Rethinking the “Full-time Ministry” box
Over the past few months I have been thinking about the phrase “full-time ministry”. I have always thought I would be involved in full-time ministry in some way and my past jobs have reflected that belief. Over the past two years at Treehouse and at our church (www.northwestbiblechurch.org) I have learned about youth, God, myself, how to grow and mature with co-workers, and what full-time ministry really looks like.
My previous picture of full-time ministry involved a number of different things. 1. Having a career/job with a Christian organization, 2. raising your salary or part of it, 3. not getting paid much for what you do and the time you put in :), and 4. your ministry being centered at a specific location (ie.. church, school, TreeHouse, etc…). Finding a job that fits into the small box I mentally created is REALLY hard and usually involves #3 being a prohibitive factor in taking any jobs that would come along.
As I have been rethinking the ministry box I have begun to see ministry in a more holistic way instead of narrowing it down to fit into old “normal” paradigm. I have come across an article that explains how I am beginning to view the term “full-time ministry”. To read the article CLICK HERE. It is a little long but a quick read. The story at the end about the young pastor is something I can relate well to because as I have been transitioning from TreeHouse to Spectrum High School I have had similar feelings. Thankfully I am beginning to see things a little differently. I hope it also gives you something to think about. I want to challenge you to reconsider how you view your job/career and why God has placed you there. Is it about earning money or bringing Him glory?
So very true, Dan - and thanks for sharing your heart. Everyone is certainly in full time Christian ministry, where ever they get their pay check. Doing what God calls us to do is the most important thing in life, and however He chooses to meet our financial needs is His doing. ‘Success’ is being in the center of God’s will for your life and has nothing to do with job title or who issues your pay check. May God continue to bless you and use you for His glory!
Dan - i read that article and it was incredible. I have been wrestling with the same questions. I guess from growing up in the fashion and circumstances that we did we didn’t leave too much choice for in the world ministry, which from my opinion is harder in a lot of ways.
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