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The term "helps ministry" is misunderstood by many laypeople, Often it is erroneously used to refer to people who don't have a specific calling to stand in one of the fivefold ministry (1 Cor. 12:28). Therefore, a church congregation should have a good scriptural understanding of the role of helps ministry.

A person can have the call of God on his life or be called to serve in the Body of Christ, yet not be called to the fivefold ministry, that is, to a full-time pulpit ministry. God's plan for the ministry is so broad that it requires the entire Body of Christ to perform it, working together in every capacity.

The truth is, the call of God includes much more than many have understood. One example is to help another person who is in the fivefold in his own right. Many people are called of God to help the pastor accomplish the vision God has given him. This is the ministry of helps in action.

Each Member of the Body of Christ is Important
In Ephesians 4:11-12, the Apostle Paul explains that when Jesus ascended on High, He gave ministry gifts to men for the purpose of strengthening the entire Body of Christ and performing the work of the ministry. This is what we refer to as the fivefold ministry. However, Paul goes on to explain the necessity of each member of the Body, regardless of one's particular calling.

"From who the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love" (Eph. 4:16).

No member of the Body of Christ is more important than another member. Rather, each member is vital to the structure and the working of the whole Body.

In 1 Corintheans 12, Paul discusses the importance of every member of the Body of Christ. He goes on to reveal the importance of every believer taking his or her place in the Body of Christ and working together with the other members of the Body.

It is so important for Christians to understand their particular place and purpose in the Body of Christ and their local church. Believers can become discouraged if they do not know their place or function in the Body.

And if they don't understand that each member in the Body possesses God-given gifts that differ from other members, they can place limitations on God, His blessings, His promise, and even on God's call on their own lives.

God relies on believers to advance His kingdom in every sector of society. For example, He needs men and women to be standards and witnesses of His light to all men by serving as secretaries, mechanics, electricians, plumbers, truck drivers, waitresses, lawyers, doctors, nurses, maids, police officers, construction workers, and so forth.

Jesus, the Head of the Church, calls various members of His Body to fill all of these occupations as they maintain standards of righteousness. In so doing, these believers shine as lights in the world to those who need to see and experience the impact of Jesus Christ in their own world.

The Ministry of Helps in the Old Testament
Every successful pastor is surrounded by faithful, dedicated helps ministers. But in order for a church to have a successful helps ministry, the congregation must develop an appreciative understanding of the importance of the ministry of helps.

We can see biblical examples of the ministry of helps in the book of Exodus. Moses was a man called of God, but he claimed to have an inability in speech that required him to depend upon the assistance of another.

When Moses responded to the call of God, he said to the Lord, "... O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue" (Ex. 4:10, NIV). Moses recognized that he lacked speaking ability, so God provided Aaron to help him.

"... And he [God] said, "what about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well.... You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth, I will help both of you speaking and will teach you what to do. He will speak to the people for you, and it will be as if he were your mouth and if you were God to him" (Ex. 4:14-16).

Thus, by acting as Moses' spokesman, Aaron functioned in the ministry of helps.

We also see the ministry of helps in action when Aaron and Hur assisted Moses in the battle against Amalek.

Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim. And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand. So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses' hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword (Ex. 17:8-13).

When the army of Israel fought against Amalek, Moses stood on a hill observing the battle. As long as Moses held his arms up, Israel prevailed against the Amalekites. But each time Moses grew tired and couldn't hold his arms up any longer, Israel began to lose the battle.

So Moses was dependent upon his two helps ministers, Aaron and Hur. Aaron and Hur supported their leader by holding up Moses' arms so Israel could prevail and win the battle.

Aaron and Hur understood that when a leader loses a battle, so do the people. But when the leader wins, the people also win. Moses was vital to Israel's victory over Amalek. But Aaron and Hur, functioning in the helps ministry, were just as instrumental in the final, victorious outcome of the battle.

It's interesting to note that Exodus 17:12 says Moses' hands were steady. The Hebrew word that is translated "steady" is also translated 27 other times in the Old Testament as "faithful."

Faithfulness is imperative in the helps ministry. Faithful helps ministers are vital to the success of the pastor. For example, two faithful helps ministers helped Moses stay faithful to his call. This portrays the importance of the helps ministry.

A well-known minister once said, "Many times a helps minister will be to man in the natural what the Holy Spirit is to him in the supernatural - one called alongside to help."

You see, the ministry of helps is a supernatural ministry. God has set this ministry in the Church. Helps is an indispensable ministry. It is absolutely necessary for the proper functioning of the Body.

And helps is a productive ministry. It is not simply a wasted and useless effort. The ministry of helps is what it takes to help every pastor accomplish the vision that God has given him.

The construction of the Tabernacle provides another Old Testament example of the ministry of helps in operation. We may not consider sewing or building construction as a demonstration of the helps ministry, but God does.

When God instructed Moses how the priests' garments should be made and how the Tabernacle should be built, He anointed people to perform every task: "And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty. And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office" (Ex. 28:2-3).

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah: And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, to devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship. And I, behold, I have given with him Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan: and in the hearts of all that are wise hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded thee ... (Ex. 31:1-6, KJV).

God anointed men to work skillfully with gold, silver, brass, stonecutting, and woodcarving so they could construct the Tabernacle. These men were in the ministry of helps. God called and anointed these men to serve the leader - Moses - and to help him accomplish the vision God had given him.

Recognizing the Importance of the Ministry of Helps
The ministry of helps is as essential to the proper working of the Body of Christ as is the fivefold ministry. Faithfulness to help ministers bring their God-given vision to pass is vitally important to fulfilling the plan of God on the Earth.

The success of the helps ministry at RHEMA Bible Church is the result of Pastor Hagin's continual exhortation to the congregation to get involved. He teaches that each and every church member has a contribution to make to his or her local church.

Pastor Hagin also reinforces the importance of the ministry of helps by personally recognizing from the pulpit the faithful service, achievements, and special projects of various volunteer workers and departments. He has also trained his staff to show this same appreciation to the workers, thus making each worker feel special in his or her function.

No worker in the local church should be taken for granted. Each one must feel valued and appreciated, because each one is essential to the success of the local church.

The leadership of the church should not allow themselves to develop the attitude, "The helps people are just doing their job." What people do to help in the church is not their "job." It's their voluntary contribution to help the pastor accomplish the vision God has given him, and they should be appreciated accordingly.

In several instances, the Holy Spirit said through the Apostle Paul that He did not want us to be ignorant concerning various matters (Rom. 1:13; 1 Cor. 12:1).

God doesn't want members of the Body of Christ to be ignorant about their places in the Body and the importance their role plays in the overall success of the ministry of the local church. As believers come to understand the importance of taking their place in the local church, they are better able to serve their church and pastor faithfully.

Whether believers serve in the fivefold ministry, in the ministry of helps, or as godly laypeople in secular jobs, they are important to God and to His plan. If they occupy secular positions, they may be the only example of Jesus some people will ever see. And if they work in a supportive role in the local church, their call to help the pastor accomplish the vision God has given him is vital to the success of that ministry.

So no matter what your calling is in the Body of Christ, find your place and serve the Lord with your whole heart! Learn to serve Him with gladness no matter what you do for Him. And if God has called you to the ministry of helps, whether on a full-time or a part-time, volunteer basis, never forget that your role in the Body of Christ is important to God's plan and purpose on this earth.

Source: Pastor's Manual by Kenneth Hagin Jr.
Excerpt permission granted by Faith Library Publications