What Ministry Taught Me in 2025 (The Lessons No One Warns You About)

Jan 1

4 min read

2025 was such an extraordinary year in ministry. I transitioned from working a traditional 9–5 to stepping fully into my role as a dance ministry leader, teacher, and mentor at the Church of God of the Nazarene. This year stretched me, shaped me, and refined me in ways I didn’t expect.

Here are 10 lessons that deeply impacted my walk with God and my experience in ministry this year.

1. Having a calling does not eliminate chances of burnout

After receiving confirmation upon confirmation about my calling and the direction God was leading me, I assumed it would be smooth sailing. I thought, If I say yes to everything that aligns with my calling, I should be able to handle the workload.

I was wrong!

I became so overwhelmed that even my love for God and people could not stop me from pulling away from ministry work that left me completely depleted. This year, I learned that rest is not rebellion. God instructed me to truly honor the Sabbath, and the difference it has made has been life-changing.

2. Being fruitful does not always come with applause

Some of my most vulnerable moments online, testimonies, blogs, and devotionals, did not perform well at all. I would pray seeking confirmation like, “God, you asked me to do this… right?” because the engagement was so low.

But then people in my community would come back and tell me how deeply the content impacted them.

That’s when I learned to separate impact from engagement. Quiet devotionals and small acts of obedience may not go viral, but they matter. And I like to believe that even when people aren’t cheering, the angels in heaven are.

3. Structure protects the anointing

This was a big one for me.

I am spontaneous by nature, and while I love creating plans and systems, I rarely followed through in the past. This year, I learned that discipline is a container for faith. Structure helped me show up consistently, recognize patterns, protect my joy, and avoid complacency.

Order didn’t limit my creativity, it sustained it.

4. You can love ministry and still need income

I struggled with this more than I expected.

I watched leaders serve faithfully while working full-time jobs and assumed that was simply “normal.” But when I transitioned into full-time ministry, I had to ask myself: How do I sustain my life while serving God?

This year, God taught me stewardship on a deeper level. I learned that He cares about my provision just as much as my passion.

5. Everyone in ministry doesn’t share the same vision

I experienced frustration, misunderstanding, and silence from people I expected more from. It taught me discernment.

As I shared the vision God gave me, I noticed different responses:

Some celebrated it
Some tolerated it
Others quietly benefited from my labor

Though we are one body in Christ, we all function differently and not everyone is called to carry the same vision.

6. Consistency matters more than intensity

I learned that gentle, faithful obedience outlasts emotional bursts of energy. The ordinary moments, showing up when I didn’t feel strong, proved to be just as impactful as the high-energy days.

My community connected to me when I showed up as myself and not someone who has it all together all the time. Which brings me into my next lesson.

7. Vulnerability is more powerful than fitting a mold

There is a “Christian girl aesthetic” online and a “Haitian Christian look” at home that I had to break free from this year. Ministry culture isn’t always genuine.

I learned what I sound like when no one is listening and who I am when no one is watching. Always Jesus, sometimes funny, sometimes tired, but always honest, reflective, and faith-filled.

God did not make us all the same for a reason.

8.Evolution is okay and necessary, no one but God stays the same forever

This year, I outgrew old formats, expectations, and assumptions about what ministry should look like. My standards were raised and I know they will continue to be raised as long as I’m alive.

Dance ministry, devotionals, lifestyle content, creative faith, and fruitfulness stopped competing and started coexisting.

9. The Holy Spirit speaks in quiet work, not just loud services

Call it the Pentecostal culture if you want, but public ministry used to be where I expected encounters with God. When I didn’t feel anything, I blamed the service. I would complain, There's not enough musicians, the worship songs didn't flow, the prayers were too long.

This year, I learned that public ministry is sustained by private obedience. Journaling, studying Scripture, and praying, sometimes with nothing but groans, deepened my relationship with God more than any service ever could.

10. You’re still called, even when you have questions

There were moments when results didn’t come as fast as I hoped, and I questioned whether I was aligned with God’s will. I learned that questions don’t disqualify you, avoiding God does.

I returned to Him again and again, and He always met me with peace.

I am still learning, but I’m grateful for the tests I passed this year. Many of these lessons came through trial, error, and even persecution.

If you read this far, I pray that you allow God to work things out in your life so that whatever lessons you need to learn to walk in His perfect will, you learn them fully and with grace.

Happy New Year!

Stay blessed 🤍