I have been in my new position here for about 4 months. It’s been the hardest 4 months in my ministry and leadership career. Inheriting a ministry, staff, and volunteers is tough. I feel now though, we are starting to see God moving in ways everyone involved has not seen in a while. There is big momentum in our ministry, both in students and college, and it is very exciting. I feel like people are grabbing the vision, they are praying to our holy God, and they are loving students.

I know how easy it is to say God is moving in ministry. Especially pastors whom like to hype things up because we are excited (guilty sometimes) but how do we know its God moving and not just our view of it?

Usually there are these things present in/around what you are doing:

Good Tears – When God is moving, what we are feeling on the inside begins to express itself on the outside. It is the notion of life change that what is happening in the heart is coming out and being dealt with. There is an overwhelming feeling of hurt and sin being confronted with grace and forgiveness and this is a wonderful, sometimes overwhelming, thing.

New, exciting talent – When starting something new, sometimes the old will work itself out (sometimes with your help they need to be gently helped out). But when God is moving He understands that you need people in the right places to help keep His kingdom moving forward. I have seen it happen, new leaders, new band members, new small group leaders start to come out of nowhere, some of them don’t even look like or act like I expect, but they see God moving and they want to be a part of it. Watch and listen for what God is doing because he will provide what you need.

By in and time – When the vision of the ministry is bought into, people will be willing to give up time to serve because everyone wants to be a part of something bigger than themselves. When people, when leaders, when students, when staff are bought into whatever is happening they are willing to sacrifice time by serving because they see the work they are putting in start to physically be see the works of their labor and not just a desired outcome. It’s worth it. When they see God changing the lives in students and they get to be a part of it, it matters, and they will give you time.

I’m sure there are more ways to determine if God is moving but these 3 have been sticking out in our ministry and it could not be more exciting.
 
 @justinknowles3