Friends Serving Friends In Ministry

Over the past few weeks, several people have contacted me with questions about friends serving friends in ministry.  To be more specific, serving as an armor bearer for a friend.  On the surface it seems as though this would be an ideal situation; however, what sometimes seems ideal is not. In an effort to explain some things about being an armor bear, I want to share a little story.

The summer of 1996 was my first exposure to armor bearers and personal assistants.  I watched Elder Lester Love with great curiosity and intrigue as he served Bishop Paul Morton.  He observed everything and everyone in their immediate vicinity as he gave subtle direction to others.  Many of Bishop Morton’s needs were anticipated before they were articulated; other needs were executed quickly and deftly.

I observed Elder Love, tall, commanding and authoritative in appearance, as he humbly served another man of God.  What intrigued me most was that this man, Elder Lester Love, was also an ordained minister – a preacher and teacher of the Word of God.  But he had a heart to serve his pastor.  Elder Love understood that for this season, his job was to relieve Bishop Morton of the details of ministry that can become overwhelming.

Notice how I describe Elder Love

• tall, commanding and authoritative
• humble
• a heart to serve
• a servant

He was not Bishop Morton’s friend, for that season, he was Bishop Morton’s servant.  Understand that Bishop Morton loved his son in ministry but Elder Love the armor bearer was his servant.  Regardless of his appearance and his own ability to preach and teach, Elder Love was humble; he was a servant.

For the average man, it is difficult to serve another man:  carry his brief case or Bible; drive him to speaking engagements; make sure he has a change of clothes; run his errands.  This is a special calling that is not for wimps.  Your friends and family may tease you and call you names, but as long as you understand your role it shouldn’t bother you.

The same hold true for female armor bearers.  When serving, you are not girlfriends.  One thing that female armor bearers must keep in mind is that men usually don’t talk about personal things but women do.  As an armor bearer, it’s probably best to stay away from personal conversations.

The main duty of an armor bearer is to serve.  Now, if you are an armor bearer for your friend, are you ok with being his/her servant?  Can you separate the times you hang out as friends from your role in ministry when you are supposed to serve?  When your friend receives accolades for preaching a great sermon and all the attention is on him/her; are you secure enough to stay in the background and serve with humility?

If you forget your role and become too familiar with your leader while you are serving, will you be offended when you are rebuked or corrected?  Will rebuke or correction cause a strain in your relationship?  Will you feel left out because your friend is the center of attention?

These are just a few things to consider before becoming an armor bearer for a friend.  In a new ministry or small ministry, it might be unavoidable.  It’s not an impossible task but it might be difficult.

What do you think?

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Tags: armor bearers, church, Elder Lester Love, friends serving in ministry, ministry, personal assistants, servants in ministry