Changing Soil: Cultivating a Ministry of Reconciliation

My first try at gardening was a complete failure. As a young adult, I was excited and imagined a thriving vegetable patch. I bought some seeds, picked a sunny spot in my backyard, and got started. Or so I thought. I broke up a few big clumps of dirt, scattered the seeds in a rough line, gave the area a quick spray with the hose, and called it done. Then I waited. And waited. And waited some more. A few sprouts appeared, but weeds quickly took over. The soil, I later learned, was hard clay with no nutrients. I hadn’t prepared anything. I didn’t till the ground, add compost, or even find out what my seeds needed. I just scattered them and hoped for the best. Looking back, I see that mistake in how we sometimes approach our faith and our call to reach others. We have the most precious seeds in the world—the message of the Gospel—and we’re eager to share them. But are we just scattering them on ground that isn’t ready, hoping they’ll grow? Are we missing the chance to prepare our own hearts and the hearts of those we want to reach?
​
The Apostle Paul, in his second letter to the Corinthians, gives us a powerful picture of this process. In 2 Corinthians 5:17, he writes, “So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; look, new things have come into being!” This is the big change that happens when we are reconciled to God. The old, hard-packed clay of our lives, full of the weeds of sin and despair, is transformed. It becomes new, rich soil where God can plant new things. But this doesn’t just happen on its own. Paul also says, “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.” This is not only about our own salvation. It’s about a new purpose and a new calling. We have been given a ministry, a special task, to join in God’s work of reconciling the world to himself. We are not just gardeners for our own lives; we are called to help prepare new soil for others. This is what it really means to engage those who are lost. It’s not just about sharing a message. It’s about joining in the work of reconciliation. It means getting involved in the lives of those around us. It means seeing them not as projects to fix, but as beloved children of God who need a new foundation.

Paul’s words are a strong call to action: "We are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ: be reconciled to God." An ambassador does more than deliver a message. They show the spirit of the one they represent. They build relationships, listen, try to understand, and work to bring people together. They are a living example of the reconciliation they offer. As United Methodists, we believe in prevenient grace, the grace that prepares the way even before we notice it. We trust that God is already working in the lives of those we hope to reach, softening the hard ground of their doubts or pain. Our job is to join in that work and partner with the Holy Spirit. We don’t have to force growth; we just need to care for the ground.

So how do we do this? We begin by listening. We ask questions and learn the stories of people in our communities, workplaces, and families. We look for signs of where God is already working. We offer help, a listening ear, or share a meal as friends. We try to understand their needs, fears, and hopes. We don’t just share faith from a distance; we get involved and work alongside them, trusting God to bring growth. This is the ministry of reconciliation. It is about being present, humble, and loving. It is not just hoping for a harvest but working to prepare the ground. It reminds us that we also needed our own soil changed, and that God’s grace transformed us. Let’s go out and be ambassadors of that grace, inviting others to be reconciled to God and to experience new life when their soil is changed.