Too Many Ministries?

I heard a curious question working its way through the congregation this past week. Finally a relatively new member came to me directly and asked me straight up without mentioning any names: “Pastor, there are some people here who are wondering why we have to have so many ministries at St. Paul.”

Admittedly, I was at a loss for words for a moment. What was behind such a question? Was having a large number of ministries considered an asset by the questioners, or were they considered a “strain?”

How did the questioners view the church? As the very Body of Christ? As a business? As a social club? Perhaps they viewed the church as it was understood two generations ago – i.e., as a place where the pastor was “hired” to do ministry and the people show up for an hour on Sunday for a good “feed?” Frankly, that is an heretical understanding!

How did they understand Jesus giving his life for the church? How did they define “ministry?” Do they realize that there is no such thing as being a Christian and not being in ministry personally—whether one’s ministry involves kids, the “books,” the property, the marginalized, or all the other areas of lay and clergy calling?

These internal questions brought to mind my own faith journey. There was a time back in the late 1980’s, shortly after my conversion to Christ, when I was frustrated by the lack of “open hearts” in the church toward people with disabilities. The more I prayed about my feelings, the more ideas came into my mind on what could be done to remedy the situation.

Finally, I made a appointment with my pastor (Dr. William Hinson), and planned to criticize him soundly for apparently focusing ministries only on the able-bodied and sound-minded.
After my tirade in his office, he simply smiled and said, “It looks like God has put that on your heart, Cindy. Go home and write me up a proposal for a ministry with people with disabilities.” Do WHAT!?

I had to look “ministry” up in the dictionary – not that that helped. I had to wrestle with myself and with God for the next week, coming to understand the mission of the church and something called “the ministry of all Christians.” So now I feel prepared to answer the question as to why we have “so many ministries” at St. Paul:

1) First, there is NOTHING a church or person can do to give someone a ministry. By definition, ministry is a gift from God. God works in the heart of a person to generate awareness of and compassion toward a need that exists in God’s created order. God knocks on that person’s heart until there is a final answer: “yes, Lord, send me,” or “no, Lord, I’m not interested.” In other words, the impetus for all ministries comes from God. And the base of God’s ministry is the church – not the Y or service clubs, or government agencies – as good as they are, those are benevolences, not THE CHURCH.

2) If a ministry is not of God, it will fail. God will make a way, even when there seems to be no way, for ministries to flourish. He does require obedience in the hearts of people—a willingness to be led, convicted, and sanctified by the Holy Spirit. If a person attempts “a ministry” for his or her own glory, it will fail. True motives will be exposed and that person will be embarrassed by God. In the same way, a church full of people who become ingrown and who refuse to accept God’s call to them to grow and be in ministry with others will eventually wither and die like an unhealthy weed. Oh, it could continue to exist as a social gathering, but there will be no Christ present, no lives transformed, no spirits healed, and no souls saved.

3) Just like a plant, either a church grows and produces fruit (ministries and sanctified hearts), or it withers. There is no such thing as a church that “stands still.” Dr. Hinson used to say, “if you’re not growing, you’re dying.” And he was right. Ministry multiplication means that God is present and working among us

Let me close with a little story about aphids.

When I was in the real estate management business, I was given a property to turnaround that was terribly overstaffed. Everywhere I walked on those premises I saw workers hanging around doing nothing. I fired just about all of them and brought in some folks who were eager to make a difference—in the property and in their own incomes. I gave bonuses for good ideas. I would take them out to eat if they worked overtime. In one year we turned around a 12 million dollar budget and groomed that property for sale at a tidy profit—and then moved on to the next.

I’ll never forget the day George Krupp flew in from Boston to talk with me and to ask what the problem had been.
“You had aphids,” I said.
“APHIDS? – what are you talking about?” he barked.
“George,” I said, “An aphid is a critter that sits on something bigger than itself and sucks it for all it’s worth.” You had aphids.

Case closed.

I don’t’ preach very often about tithing at St. Paul because frankly it’s an embarrassment to think that mature Christians don’t know what they should be doing – including setting an example for others. It hurts to even consider that with all that a person has been given, they may think they know better than God–-and that they can’t afford to return 10% to Him in gratitude.

The truth is that a person CAN’T afford NOT to give God a tithe – no matter what his or her income level is. (read Malachi 3:10) The tithe supports God’s church and enables the birth of ministries that God raises up. The tithe is God’s plan, not our idea, and certainly not the preacher’s!

Now, for any “Christian” who wants to know why we have so many ministries at St. Paul, here are the two primary reasons: first, we have a lot of healthy roses here that can support more than their share of aphids, and second, we have many hearts and hands obedient to the call of the Lord. Thanks be to God!!!