The Ministry of Encouragement

Encouragement. It is the art of helping people believe in themselves. The Bible says that encouragement is a ministry that true disciples should render to others (1 Thes. 5:14). The world is full of things that bring us down and discourage us. Most people tend to be pessimistic about others. Most people were pessimistic about Saul of Tarsus thinking that he really had no potential as a true follower of Christ, considering his past (Acts 9:26). Thankfully, a man named Barnabas believed in Saul and helped Saul believe in himself (Acts 9:27). Thanks to Barnabas' ministry of encouragement, Saul of Tarsus becomes arguably the most powerful preacher of the gospel, second only to Jesus. Saul becomes the Apostle Paul, writing a majority of the books of the New Testament. Much of Saul's success can likely be attributed to the encouragement of Barnabas.

Who have you encouraged lately? Who can you instill confidence in today? The video below is the motivational story of a coach believing in an autistic kid named Jason McElway. Watch the video and be amazed at what a little encouragement can do...