What is the definition of ministry?

Dictionary.com has one definition of this as 'The act of serving; ministration.'

'Ministry' also comes from the Greek word diakoneo, meaning "to serve".

I would think that one of the things the New Testament teaches on ministry, is what Christians are called to do for God- that is, to serve God and to be advocates for the Christian faith and living.

Some forms of ministry can be formal and up-front- Worship coordinator, Pastors, Youth leaders, Sunday school teachers, church musicians etc.
One things that has been bothering me is how Christian ministry is too easily seen as being only those people who fall into these areas of service.

Each professing Christian is 'in ministry'. The way we live our lives is a true testament to serving God by demonstrating that we follow Him and seek to have a close relationship with Him. Therefore, people that are not up-front in the church are in ministry, whether they like it or not.

Probably the most important way of doing this is to fellowship with other Christians through reading God's Word together, praying together and challenging each other to grow in our Christian walk.

One thing that is a danger I have seen recently, is the burnout of young, committed Christian adults. It is all too easy to lose the zeal to serve God, especially if you start off young, so that by the time they are in their mid 20s they start to feel discouraged about ministry. Discipleship is the key, where an older Christian mentors and disciples a younger Christian, not only through relationship building but most importantly, through studying God's Word together.

Being one of those 'older Christians', I feel there is never enough people willing or able to do the hard yards to disciple these younger Christians who are ripe to start ministry.

Without God's Word in discipleship, we will not grow and become better advocates of our ministry for God.