What does it Mean to Minister? Michael Sulsona’s Story

These days, when we hear the word “minister,” we’re likely to think of a preacher in a pulpit delivering a sermon to a church full of people. Or we may think of a top government official such as the Prime Minister of England, who holds great power over the citizens.

So it may be surprising to hear that the real meaning of minister is a servant: someone who serves others. Real ministry happens every time we serve the needs of other people—even if it has nothing to do with churches or governments.

Lowe’s employees fix Michael Sulsona’s wheelchair

Michael Sulsona, of Staten Island, New York, experienced this kind of ministry one day when he was shopping in his local Lowe’s Home Improvement store. He was just rolling along through the aisles in his wheelchair . . . .

Oh, I guess I should mention that in 1971, while serving as a Marine in Vietnam, Michael Sulsona stepped on a land mine and lost both of his legs above the knee. He’s had to use a wheelchair to get around ever since.

So as I was saying, Sulsona was rolling through the aisles of his local Lowe’s store, accompanied by his wife Frieda, when his ailing wheelchair fell apart on him . . . again . . . .

As it turns out, it couldn’t have happened at a better place!

Lowe’s, of course, sells not only all sorts of appliances and accessories for a well-equipped home, but also all the parts and hardware that a home handyman might want. If something needs fixing, chances are Lowe’s has what’s needed to fix it.

But it wasn’t just the hardware that made this particular store the best possible place for Sulsona’s wheelchair to break down.

It was the people.

Lowe’s employees to the rescue

Michael Sulsona tells the story himself in a letter he wrote to his local paper. In his own words, here’s what happened when his wheelchair fell apart:

Three employees, David, Marcus, and Souleyman, jumped to my assistance immediately. They placed me in another chair while they went to work.

They took the wheelchair apart and replaced the broken parts and told me, “We’re going to make this chair like new.”

I left 45 minutes after closing hours in my wheelchair that was like new.

I kept thanking them and all they could say was, “It was our honor.”

Now that’s ministry!

Michael Sulsona says Thanks

Those three Lowe’s employees had work to do. They were on the clock. But when they saw someone in need, they did not hesitate. They dropped whatever else they were doing, and came to his assistance—then stayed after hours to make sure the job got done. As reported in a companion piece, they told him, “We’re not leaving here until the wheelchair is fixed.”

These three men did not do it for attention or kudos. In fact, even after the story went viral, they continued to refuse all interview requests. A Lowe’s spokeswoman released a statement saying that the employees “wish to remain private,” and “said they were just doing their job, and they were honored to repair Michael’s wheelchair.”

Of course, not only those three employees, but also Lowe’s, deserve credit for this act of kindness: the employees for willingly and humbly doing it, and the store for supporting them in doing it.

But this isn’t an advertisement for Lowe’s Home Improvement.

It’s an advertisement for the true meaning of ministry.

Ministry is serving

I said earlier that the real meaning of minister is a servant. That’s not some spiritual interpretation of the word. It’s very simple: Our word “minister” comes from a Latin word that means “to serve.” Anyone who is called “minister” is meant to be serving the people, not exercising authority and control over them.

That’s the point of a story in the Gospels in which Jesus gives some needed correction to his disciples:

A dispute also arose among them as to which one of them was to be regarded as the greatest. But he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you; rather the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.” (Luke 22:24–27)

That’s why Christian clergy are often called “ministers.” Not because they are to be high and mighty above the people, but because they are to be servants of the people. And good government is not about a rich elite exercising authority over the people. Government officials are called “ministers” because they are meant to be public servants.

True ministry is not confined to the pulpit or the halls of power, or to Christians, or to any other group.

True ministry occurs in all the little things we do every day at work, at home, and in our neighborhood to make someone else’s life better. Each one of you can be a minister, just like the Lowe’s employees who ministered to Michael Sulsona.

About Lee

Lee Woofenden is an ordained minister, writer, editor, translator, and teacher. He enjoys taking spiritual insights from the Bible and the writings of Emanuel Swedenborg and putting them into plain English as guides for everyday life.