Mr. Ryan Dawson: Befriend the Ministry
Author: David Markopoulos | Living Education
These posts summarize the forums that our Living Education-Charlotte students attend each week.
Mr. Ryan Dawson, an Assistant Pastor serving in the North Florida and South Georgia area, addressed the Living Education-Charlotte students in a recent forum message. In his forum message, he encouraged the students to make a point of befriending the ministry.
What Will You Take Back?
Mr. Dawson prompted the students to ponder what they would write in a letter to their local congregations about their experience at Living Ed-Charlotte. What stories, experiences, and lessons would you bring back as a result of this experience? Mr. Dawson told the students that while they were the authors of this letter, they themselves were the letter. Your example as a student speaks to what the program is about and the value of what you’ve learned here.
One thing Mr. Dawson encouraged the students to consider including in the vast fold of their experiences here is the opportunity to get to know the ministry better. Being in Living Ed-Charlotte presents a great chance to get to know many ministers and leaders in the Work of God, and the relationships and mentorships formed can have a lasting impact in a student’s life.
5-Point Friendship Questionnaire
As part of this exercise, Mr. Dawson presented the students with a five-point questionnaire to help the students assess and develop better relationships with the ministry.
- Do you pray for the ministry?
The ministry are human beings who get tired and who need prayers. In order to more effectively serve the brethren, specific and thoughtful prayers make a difference.
- Do you consistently cultivate your friendship with the ministry?
As with all relationships, building a friendship takes time. We as members should be friendly and make the effort to be friends with our local ministers.
- Do you give the ministry some of your time?
While the ministry gives up much of their time to serve, one way to serve them back is to be available and give of our time as well, particularly to cultivate a positive and cordial rapport.
- Do you value what the ministry has to say?
While we should strive to be friends with our ministers, we should also respect their office. This means being receptive to the correction and guidance they offer at times. We should appreciate and seek out their advice and counsel.
- Do you give grace to the ministry?
Ministers are human like the rest of us. Sometimes misunderstandings or mistakes can cause rifts between friends, but, as with all our friendships, we should avoid imputing negative motive on others. Instead, we should give the ministry—and all those around us—grace and the benefit of the doubt if misunderstandings arise.
Start a Friendship
Mr. Dawson admonished the students to pursue positive relationships with the ministry, not only in Charlotte but wherever they go, and encouraged them to seek out a local minister to befriend as the semester goes on—and furthermore, to make a point of developing a good relationship with their local pastors as they head home at the conclusion of the year. Like with any relationship, a close friendship can take intentional time and effort to develop. Mr. Dawson reminded the students of the importance of praying for others—the best way to start a relationship is to pray for the person. As the semester continues and the time comes when our students return home, the value of befriending the leadership and ministry of the Church is an important aspect of the learning experience of the Charlotte program.
David Markopoulos is a Living Education alumnus from the 2023-2025 school years. Originally hailing from Chicago, he currently works for the Living Education program.
