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The Old Mill Riverside Inn - A Ministry And A Job
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The Old Mill Riverside Inn - A Ministry and A Job
Roy and Dianne James are the managers and part owners of The Old Mill Riverside Inn. They have been married for 38 years. They have 5 children and 13 grandchildren. They live in the inn and manage it together. They do everything themselves, including hosting several luncheons each week. While I was there, they were doing yard work and preparing food for a luncheon on the next day.
The inn is 2 years old and is absolutely beautiful. It is located in Lynnville, Iowa. The phone number is 614-527-2300. There are pictures on the website. It located by a river and has a beautiful gazebo in the front yard. The front porch has several large rocking chairs that look out at the river. The porch is a fabulous place to do prayer and Bible Study.
The first and second floors are your typical Bed and Breakfast. It has a living room and places to sit, read, or play games. The bedrooms are beautifully decorated and all have private baths. There is a kitchen and a dining room.
The James have their own private and spacious living area on the first floor.
The basement is called "The Bunkhouse." It contains rooms with bunk beds that share bathrooms. They host Christian retreats there. It has a kitchen, a hot tub, and a ping-pong table. You can fish in the river. The large downstairs living room is a great place for groups to sit around and discuss spiritual matters.
Several members of the community decided they wanted to do something for the community. They pooled their money and built this inn. The community uses this for weddings, parties, retreats, and visiting family members. They sell many gift certificates. Travelers passing through also use the inn so it helps the local economy.
There are Bibles in each room and Christian messages throughout the inn. They pray with each guest. There was a guest book in my room with the Serenity Prayer on it. I looked through the book and the messages written over and over told of how people could feel the presence of God when they were visiting. It is a very peaceful place.
One other interesting fact about the inn is that the price is about 1/2 the price of comparable Bed and Breakfasts. It met my budget requirements.
Roy and Dianne both came to know Christ as children. They grew up in a Christian home. They spoke fondly of their childhood and attending church. They raised their 5 children in church. Their children are Christians and are still involved in church. Roy and Dianne are musicians and are the music worship leaders for their church. When their family was young, they gave concerts together.
Both told me that this job is their ministry. They love having the opportunity to meet so many different people.
Roy and Dianne haven't always managed a Bed and Breakfast. They were very successful farmers when their children were small. They freely shared their story of the impact of the bottom dropping out of the farming industry. Being in the technology field, I can certainly identify.
They had been very successful and had invested heavily. The bank encouraged them to keep expanding. Business was very good. The economy changed suddenly and farmers were hurt all over the country. Panicked bankers called notes everywhere. Roy and Dianne faced what farmers everywhere faced. They lost their lifestyle.
Up until this happened, they had always believed that if you worked hard, you would be rewarded. They worked harder and harder but couldn't succeed. They faced powerlessness. Through this powerlessness, they developed a greater understanding of trusting God. They began to readjust their priorities and spend more time focusing on each other and the family. They found themselves just as happy living a simpler life where they didn't have to work as hard. Roy confessed that he began spending much more time with the children.
They love the life they have. Without the change in the farming industry, they wouldn't have what they have now. They live in a beautiful house. They meet interesting people. Dianne loves to cook and is an excellent cook. Travelers and the community are enjoying their ministry.
They are working very hard but they know they are doing what God wants them to do. They are at peace with their calling in life. They have a balanced lifestyle that includes God, prayer, work, family, and church. They glow when they talk about their job, their ministry, their marriage, and their family.
Is your job your ministry? I often ask that question of the people I meet.
Many people tell me that their job is absolutely their ministry. They easily tell me about the risks they are taking when they talk about God in their job. They are willing to take those risks.
Others tell me that their job is not their ministry and let me know they could lose their job if they talk about God at work. Many people in the world are killed for talking about their faith. Risking a job is mild compared to the loss of life.
If you work 8 hours plus a day, you are spending the majority of your waking hours at work. If you job is not your ministry, your ministry is most likely not the focus of your life.
The following questions might help you decide if your job is your ministry. By job, I mean what you are spending your working hours on. This certainly includes homemakers.
1. Do you feel that God has called you into this profession?
2. Do you spend time praying each day about what God wants you to do at work?
3. Do you get specific answers and follow instructions?
4. Do you see results of following those instructions?
5. Do these results include being more successful in your job and in your ministry?
6. Do people around you know about your faith?
7. Are you considered excellent at work?
8. Are you willing to risk this job for the sake of your faith?
9. Are you willing to do the right thing, no matter what?
I do not believe that God needs us to do his work. He is God. He could do everything Himself. He allows us to do his work for our sakes. We need to learn by being faithful.
When Jesus was crucified, the disciples were terrified that they were going to be killed as well. They hid in the dark and denied Christ. It wasn't until Jesus returned and the disciples realized that Jesus was more powerful than death that they became courageous and bold. Jesus gave them the Holy Spirit and they went out and changed the world.
"On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. John 20:19-22 NIV
By being faithful and putting our ministry first, we become better employees. God calls for excellence and he directs our steps.
By accepting the power of Jesus, like the disciples, "we are overjoyed." Jesus gives us peace. Jesus sends us out and we accept the call. With that assignment comes peace. We grow closer to God and our love grows for everyone around us.
If your job isn't your ministry, I would like to suggest that you are missing great rewards. Join Roy and Dianne and merge your job with your ministry. You don't necessarily have to change jobs. You simply have to let it become your ministry.
Let Jesus say to you, "Peace be with you!"
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