There is in our community a man who made his fortune in restaurants. Now he has sold them and spends his time planting churches and helping others do the same. I sat with him not long ago and talked about church planting in this new day. He tells people to move into a community and settle down there. Then go out and get a job, any legitimate job. Work in fast food if you have to. With your Christian lifestyle and work ethic, you’ll be managing the place in six months. Do what you have to do to make a living. Then do what you have to do to bring together that core group to start your church.
His approach is not only entrepreneurial, but also includes Christians being embedded in their community. Our greatest goal should be to insert into a community called people who are trained and connected, then help empower them to support themselves while doing viable and vital ministry through existing small churches and/or through planting new house churches.
We want Christian families to become embedded in their communities. Many people today never make a place for themselves in their neighborhood or community. They are present only as a resident and only as long as their jobs keep them in that location.
While we recognize the necessity of being mobile, we should also seek to become contributing members of a community. We should seek to know our neighbors and introduce them to Christ. And we want to know and fellowship with other Christian families.
Showing posts with label connect. Show all posts
Showing posts with label connect. Show all posts
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Entrepreneurial Minister
In a day of economic challenges and shrinking churches and denominational bodies comes a call from God that we enlarge our territory of ministry. The calling comes not only to churches, but to those called to do the ministry.
For those called to ministry, carrying out the call of the Lord often means taking more responsibility for raising their own support. An entrepreneurial attitude toward ministry must be developed.
An entrepreneurial minister is creative. The Lord works in the heart to bring vision - sometimes a new vision no one is even attempting. But that means there are no tried and true ways to make it happen.
An entrepreneurial minister is self-sufficient. The entrepreneurial minister recognizes it is up to them to make things happen. The final responsibility is not shifted to a church or organization, though those partners are gladly welcomed.
An entrepreneurial minister is connected. That sounds like a contradiction to being self-sufficient. We all depend on each other. And it is the wise person who realizes that dependence. While the entrepreneurial minister is not afraid to take the lead in developing, planning, funding ministry, that same minister welcomes and develops contacts through various networks. No entrepreneurial effort is likely to succeed without a network of support.
An entrepreneurial minister is ready to fail, if need be. An entrepreneurial minister is prayerful. No one is more prayerful than someone who carries so much of the responsibility themselves. An entrepreneurial minister is willing to do what is necessary to support a family and to make that ministry happen.
Let this be a summons to people with a burden for ministry to take the necessary steps to make that ministry a reality. Maybe you can depend upon a church to make it happen. Maybe you’ll have to find other support. Likely it will take it all.
For those called to ministry, carrying out the call of the Lord often means taking more responsibility for raising their own support. An entrepreneurial attitude toward ministry must be developed.
An entrepreneurial minister is creative. The Lord works in the heart to bring vision - sometimes a new vision no one is even attempting. But that means there are no tried and true ways to make it happen.
An entrepreneurial minister is self-sufficient. The entrepreneurial minister recognizes it is up to them to make things happen. The final responsibility is not shifted to a church or organization, though those partners are gladly welcomed.
An entrepreneurial minister is connected. That sounds like a contradiction to being self-sufficient. We all depend on each other. And it is the wise person who realizes that dependence. While the entrepreneurial minister is not afraid to take the lead in developing, planning, funding ministry, that same minister welcomes and develops contacts through various networks. No entrepreneurial effort is likely to succeed without a network of support.
An entrepreneurial minister is ready to fail, if need be. An entrepreneurial minister is prayerful. No one is more prayerful than someone who carries so much of the responsibility themselves. An entrepreneurial minister is willing to do what is necessary to support a family and to make that ministry happen.
Let this be a summons to people with a burden for ministry to take the necessary steps to make that ministry a reality. Maybe you can depend upon a church to make it happen. Maybe you’ll have to find other support. Likely it will take it all.
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