What does it look like to minister in Jesus’ name? There is one gospel, one Lord, one salvation. The end of the road is the same: “make disciples of all nations” (Matt 28:19). Yet, as we pursue this in the Holy Spirit’s power and guidance, we find that our footfalls differ, though we remain on the same path as those around us.

Ministry is as diverse as those doing the work—we touch lives around us in various ways according to our gifts and the opportunities given us. Ministry is also as diverse as those to whom we minster. The one gospel, delivered once for all, is brought into lives as dissimilar as the president of the United States, a homeless person, a Wall Street executive, and a rancher in rural Montana. Sometimes God issues a call, and we say “yes.”

Sometimes God must break us from our own vision and self-reliance. Sometimes we fall into an opportunity and find a ministry we never imagined. Ministry may be behind a pulpit, teaching pastors in Côte d’Ivoire, or playing UNO® with a friend.

Ministry is various and changing, and yet there is a constant. God is working through broken vessels to draw others to himself. Regardless of the manner, the means are our humility and God’s power.

In this issue of the Trinity Magazine, we examine three stories of ministry: Jeff Griffin, a co–senior pastor of The Chapel in Grayslake, Illinois; Yacouba Sanon, a PhD student at Trinity who is a pastor and educator from Burkina Faso; and a program on campus that pairs Trinity College students with special-needs students.