According to the Bible (1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12 and Ephesians 4) spiritual gifts are gifts given by the Holy Spirit to believers, with the sole purpose to build up and to serve the entire Church.
In order to determine how best you can serve the body of Christ, you need to know your spiritual gift, your personal style, and your God-given passion. The combination of all three components will help you to discover how to serve best the body of Christ.

Spiritual Gifts

What are spiritual gifts?

Spiritual gifts are tools God gives Christians to do the work of the ministry — to fulfill the Great Commission to reach, baptize, and teach and to minister to one another. Every Christian receives at least one gift at the moment of salvation. Spiritual gifts are not rewards, they are not natural talents, they are not a place of service, are not an age-group ministry, and they are not a specialty ministry. They express themselves through various ministries, which, in turn accomplish a variety of results.

Why do we need spiritual gifts?

A spiritual gift is a means by which the Holy Spirit ministers to the believer. It is a supernatural capacity for service to God — and He gives you a supernatural desire to perform the duties of that gift. Spiritual gifts are tools for building the church. They are a source of joy in your Christian life and influence your motives. A spiritual gift is a divine calling with a divine responsibility, because what God has gifted you to do, He has called you to do, and what He has called you to do, He has gifted you to do.

What are the various types of spiritual gifts?

The Bible categorizes the spiritual gifts in 3 categories:

#1 Miraculous Gifts

  • Apostle (1 Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 4:11).
  • Tongues (1 Corinthians 12:10, 28, 30).
  • Interpretation (1 Corinthians 12:10, 30).
  • Miracles (1 Corinthians 12:10, 28).
  • Healing (1 Corinthians 12:9, 28).

#2 Enabling Gifts

  • Faith (1 Corinthians 12:9).
  • Discernment (1 Corinthians 12:10).
  • Wisdom (1 Corinthians 12:8).
  • Knowledge (1 Corinthians 12:8).

#3 TEAM Gifts

  • Evangelism: passionately leading others to the saving knowledge of Christ (Ephesians 4:11).
  • Prophecy: boldly and fearlessly proclaiming God’s truth (Romans 12:6; Ephesians 4:11; 1 Corinthians 12:10, 28).
  • Teaching: making clear the truth of God’s Word with simplicity & accuracy (Romans 12:7; 1 Corinthians 12:28).
  • Exhortation: motivating others to action, application, and purpose (Romans 12:8).
  • Shepherding: overseeing, training, feeding, coaching/leading (Ephesians 4:11).
  • Mercy showing: identifying with and comforting those in need (Romans 12:8).
  • Serving: providing practical help both physically and spiritually (Romans 12:7; 1 Corinthians 12:28).
  • Giving: releasing material resources to further the work of the Church (Romans 12:8).
  • Administration: organizing, administering, promoting, leading (Romans 12:8; 1 Corinthians 12:28)

See below links for more info on each of the 9 TEAM gifts, which the spiritual gift survey is based on:

Evangelism
Prophecy
Teaching
Exhortation
Shepherding
Mercy
Serving
Giving
Administration

Which Spiritual gift survey can I use?

The below spiritual gift survey link is recommended by SCF. It is recommended that you prayerfully embark on this journey whilst asking the Holy Spirit for help and guidance during this process.

SPIRITUAL GIFT SURVEY

Personal Style. God-Given Passions.

Personal Style

The second component to serving the church to the best of who God made you to be is by determining your personal style. The below link will help you assess you personal style.

PERSONAL STYLE ASSESSMENT
God-Given Passion

The third and last component in serving the church to the best of who God made you to be is by determining your ministry passion. The below link will help you assess your ministry passion.

MINISTRY PASSION ASSESSMENT

Bringing it all together

Now that you know your spiritual gift/s, personal style and God-given passion, combine them and prayerfully view the below ministries within SCF to see where you can best serve the community:

SCF Ministries

(Ministries are listed in alphabetical order)

Ministry info
Alpha is a place for non-believers and seekers to learn more about the Christian faith through a video teaching and a group discussion while enjoying home-cooked food and building relationships with others.

