The Gift of Administration (Exodus 18:20-22)
The Holy Spirit enables some of us to motivate, direct and inspire God's people in such a way that they voluntarily and harmoniously work together to do the Church's work effectively. To exercise the gift of administration is to assume oversight for the proper execution of an organization or program - in other words "being in charge of people or things." This gift involves being able to put things together, tie up all the "loose ends" and get things done, setting a pattern for others to follow -- by direction, instruction, guidance, encouragement of example. Giftedness at financing, planning, organizing, delegating responsibilities and problem-solving can be indications of the gift of administration.
Ministries: Committee chairperson, Sunday school superintendent, outreach coordinator, treasurer, youth leader, church secretary, or pastor.
The Gift of Apostleship (Acts 14:21-23)
The Holy Spirit enables some people to lead, inspire and develop the church of God by proclamation and the teaching of truth. Apostleship involves the continual planting of new churches and guiding these churches in their spiritual growth by oversight of the leaders and pastors of these churches. To exercise the gift of apostleship is to perceive and accept God's call to lead others in their spirituality, to be instrumental in acknowledging God's grace and authority in the life of the church. This gift involves being able to lead others wisely and compassionately, and training others in spiritual matters. Apostleship includes a combination of wisdom, discernment, leadership and teaching.
Ministries: Church planting, leading and multiplying home Bible studies, and missionary.
The Gift of Discernment (Acts 5:1-4)
The Holy Spirit enables some of us to discover the will of God. To exercise the gift of discernment is to distinguish between truth and error, to identify whether something is of God, especially as it pertains to oral testimony. This gift involves wisdom and prayerfulness.
Ministries: Counselor, deacon, personnel committee member, and pastor.
The Gift of Evangelism (Acts 8:4-5)
The Holy Spirit enables some of us to share the Gospel with others in such a way that they come to know Jesus as Lord and Savior. To exercise the gift of evangelism is to share one's faith within and beyond the church walls. This gift involves being unashamed of the Gospel of Christ.
Ministries: Teacher, greeter or usher, prison ministry, campus ministry, missionary, and outreach ministries.
The Gift of Exhortation (Acts 11:23-24)
The Holy Spirit empowers some of us to stand beside other people who are in need and bring comfort, counsel and encouragement so they feel helped. To exercise the gift of exhortation is to call forth the best from others. This gift involves helping others to be more dedicated in living out their faith, bolstering them up when they are discouraged or downhearted, challenging them to see the goals to which God calls them.
Ministries: Committee chairperson, pastoral caregiver, working with young people, ministering to clergy, preaching, work with older people or the handicapped, writing letters to those who need encouragement, and prison ministry.
The Gift of Faith (Hebrews 11)
The Holy Spirit provides some of us with extraordinary confidence in God's promises, power, and presence so that they can take heroic stands for the future of God's work in the church. This gift involves a healthy prayer life, sensitivity to the will of God, and a firm trust that God will come through, even when there is no concrete evidence.
Ministries: Tithing, stewardship committee, project supporter, social ministries committee, and prayer chain.
The Gift of Giving (2 Corinthians 9:7-8)
The Holy Spirit enables some of us to offer their energies, abilities and material resources for the work of the church with exceptional willingness, cheerfulness and generosity. To exercise the gift of giving one operates out of a spirit of selflessness, requiring no recognition or reward for their giving. This gift involves offering one's time, energy, talent, skills, material possessions and money.
Ministries: Tithing, stewardship committee, project supporter, flowers for the service, Christmas gifts for needy children, and other benevolence ministries.
The Gift of Healing (Luke 9:1-2; James 5:14-15)
The Holy Spirit leads some of us to share in restoring the sick. To exercise the gift of healing is to pray not necessarily for a cure but for God's help for the sufferer, that something of good may come out of the distress. This gift involves a healthy prayer life, confidence in God's power to provide courage in suffering, and wellness of spirit regardless of the condition of the body or mind.
Ministries: Pastoral caregiver, prayer chain member, participating in the healing ministry of the church, visiting the sick, visiting in hospitals, and intercessory prayer with or for the sick.
The Gift of Helps/Caregiver (Matthew 25:35-36; Acts 6:2-4)
The Holy Spirit empowers some of us to willingly bear the burdens of others and help them in such a way that they can do their tasks more effectively. To exercise the gift of caregiving or helping is to give assistance or relief from distress where it is needed. This gift involves a willingness to help others even when the jobs may be messy or involve getting into close proximity with people who are sick or distressed.
Ministries: Greeter, usher, youth leader, concerns of the elderly, concerns of the handicapped, volunteer work, assisting in church programs, assisting in outreach programs, working in the church kitchen or the office, fund-raising, and helping others to carry out their ministries.
The Gift of Knowledge (Acts 18:24-27)
The Holy Spirit enables some of us to understand in an exceptional way the great truths of God's Word and to make them relevant to specific situations in the church and in daily life. To exercise the gift of knowledge, one enjoys learning, probably from childhood and on into adulthood. This gift involves knowledge of facts and relationships, of Scripture and of the tradition of the church, of the lives and works of church leaders, but also knowledge of the ways of sharing these learnings gracefully.
