a "mess" in ministry...but changed lives are always worth it!