Spiritual Gifts
Evangelism: passionately leading others to the saving knowledge of Christ (Ephesians 4:11).
Prophecy: boldly and fearlessly proclaiming God’s truth (Romans 12:6; Ephesians 4:11; 1 Corinthians 12:10, 28).
Exhortation: motivating others to action, application, and purpose (Romans 12:8).
Teaching: making clear the truth of God’s Word with simplicity & accuracy (Romans 12:7; 1 Corinthians 12:28).
Shepherding: overseeing, training, feeding, coaching/leading (Ephesians 4:11).
Mercy showing: identifying with and comforting those in need (Romans 12:8).
Serving: providing practical help both physically and spiritually (Romans 12:7; 1 Corinthians 12:28).
Administration: organizing, administering, promoting, leading (Romans 12:8; 1 Corinthians 12:28)

Personality
A deep love for Jesus Christ and to serve him.
Have a heart for non-believers.
Enjoys building relationships with others (believer or non-believers).
Enjoys serving in a team.
Extrovert and or an introvert
A Good and active listener.
Good at facilitating conversation and guiding the guests questions.
Good at teaching alongside the Alpha guidelines.
Enjoys serving through hospitality (hosting set up/cooking/making others feel welcome).
Good at organizing and taking on a specific role with a responsible nature.
An active prayer life that includes the guests that have been entrusted to you.
An ability to keep in touch with the guests and make sure they are integrated into our community after they have finished the alpha course.

Contact: [email protected]

Ministry info
Community Groups are a group of believers who meet weekly (Most groups are weekly) in someone’s home (most groups meet at homes) to study the Bible, prayer and encouragement for and with fellow believers.

Spiritual Gifts
Teaching: making clear the truth of God’s Word with simplicity & accuracy (Romans 12:7; 1 Corinthians 12:28).
Exhortation: motivating others to action, application, and purpose (Romans 12:8).
Shepherding: overseeing, training, feeding, coaching/leading (Ephesians 4:11).
Mercy showing: identifying with and comforting those in need (Romans 12:8).
Serving: providing practical help both physically and spiritually (Romans 12:7; 1 Corinthians 12:28).
Giving: releasing material resources to further the work of the Church (Romans 12:8).
Administration: organizing, administering, promoting, leading (Romans 12:8; 1 Corinthians 12:28
Prophecy: boldly and fearlessly proclaiming God’s truth (Romans 12:6; Ephesians 4:11; 1 Corinthians 12:10, 28).

Personality
Extrovert and or introvert
Enjoy hosting others
Enjoy Serving
Enjoy teaching
Likes to encourage others
Good listener
Talent for music
Good at organizing
Have a heart for believers and seeing them grow in their faith

Contact: [email protected]

Ministry info
Deeper is part of a 4-book curriculum where each book takes 6 weeks to complete. It is for new and old believers and is geared towards helping you learn Kingdom principles and applying it in your life to grow deeper in your relationship with Christ.

Spiritual Gifts
Teaching: making clear the truth of God’s Word with simplicity & accuracy (Romans 12:7; 1 Corinthians 12:28).
Exhortation: motivating others to action, application, and purpose (Romans 12:8).
Shepherding: overseeing, training, feeding, coaching/leading (Ephesians 4:11).
Mercy showing: identifying with and comforting those in need (Romans 12:8).
Serving: providing practical help both physically and spiritually (Romans 12:7; 1 Corinthians 12:28).
Administration: organizing, administering, promoting, leading (Romans 12:8; 1 Corinthians 12:28)

Personality
Extrovert and or introvert
Have a heart for believers and seeing them grow in their faith
Good listener
Good at teaching
Enjoys encouraging others
Be an open book to others in your own walk with God

Contact: [email protected]

Ministry info
The Discipleship Program is specifically geared towards believers in all walks of life who would like to be discipled on a more intentional one on one level. The focus of discipleship is to help the disciple grow in their maturity in their faith to become more like Christ.