Ministries: Deacon, preacher, Sunday school teacher, Bible study leader, committee chairperson, state convention personnel, and missionary.
The Gift of Mercy (Luke 10:30-37)
The Holy Spirit enables some of us to feel exceptional empathy and compassion for those who are weak or suffering so that they devote large amounts of time and energy to alleviate these conditions. To exercise the gift of mercy is to relate to others in kindness and compassion. This gift involves continual readiness to forgive those who have erred, comfort the bereaved, help those who face a crisis, minister to the sick, become a peacemaker or offer assistance to those in need.
Ministries: Pastoral caregiver, hospice volunteer, prison ministry, AIDS ministry, deaf ministry, poverty ministry, race relations, nursery care, visit the sick or shut-ins, participating in programs concentrating on social needs, caring for the disadvantaged, and comforting the bereaved.
The Gift of Ministry/Service (Philippians 2:3-8 and 2:25-30)
The Holy Spirit enables some of us to willingly share the burdens of others and help them in such a way that they can do their tasks more effectively. To exercise the gift of serving is to identify closely with the needs and problems of others, not providing answers or solutions, but being willing to work with them, no matter how small or how big the task may be. This gift involves a willingness to "pitch in" and do whatever is needed, no matter how detailed or tedious the task.
Ministries: Committee member, Meals on Wheels volunteer, office volunteer, landscape volunteer, lawn mower, Habitat for Humanity, food for Habitat workers, Red Cross Blood drive, social ministries committee, food bank, poverty ministry, migrants ministry, work day participant, Sunday morning close-up, repairs around the church, and cleaning the church.
The Gift of Miracles (Acts 19:11-12)
The Holy Spirit enables some of us to be used by God to demonstrate humanly impossible acts which bring glory to God the Father and the Son. Miracles are the result of power from a supernatural origin and character, such as could not be produced by natural agents and means. The Catholics believe very strongly in miracles. They call these miracles "stigmata," and because they believe in them so strongly they even employ special people to investigate them.
Ministries: Pastor, evangelist, missionary.
The Gift of Pastoring (1 Peter 5:1-4)
The Holy Spirit enables some of us to assume responsibility for the spiritual welfare of a group within the church. The gift of pastoring is not necessarily the ordained ministry. This gift includes leading worship, pastoral counseling, and leadership in discipleship programs.
Ministries: Pastoral caregiver, spiritual director, counselor, and worship committee member.
The Gift of Prophecy (1 Corinthians 14:1-5)
The word “prophet” comes from the Greek word prophetes and means, “to speak for, to proclaim,” and “to foretell.” The word also means to “forth-tell.” A prophet is a man who brings a message from God about current or future situations. The Old Testament Hebrew word for prophet is nabi, and means, “one called.” A prophet is not just one who sees into the future. In a sense a prophet is a preacher.
The Holy Spirit empowers some of us to interpret and apply God's revelation in a given situation. A prophet is one who speaks forth the Word of God - the proclaimer of a divine message. The purpose of this ministry is to edify, to comfort, and to encourage the believers. This gift involves a keen sense of the dignity of all people, a sense of call, a sense of timing, knowledge of Scripture and the workings of the church.
Ministries: Preacher, counselor, teacher, Bible study leader, youth leader, and a convention or association delegate.
The Gift of Teaching (Isaiah 28:9-10)
The Holy Spirit enables some of us to communicate so that others can learn. To exercise the gift of teaching one effectively imparts information or proclaims precepts of truth, either vocally, visually or by example.
Ministries: Public or private school teacher, Sunday school teacher, youth leader, pastor, college professor, leadership training, counseling, leading small group studies, teaching English to immigrants, leading literacy classes, and leading mission studies.
The Gift of Tongues and the Interpretation of Tongues (1 Corinthians 14:10-13)
In the gift of tongues the Holy Spirit enables some of us to communicate or to understand in forms or communication beyond the ordinary. To exercise the gift of tongues is to communicate in or understand a foreign language or anything (such as American Sign Language, Braille, art, music and more) other than our own native language.
In the gift of the interpretation of tongues the Holy Spirit enables some of us to hear and understand what is being spoken in a foreign tongue, and communicate or translate it to an assembly or gathering of people who speak another language other than the one being spoken in tongues.
Ministries: Hispanic ministry, ministry for the deaf or blind, Bible translation, sharing meditations on art or music, and expressing one's faith through art or music.
The Gift of Wisdom (James 3:13-17)
The Holy Spirit endows some of us with an understanding of God's will and work as it relates to the living of life. To exercise the gift of wisdom is to help others to discover the wisdom they have within them. This gift involves knowledge of God and of Scripture, discernment of God's will, and skill in analyzing the problems and dilemmas of life.
Ministries: Convention or association delegate or alternate, Sunday school teacher, deacon, pastor, youth leader, counselor, and social ministries.
