The following is a suggested definition of each of the Spiritual Gifts listed. While not meant to be dogmatic or final, these definitions and supporting scriptures do correspond to characteristics of the gifts as expressed in many Spiritual Gifts Assessments. Following each definition are various opportunities or suggestions of how one might use their gifts in service at Faith UMC.

Administration — The gift of Administration is the special ability God gives to certain Members of the body of Christ to understand clearly the immediate and long range goals of a particular unit of the body of Christ and to devise and execute plans to accomplish them. (see 1 Cor. 12:28, Acts 6:1-7; Acts 27:11, Luke 14:28- 30)

Administration Service Suggestions: ministry team chair or assoc. chair; Sunday School age level coordinator; building committee member or chairperson; financial policy coor.; annual budget coor.; investment oversight coor.; facilitate stewardship program; workshops; communications; work with outreach efforts; lay delegate to annual conference; organize receptions; wedding coordinator; family fun night organizer; praise tern liaison; lay leader; camps coor.; library/media center volunteer; retreats coor.; vacation Bible school coor./team member; Wednesday night children's program volunteer; internal and external communications; staff parish relations team member.

Counseling — The gift of counseling is the special ability God gives to certain members of the body of Christ to minister words of comfort, consolation, encouragement and counsel to other members of the body in such a way that they feel helped and healed. (see Rom. 12:8, 1 Tim. 4:13, Heb. 100:25, Acts 14:22)

Counseling Service Suggestions: home communion volunteer; prayer ministry member; working with young people, older people or people with special needs; writing letters to those who need encouragement; prison ministry; confirmation mentor.

Crafting — The gift of Crafting is the special ability god gives to certain members of the body of Christ to use one's hands and ideas in an artistic and creative way. (see 2 Chron. 34:9-13, Ex. 30: 22-25, Acts 16:14, Acts 18:3)

Crafting service suggestions (craftsmanship): craft workshop leader or participant; prayer shawl ministry; sewing group; Faith Stitchers; altar guild; worship design; make banners, etc. for the church; Sunday School helper; Interior decoration of church and parsonage; photographs for church history; pictorial directory committee; flower arranging; technology; Men of Faith Church projects.

Discernment — The gift of Discernment is the special ability God gives to certain members of the body of Christ to sense whether a certain behavior purportedly to be of God is in reality divine. (see 1 Cor. 12:10, Acts 16: 16-18, 1 John 4:1-6, Mat. 16:21-23)

Discernment Service Suggestions: counselor, pastoral caregiver; hospice volunteer, staff parish relations ministry team member; Nominating Ministry Team; at large member of a ministry team.

Evangelism — The gift of Evangelism is the special ability God gives to certain members of the body of Christ to share the gospel with others in such a way that they come to know God's love and recognize that we are a welcoming community. (see Eph. 4:11-14, 2 Tim. 4:5, Acts 8:5-6, Acts 8:26-40, Acts 14:21, Acts 21:8)

Evangelism Service suggestions: New Members task group; greeter; usher; prison ministry; campus ministry; participation in renewal events; recreational ministry leader/team member; Doorstep ministry for first-time visitors; Worship Ministry team member.

Faith — The gift of Faith is the special ability God gives to certain members of the body of Christ to discern with extraordinary confidence the will and purpose of God. (see 1 Cor. 12:9, Acts 11:22-24, Heb. 11, rom. 4:18-21)

Faith Service Suggestions: tithing, Stewardship Ministry; project supporter; Peace with Justice ministry; Bible study participant; member of the prayer chain; prayer vigil participant; Walk to Emmaus leader/participant; Worship Ministry; lay reader.

Giving — The gift of Giving is the special ability God gives to certain members of the body of Christ to contribute their financial resources to God's work with liberality and cheerfulness. (see Rom. 12:8, 2 Cor. 8:1-7, 2 Cor. 9:2-8, Mk. 12:41-44)

Giving Service Suggestions: support altar flower ministry; tithing; Stewardship Ministry; Christmas Giving; Pennies for Paraguay; participate in and support church programs and projects; financially support educational and camp scholarships; Faith Kitchen volunteer and financial support; Canton Calvary Mission volunteer and financial support; Habitat for Humanity volunteer and financial support; special offerings; worldwide mission support; Endowment fund contributor; memorial contributor.

Healing — The gift of Healing is the special ability God gives to certain members of the body of Christ to serve as human intermediaries through whom God works to restore emotional, physical and spiritual well being. (see 1 Cor. 12:9, 28, Acts 3:1-10, Acts 5:12-16, Acts 9:32-35, Acts 28:7-10)

Healing Service Suggestions: prayer ministry; prayer chain; intercessory prayer; prayer groups; visit the sick; visit in hospitals.

Hospitality — The gift of Hospitality is the special ability god gives to certain members of the body of Christ to provide a welcoming atmosphere for people who come to their home or church. (see 1 Pet. 4:9, rom. 12:9-13, rom. 16: 23, Acts 16: 14-15, Heb. 13:1-2)

Hospitality Service Suggestions: small group host; greeter; usher; New Members task group; the Cookery; Hospitality task group; Second Wind; Social Event; United Methodist Women; Men of Faith Church; Welcome Crew; home gatherings; Wednesday night children's program supper volunteer; nursery workers; babysitters; Faith Friend to new member.