Spiritual Gifts
Teaching: making clear the truth of God’s Word with simplicity & accuracy (Romans 12:7; 1 Corinthians 12:28).
Prophecy: boldly and fearlessly proclaiming God’s truth (Romans 12:6; Ephesians 4:11; 1 Corinthians 12:10, 28).
Exhortation: motivating others to action, application, and purpose (Romans 12:8).
Shepherding: overseeing, training, feeding, coaching/leading (Ephesians 4:11).
Mercy showing: identifying with and comforting those in need (Romans 12:8).
Serving: providing practical help both physically and spiritually (Romans 12:7; 1 Corinthians 12:28).

Personality
Extrovert and or introvert
Have a heart to see people grow in their faith
Enjoy encouraging others
Be an open book to others in your own walk with God

Contact: [email protected]

Ministry info
Foreign students ministry is a place where students can meet on a weekly basis all over Shanghai to pray, learn from the Bible and encourage each other.

Spiritual Gifts
Teaching: making clear the truth of God’s Word with simplicity & accuracy (Romans 12:7; 1 Corinthians 12:28).
Evangelism: passionately leading others to the saving knowledge of Christ (Ephesians 4:11).
Mercy showing: identifying with and comforting those in need (Romans 12:8).
Shepherding: overseeing, training, feeding, coaching/leading (Ephesians 4:11)
Exhortation: motivating others to action, application, and purpose (Romans 12:8).
Serving: providing practical help both physically and spiritually (Romans 12:7; 1 Corinthians 12:28).
Giving: releasing material resources to further the work of the Church (Romans 12:8).
Administration: organizing, administering, promoting, leading (Romans 12:8; 1 Corinthians 12:28)

Personality
Extrovert and or introvert
Have a heart to meet new people
Big smile
Enjoys teaching
Enjoys hosting people
Good at organizing

Contact: [email protected]

Ministry info
Hospitality ministry is the friendly and warm faces you see each Sunday who makes you feel welcome and through their servant heart show Christ’s love to others.  The ministry will also help to coordinate and liaise with other ministries during services.

Spiritual Gifts
Mercy showing: identifying with and comforting those in need (Romans 12:8).
Serving: providing practical help both physically and spiritually (Romans 12:7; 1 Corinthians 12:28).
Administration: organizing, administering, promoting, leading (Romans 12:8; 1 Corinthians 12:28)

Personality
Extrovert and or introvert
Have a heart to serve
Big smile
Good at organizing
New believers
Excitement and passionate to show the joy and love for Christ

Contact: [email protected]

Ministry info
Ignite Kids exists to build children into disciples of Jesus, using three main values we want kids to have – Wonder for God, Passion for People, and Discovery of Purpose

Spiritual Gifts
Teaching: making clear the truth of God’s Word with simplicity & accuracy (Romans 12:7; 1 Corinthians 12:28).
Exhortation: motivating others to action, application, and purpose (Romans 12:8).
Shepherding: overseeing, training, feeding, coaching/leading (Ephesians 4:11).
Mercy showing: identifying with and comforting those in need (Romans 12:8).
Serving: providing practical help both physically and spiritually (Romans 12:7; 1 Corinthians 12:28).
Giving: releasing material resources to further the work of the Church (Romans 12:8).
Administration: organizing, administering, promoting, leading (Romans 12:8; 1 Corinthians 12:28)

Personality
Extrovert and or introvert
Have a heart for kids
Enjoy Serving
Enjoy teaching
Has a lot of energy
Talent for music, arts and crafts
Good at organizing

Contact: [email protected]

Ministry info
Nursery exists to build children into disciples of Jesus, using three main values we want kids to have – Wonder for God, Passion for People, and Discovery of Purpose

Spiritual Gifts
Shepherding: overseeing, training, feeding, coaching/leading (Ephesians 4:11)
Exhortation: motivating others to action, application, and purpose (Romans 12:8).
Serving: providing practical help both physically and spiritually (Romans 12:7; 1 Corinthians 12:28).
Administration: organizing, administering, promoting, leading (Romans 12:8; 1 Corinthians 12:28)

Personality
Extrovert and or introvert
Have a heart for toddlers/babies
Big smile
Lots of energy
Good at organizing

Contact: [email protected]

Ministry info
The prayer ministry meets weekly (Thursday and Sunday) to pray and intercede for the local (SCF and Chinese church) and global church, nations and personal prayer requests as well as for others.

