Q: Dear Pastor Mac: I’ve been serving as an elder for several years as well as many other offices, but now I feel called to the ministry and am unsure what to do. I can’t live the life of a carefree college kid. I have kids of my own and my family depends on me. Should I just walk away from my profession and risk the well-being of my family in order to preach the gospel? ~Called but Confused
A: Dear CBC: If God is calling you to full-time pastoral ministry, then you should do as the song says and “Trust and Obey.” Yet pastoral ministry is not the only form of ministry. By serving as an elder, deacon, usher, greeter, etc, you are in the ministry. All these ministries are critical to the mission of the church.
Not only are the church offices ministries, but whatever your vocation is becomes ministry depending on how you carry out your duties. Whether you are a landscaper, college professor, roofer, 911 operator, computer programmer, or port-a-potty cleaner, if you work as unto the Lord and are willing to go the second mile, then you are doing ministry. It is through these daily interactions that the gospel is preached most powerfully. Relationships developed in these “secular” environments plant the seeds that are harvested during public evangelistic efforts.
The colporteur ministry (literature evangelism) is another outlet for the practical ex-pression of your spiritual im-pression. This work is as important as preaching and empowers you to reach people that are not inclined to attend religious services. The books you sell continually preach when you’re long gone. You don’t need a theology degree, or any other degree. All you need is love for God, a hunger for soul-winning, thirst for knowledge, and a strong work ethic. Everything else is on the job training!
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