What makes a powerful ministry? (Bible verse and commentary for the day)

Some friends just worked at a volunteer fair yesterday and mentioned to me this morning that a lot of people wanted to do more "direct" or "hands on" ministry.

Sometimes we forget that the motivation and who you are doing the ministry for (ie God), and His empowerment is what makes ministry....a powerful ministry.  

For example Stephen:

Act 6:8  And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. 

What was Stephen's ministry? Surely he was an evangelist or great teacher! 

Nope- Stephen was a "waiter" in church who's job it was to distribute food to the widows.

Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. 

(Act 6:2-6)