Intercession — The gift of Intercession is the special ability god gives to certain members of the body of Christ to pray for extended periods on a regular basis and see frequent and specific answers to their prayers to a degree much greater than that which is expected of the average Christian. (see James 5:14-16, 1 Tim. 2:1-2, Col. 1:9-12, Col. 4:12-13, Acts 12:12, Lk 22:41-44)

Intercession Service Ideas: Prayer ministry; prayer chain; private prayer; prayer groups; prayer vigils; praying for others; labyrinth helper/participant; small group prayer.

Leadership — The gift of Leadership is the special ability God gives to certain members of the body of Christ to set goals in accordance with God's purpose for the future and to communicate these goals to others in such a way that they voluntarily and harmoniously work together to accomplish them. (see 1 Tim. 5:17, Acts 7:10, Acts 15: 7-11, Rom. 12:8, Heb. 13:17, Lk. 9:51)

Leadership Service Suggestions: lay leader; small group facilitator; ministry team chair/assoc. chair; Staff Parish Relations Ministry Team; youth leader.

Mercy — The gift of Mercy is the special ability god gives to certain members of the body of Christ to feel genuine empathy and compassion for individuals suffering distressing physical, mental or emotional problems and to translate that compassion into cheerfully done deeds which reflect Christ's love and alleviate suffering. (see Rom 12:8, Mk. 9:41, Acts 16:33-34, Lk. 10:33-35, Mat. 20:29-34; Mat. 25: 35-40, Acts 11:28-30)

Mercy Service Suggestions: hospice volunteer; prison ministry; Alzheimer's small group; poverty ministry; nursery care; visit the sick or shut-ins; calling on lapsed members; participating in programs concentrating on social needs (Peace with Justice, missions); caring for the disadvantaged; comforting the bereaved; home communion team member.

Missionary — The gift of Missionary is the special ability God gives to certain members of the body of Christ to minister whatever other spiritual gifts they have in a second culture. (see 1 Cor. 9:19-23, Acts 8:4, Acts 13: 2-3, Acts 22:21, Rom. 10:15)

Missionary Service Suggestions: community service volunteer; Meals on Wheels volunteer; migrant-worker ministry; foreign missions; Canton Calvary Mission volunteer; Faith Kitchen supporter and volunteer; Christmas Giving; Habitat for Humanity; worldwide mission support.

Music — The gift of Music is the special ability god gives to certain members of the body of Christ to use music in a joyful and uplifting manner and, by so doing, praise and worship God. (see Ps. 33:1-3, Ps. 100:1-2, Eph. 5:18-20)

Music Service suggestions: choir member; soloist; church musician (instrument); accompanist; congregation singer; church music director; Praise band member; Praise service singer; special music.

Service — The gift of Service is the special ability God gives to certain members of the body of Christ to willingly help with tasks, whether up front or behind the scenes, in order that the church might be more effective in its ministry. (see 2 Tim. 1:16- 18, rom. 12:7, Acts 6:1-7, Titus 3:14, Gal. 6: 2, 10)

Service Suggestions: acolyte; Altar Guild member; office volunteer; landscape volunteer; Habitat for Humanity; Red Cross Blood drive, nurse, cookie/snack baker, blood donor; work day participant; youth mission trip; church repairs; church cleaning; sanctuary duty; painting; historian; Wednesday night children's program helper; VBS helper; Faith Kitchen; Canton Calvary Mission; bank courier; Sunday money counter; Helping Hands/Transportation; the Cookery; recreational ministries; Doorstep ministry; communion steward; greeter; sound system operator; usher; interior decorating; kitchen maintenance; memorials; parsonage coor.; lay-reader.

Shepherding — The gift of Shepherding is the special ability God gives to certain members of the body of Christ to support, encourage and nourish people's spiritual development.. (see Eph. 4:11-14, 1 Tim. 3:1-7, Jn. 10:1-18, 1 Peter 5:1-3)

Shepherding Service Suggestions: Walk to Emmaus leader/coordinator; Sunday school shepherd; Faith Friend to new member; confirmation mentor.

Social Justice — The gift of Social Justice is the special ability God gives to certain members of the body of Christ to act for justice for the oppressed, to confront unjust situations and work towards peace and equality for all. (see Lk. 4:18, 2 Cor. 1:14, Phil. 2:4-5, Amos 5:14-15, 24)

Social Justice Service Suggestions: small group leader; bible study leader; Sunday school teacher; attend studies and conferences; Peace with Justice task group coordinator, member or participant.

Teaching — The gift of Teaching is the special ability god gives to certain members of the body of Christ to communicate information relevant to the health and ministry of the body and its members in such a way that others will learn. (see 1 Cor. 12:28, Eph. 9:11-14, Rom. 12:7, Acts 18: 24-28)

Teaching Service Suggestions: Sunday school teacher; youth leader; confirmation mentor; train acolytes or lay readers; Vacation Bible school teacher/group leader; small group facilitator; labyrinth ministry.

Wisdom — The gift of Wisdom is the special ability God gives to certain members of the body of Christ to discover, gather and clarify information and ideas and to be spiritually guided in determining how given knowledge may be best applied to specific needs. (see 1 Cor. 2:1-13, 1 Cor. 12:8, 2 Cor. 11:6, Acts 6:3, 10, James 1:5-6, 2 Peter 3:15)

Wisdom Service Suggestions: lay delegate to annual conference; youth leader; hospice volunteer; church board member; lay leader.