Minister’s Message: Relating to people on a deeper level

Published 9:30 pm Thursday, January 8, 2026

One of the real benefits of working with people in ministry is the opportunity to relate to people on a deeper level.

When I entered ministry as a pastor, I began looking at people differently. I looked at people either as a child of God or a potential child of God. Oh yes, I know that many people have hard hearts and closed minds on the topic of the love of God. What we need is eye salve to see more clearly.

Our eyes are a problem if we cannot see opportunities to help others with the love of God. When the apostle Paul addressed the church in the city of Ephesus, he wrote in Ephesians 1:17-19 “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of his calling, what are the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the boundless greatness of is power toward us who believe.”

And, when Jesus was addressing the troubled church in Laodicea, he said, “I advise you to buy from me … eye salve to apply to your eyes so that you may see” (Revelation 3:18).

How well do you see the person you are talking with? So many people are suffering from illness or surgeries. I also know parents who have lost their children through death and spouses who have lost their spouse. I have also heard of families who have lost their relationships with their adult children. People are suffering. Every one of these suffering people needs a good, steadfast friend.

We should yearn to bring the deepest form of caring to the hurting.

When I went through the Chaplain’s Academy with the military, I was taught about the ministry of presence. We need to be fully present with those, who are going through trials. We need to listen deeply to what they want to say. We can be close to them, listen sincerely, empathize and let them know that at some point there will be a “new normal” in their lives. Let us always look for the opportunity that their eyes would be open to know that God truly loves them and will carry them through the pain. Plan the next visit with them. Perhaps God will open the door to share one of his wonderful promises. Pray together.

And when their burdens seem so dark and griefstricken, perhaps we can share a simple verse of love, such as Matthew 11:28-30 — “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Dr. Roger Holl is pastor of Sterling Grace Community Church, which meets Sundays at 10:30 a.m. at the Sterling Senior Center. Prayer meeting is held at the same location on Wednesdays at 9 a.m.