From 'No' to 'Now': Stories of Patience in Ministry

In ministry, some of our greatest victories come after a long string of "nos." I learned this lesson deeply during my first months at Warren High School. For six straight months, I asked people if they would sit down and walk through the Bible together in a discipleship journey. The answer was always the same: "No." 

I remember questioning myself during those months. "What am I doing wrong?" I wondered. "Am I approaching this the wrong way?" It's easy to get discouraged when you're consistently hearing "no." But God was teaching me something valuable about His timing and the importance of patient persistence. 

Then something unexpected happened. A senior at Warren High School approached me, and for the next 16 weeks, we walked through the Bible together. That one "yes" after months of "nos" reminded me that God's timing rarely matches our preferred schedule, but it's always perfect. 

A similar story unfolded with the athletic trainers at Warren. One day in November, I simply asked if they'd like to do a Bible study. At first, there was no response at all – not even a "no," just silence. But instead of taking that silence as rejection, I remained patient and available. Today, we meet every Tuesday morning to study God's Word together. What started with silence turned into one of the most meaningful parts of my ministry. 

These experiences have taught me several important lessons about patience in ministry: 

1. God's "not yet" isn't the same as "no" 

2. Silence doesn't always mean rejection 

3. Seeds planted today might not sprout until tomorrow 

4. Sometimes people need to see consistency before they're ready to commit 

5. Our job is to remain faithful in the asking; God's job is to handle the timing 

I've seen this pattern repeat itself in different ways across various schools. At one high school, there had been a significant absence in the FCA presence on campus. I didn't start with grand plans or demands – I just showed up. Day after day, I'd be there at football practice, then volleyball practice. People would ask, "What are you here for?" I'd simply tell them about FCA and keep showing up. Today, that school has an active FCA program. 

Even now, with Sabinal High School, I'm seeing how patience plays out in ministry. They weren't even on my radar six months ago, but someone reached out asking how to start FCA. Because I remained patient and available, I was able to help them begin their journey. Two days ago, I was driving there to help them get started – a "now" moment that came after years of "not yet." 

Sometimes we can get caught up in wanting immediate results. We live in a world of instant gratification, where success is often measured in quick wins and immediate responses. But ministry operates on God's timeline, not ours. Just as a farmer can't rush the growth of their crops, we can't rush the spiritual growth and openness of those we're trying to reach. 

I've learned to see those initial "nos" differently now. Each "no" is an opportunity to demonstrate consistency, to show that we're not just there for the quick yes, but for the long haul. Each seemingly rejected invitation is a seed planted that God might water later in His perfect timing. 

This patience in ministry extends beyond just Bible studies and personal discipleship. When working to establish FCA in new schools, start new programs, or build relationships with coaches and administrators, the same principle applies. Sometimes it takes months or even years of consistent presence before doors begin to open. 

To my fellow ministry workers who might be in a season of "nos," take heart. Those "nos" aren't failures – they're preparation for the "now" that God is orchestrating. Keep showing up. Keep asking. Keep being faithful in the small things. Remember that ministry isn't about our timeline or our success rate – it's about being consistently available for God to use us in His perfect timing. 

I think about Jesus's parable of the sower. Some seeds fell on good soil and produced a crop – but even in the parable, there was a time between the planting and the harvest. Our job is to keep sowing, to keep showing up, to keep asking, even when we don't see immediate results. 

The transformation from "no" to "now" often happens gradually, almost imperceptibly. It might start with a simple "maybe" or even just a moment of curiosity. But each of these small shifts can be the beginning of something significant. Our role is to remain faithful, patient, and available for whatever God has planned. 

Looking back at all those months of "nos" at Warren High School, I now see them as preparation – both for me and for those who would eventually say "yes." Those months of patience taught me to trust God's timing and to keep showing up, even when it seemed like nothing was happening. 

In ministry, and especially in campus ministry, patience isn't just a virtue – it's a necessity. Every "no" has the potential to become a "now" in God's perfect timing. Our call is simply to remain faithful, keep showing up, and trust that God is working even when we can't see the results.