Spiritual Gifts
Teaching: making clear the truth of God’s Word with simplicity & accuracy (Romans 12:7; 1 Corinthians 12:28).
Prophecy: boldly and fearlessly proclaiming God’s truth (Romans 12:6; Ephesians 4:11; 1 Corinthians 12:10, 28).
Exhortation: motivating others to action, application, and purpose (Romans 12:8).
Shepherding: overseeing, training, feeding, coaching/leading (Ephesians 4:11).
Mercy showing: identifying with and comforting those in need (Romans 12:8).
Serving: providing practical help both physically and spiritually (Romans 12:7; 1 Corinthians 12:28).
Administration: organizing, administering, promoting, leading (Romans 12:8; 1 Corinthians 12:28)

Personality
Extrovert and or introvert
Have a heart for praying or intercession
Enjoy Serving

Contact: [email protected]

Ministry info
Reach is the mission’s ministry at SCF that reaches out within China and abroad to see the Kingdom of God established in every tribe, tongue and language.

Spiritual Gifts
Evangelism: passionately leading others to the saving knowledge of Christ (Ephesians 4:11).
Prophecy: boldly and fearlessly proclaiming God’s truth (Romans 12:6; Ephesians 4:11; 1 Corinthians 12:10, 28).
Exhortation: motivating others to action, application, and purpose (Romans 12:8).
Teaching: making clear the truth of God’s Word with simplicity & accuracy (Romans 12:7; 1 Corinthians 12:28).
Shepherding: overseeing, training, feeding, coaching/leading (Ephesians 4:11).
Mercy showing: identifying with and comforting those in need (Romans 12:8).
Serving: providing practical help both physically and spiritually (Romans 12:7; 1 Corinthians 12:28).
Giving: releasing material resources to further the work of the Church (Romans 12:8).
Administration: organizing, administering, promoting, leading (Romans 12:8; 1 Corinthians 12:28)

Personality
Extrovert and or introvert
Have a heart for non-believers
Good listener
Good at teaching
Enjoys praying
Good at organizing

Contact: [email protected]

Ministry info
Reflect is the ministry for the youth where they meet on a weekly basis where they get to share personal struggles and learn what the Bible teaches and praying for each other.

Spiritual Gifts

1. Less Experienced Task Based Adult Counselors (i.e. If I give them I specific task they are able to fulfill it. May also require oversight while completing the task. )

Spiritual Gifts that are a great fit for them are:

  • Teaching: making clear the truth of God’s Word with simplicity & accuracy (Romans 12:7; 1 Corinthians 12:28).
  • Exhortation: motivating others to action, application, and purpose (Romans 12:8).
  • Mercy showing: identifying with and comforting those in need (Romans 12:8).
  • Serving: providing practical help both physically and spiritually (Romans 12:7; 1 Corinthians 12:28).

2. Experienced Responsibility Based Adult Counselors (i.e. I can give them responsibilities that they can in turn manage the related details for with little oversight.)

