Surprisingly, some people seem to think that its necessary to be employed by a church in order to truly "walk in faith".
 
Consider the church employee with a pension, secure long-term employment prospects and perhaps even with accommodation in the package.

 Consider the volunteer at church events, normally works shifts as a cleaner without a pension (an estimate 7-8m people in the UK have no pension savings), scant job security and future of state benefits on a council estate.

 I wonder who has more faith, the thing which we're told pleases God most? (Hebrew 11:6)

 In heaven, "there will be surprises" (CS Lewis)

 or, in my words,

 "its a dreadful mistake to ever look down on those who help out at Church, even when they seem annoying, broken or time consuming, because one day they might be looking down at you"

 or, in the best words,

 "many of the first will be last"

 If you work for the church in a professional capacity, please consider yourself thoroughly affirmed, and if you're an amateur like me, be very encouraged.


I hope that, on the day that's to come, none of us will be surprised.