Sometime ago, I was reading the January 2023 edition of the religious magazine Ministry and came upon an article that offered me new insights on an obvious reality in giving friendship and ministry to others. It was written by Ken Crawford MA, a retired president of the Alaska Conference of Seventh Day Adventists titled “Sprinkling Pastor Dust”.

The purpose of the article was to give encouragement to Pastors as they went about giving ministry in crises, hospital visits and to families. What Crawford was saying was that ministers should be bringing some type of spiritual presence to their ministry by sprinkling “Pastor Dust”.

As I thought about this idea, it was obvious to me that it is not only pastors or priesthood in the Community of Christ who should be bringing a spiritual presence to those they meet but I believe all followers of Jesus should have this miracle of presence displayed whenever they meet with others.

Crawford agreed with my conclusion by writing: “As Jesus travelled from town to town and city to city, His presence brought not only physical healing but joy and happiness through His very persona. But is that not the role of every Christian – to sprinkle the dust of heaven?”

The apostle Paul, after visiting the church in Thessalonica, wrote them a letter of reassurance to stand firm under the persecution they were receiving from many of the Jews in the town who were bitterly opposed to the Christian message. In his first letter to the church, Paul was encouraging the followers to take note of the type of ministry he gave them when he visited them. He wrote: “As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you, but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her children. We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us” (1 Thessalonians 2:5-8). This message was a simple and yet reassuring counsel to the Saints in Thessalonica.

Just two weeks ago Susan Palmer and I were called to give ministry to a friend who was in a Care Home nearing the end of his life. When we entered his room, he was lying under the bed clothes as though asleep. Following sharing with his daughter and a close friend we offered the prayer of Administration. Later that evening I received a call to say that he had passed away at 6pm.

As I reflected on this incident with the daughter, she said that following the prayer her father seemed to become at peace and more settled in himself. I believe our friend had been waiting for us to come and give him the ministry of the Holy Spirit he was seeking. The miracle of our presence had brought him the comfort and reassurance that his God loved him and His presence was there for him.

So, in our role of Christians as we greet and talk with people, or being present with them in a time of crisis in their lives, our presence can sprinkle this heavenly dust by bringing comfort and an assurance that God is with them no matter the circumstances they find themselves in. Whether it is during a trial they are enduring, or sorrow or even joy. Each of us are called to be a miracle of Presence and assist them through counsel, compassion, encouragement, guiding, shepherding, and loving them.

I believe “all are called” to sprinkle the dust of heaven to whomever we meet. And we are called to do it with humility and assurance that the Holy Spirit will be present with us.

Bill Gillard