When I reflect on the most discouraging aspects of ministry, the lack of visible fruit often tops the list. I can recall numerous outreaches where the number of new converts fell short of my expectations. It's disheartening to see so few of those who profess to believe in Christ showing a desire to deepen their faith. But I've come to question whether my understanding of “fruit” in ministry is too narrow. 

Perhaps you’ve found yourself in a situation where you question why God has placed you where you are. The Gospel message seems to fall on deaf ears, and your efforts to win hearts for Christ feel futile. You decide to give it more time, and a year or two—or ten—go by, but there’s no change in sight. Is it time to pack it in and go home? 

This brings me back to my question: What is fruit? Even if we acknowledge that it’s much more than simply the number of baptisms or disciples, it’s still so easy to fall into the trap of evaluating our ministry based on those two factors alone. After all, that’s what Jesus called us to, right? To go into all the world to make disciples and baptize them.  

While Jesus’ command is obviously our end goal, many things must happen along the way to bring it to fruition, and every one of them is still “fruit.” I believe that fruit is God’s work in us and through us, whatever form it may take, and as such, it always becomes visible, even if we don’t perceive it at first or don’t stick around long enough to see it.  

I want to look at just one aspect of this fruit, found in Ephesians 5:9. The overall context is the contrast between the kingdoms of light and darkness. Paul describes the fruit of light as “all goodness, righteousness, and truth.”  

Do you bring goodness into the world? Do you advance righteousness? Do you teach the truth? Is your ministry a vessel through which God pours out His goodness, righteousness, and truth? Then you will see fruit.