Spiritual Gifts that are a great fit for them are:

  • Teaching: making clear the truth of God’s Word with simplicity & accuracy (Romans 12:7; 1 Corinthians 12:28).
  • Exhortation: motivating others to action, application, and purpose (Romans 12:8).
  • Shepherding: overseeing, training, feeding, coaching/leading (Ephesians 4:11). 
  • Mercy showing: identifying with and comforting those in need (Romans 12:8).
  • Serving: providing practical help both physically and spiritually (Romans 12:7; 1 Corinthians 12:28).
  • Giving: releasing material resources to further the work of the Church (Romans 12:8).
  • Administration: organizing, administering, promoting, leading (Romans 12:8; 1 Corinthians 12:28)

Personality
Confidence in who they are
Willing to try new things
Ok with looking silly
Thick skinned
Initiates conversations and relationships
Is good at small talk, but also strives for deeper dialogue 
Extrovert and or introvert
Has a heart for the youth
Willing and able to teach
Has a lot of energy
Good at organizing (only applicable if the adult counsellor is an experienced responsibility based counsellor)

Contact: [email protected]

Ministry info
Welcome ministry is a team of people from all over the world that creates a space for newcomers and existing members to meet each other and make new friends.

Spiritual Gifts

Exhortation: motivating others to action, application, and purpose (Romans 12:8).
Mercy showing: identifying with and comforting those in need (Romans 12:8).
Serving: providing practical help both physically and spiritually (Romans 12:7; 1 Corinthians 12:28).
Administration: organizing, administering, promoting, leading (Romans 12:8; 1 Corinthians 12:28)

Personality
Extrovert and or introvert
Have a heart to meet new people
Big smile
Good at organizing
Enjoy serving
Enjoy hosting people and being hospitable

Contact: [email protected] 

Ministry info
The worship team helps leading the church into worship on a weekly basis to experience the presence of God.

Spiritual Gifts

Exhortation: motivating others to action, application, and purpose (Romans 12:8).
Shepherding: overseeing, training, feeding, coaching/leading (Ephesians 4:11).
Mercy showing: identifying with and comforting those in need (Romans 12:8).
Serving: providing practical help both physically and spiritually (Romans 12:7; 1 Corinthians 12:28).
Administration: organizing, administering, promoting, leading (Romans 12:8; 1 Corinthians 12:28)

Personality
Extrovert and or introvert
Have a heart for worship
Good at playing a musical instrument
Good at singing
Has a lot of energy
Good at organizing

Contact: [email protected]

Affiliated Ministries

(Ministries are listed in alphabetical order)

In addition to the above, below are ministries within Shanghai that SCF is either directly supporting and or involved with to some degree:

Artificial limbs ministry helps people that need an artificial leg in some of the poorer parts of China. Volunteers don’t need technical knowledge, just (preferably) some basic Chinese understanding, and most of all ears willing to listen, and a heart willing to encourage those in need. If this is something close to your heart please contact [email protected].

Eden Ministry is helping women in Shanghai who are sexually exploited to know Christ and see how He sees them. There are various ways you can connect and help. For more information contact [email protected].

Home sweet home reaches out to the homeless by providing a place where they can take a shower, get some clean clothes; enjoy a meal, games, and fellowship. They have various opportunities to volunteer so if this is something you are interested feel free to contact [email protected] or WeChat: homesweethomesh.

Renewal Center provides resources for meeting basic needs, lasting personal development and life change to Shanghai’s urban displaced. The center was born out of a desire to facilitate long-term change for people who’d become separated from their families and resorted to living rough, with special personal impediments to reunion with families and integrating into China’s workforce. If this is something you are interested in please contact [email protected].

Shanghai Healing Home is a non-profit foster home assisting local Chinese children by providing pre and post surgical care to abandoned Chinese orphans. If this is something close to your heart please feel free to visit their website at shanghai-healing-home.squarespace.com for more information or contact [email protected].

Shining Star is an orphanage for visually impaired children. There are plenty of ways to volunteer. For more information, please contact  [email protected].

Sonflower is a ministry to children of prostitutes, organized crime, and or parents who are abusive or neglectful. The ministry evolved out of Eden. They are always looking for volunteers who can just love on the kids, helping with homework if the volunteers know Chinese, and teaching English/cleaning/cooking. For more information to volunteer contact [email protected]

Conclusion

The apostle Paul writes ‘you, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love’ (Gal. 5:13).

We are not only serving one another because we have to, but also it’s for our own joy ‘For ‘I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete’ (John 15:11).