Our seven-week journey with the Gifts of the Spirit ends today. So, let’s add five final gifts: Apostleship, Pastor, Encourager, Evangelist, and Intercessor.

Our first two gifts, Apostleship and Pastor, complement each other, like the Gifts of Service and Helps. An Apostle is a leader of leaders, while a Pastor is one whom an apostle leads if you will. The relationship between Paul, as apostle, and Titus and Timothy, as pastors, is a good example—both leading others into a relationship with Jesus.

Encourager is our next gift. My apologies to all grammar schoolteachers who taught us not to use the word we are tasked to define in the definition, but this one is impossible. One who is gifted as an Encourager…encourages! Simple as that. This is a person who knows exactly what to say when someone needs help, hope, comfort, or consolation.

The term Evangelist comes with both positive and negative baggage. Few will ever reach the height of Billy Graham, but one with this gift can speak to persons in ways they can readily understand by presenting the Gospel on that person’s level.

Our final gift is that of Intercessor. One with this gift has a burden to pray, who feels the gravity of praying for another person.

Our seven-week journey with the Gifts of the Holy Spirit is now complete. But we have only scratched the surface. Pick up your Bible. Search out these gifts and more. You may find a gift that God has especially for you.

About the author: Rev. Elizabeth L. Nelson is the priest at Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in LaBelle.