Michael Tolosa

To Christians, ministries are like iPhones – every Christian’s gotta have one! Surely, to be truly spiritual, every Christian must have their own personal ministry that they can launch, promote and run like a small business! (Don’t forget your tax-free status!) Preferably this ministry will coincide nicely with your personal interests.

Amy would rather play music than do her homework, so she needs to form a Christian band! Jackie enjoys gorging herself on chocolates, so she needs to start a Christian chocolate lovers home group! Joe likes drinking and picking up chicks, so he needs to launch a Christian dating ministry! These are the worlds familiar to them. These are the people they’re being “called” to reach. Right?

God certainly wouldn’t punish these enthusiastic folks by calling them to give up their passions, leave their comfortable lives, or simply live a simple, obscure life. God wants us to be happy – and famous! God wants us to have successful ministries!

What are ministries? Why are we concerned with having them? Jesus and the apostles didn’t emphasize the need for every Christian to have a personal, tax-exempt ministry relevant to their culture. He gave us very simple directives… Love God, love your neighbor, preach the Gospel, and make disciples. These should be the personal “ministries” of every Christian.

Don’t know what ministry God is calling you to? You don’t need to wait on the leading of the Holy Spirit to know that God is calling you to love Him, love your neighbor, preach the Gospel, and make disciples. Jesus was clear about all of those things. He calls all Christians to do these.

I don’t know about you, but I barely have enough time to do any one of these things – much less all of them. Why would I need to spend what free time I have creating more work (read: ministry) each day?

If you and I focused on loving God with all our heart, soul, and mind, we wouldn’t have time for ministry. If we loved our neighbors as ourselves, our calendars would already be full.

Who do we spend the majority of our time with? Where is the bulk of our energy spent? If the answer is the Church or other Christians, then our priorities are off.

You don’t serve Christ by separating yourselves into Christian ministries and engaging the world from the perch of a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, or from within the confines of an isolated church building or home group (geographically in the community, but practically absent & non-existent). You serve Christ by serving your neighbors – both the wealthy neighbors (aka big donors!) and the “least of these” (Matt 25:40).

What is your personal ministry? Is it based around a personal interest? Is your dedication to that particular interest distracting you from fulfilling God’s command to love Him, love your neighbors, preach the Gospel, and make disciples?

If you’re more concerned with how much money your ministry raises, how many people attend your meetings, how well your marketing efforts are going, or how fulfilled your ministry makes you… maybe it’s time to ditch your ministry.

If you’ve never met your next-door neighbor, invited them over for dinner, or planned a neighborhood block party… maybe it’s time to ditch your ministry.

If you don’t spend time every single day reading the Bible and praying to God, learning more about Him, and worshiping Him… maybe it’s time to ditch your ministry.

Quit using your ministry as an excuse to disengage from the world and from God. Be ready everyday to be interrupted by an opportunity to serve or get to know your neighbors, or to go to God in prayer. Life already has too many distractions. Don’t get caught up in the logistics of “ministry.”

I’ve been feeling lost lately – without a church home.

About two months ago, I believe God called me out of my current church in order to begin teaching and discipling new believers right in my community. My mission field was not to be the world, the country, or even the DC metro area. My mission field was to be my community – my neighbors, local shop owners, and schools. At first, I thought I would be ministering in Oakton, Virginia – but with a sudden, abrupt move to South Riding, Virginia last month, I have a new community to immerse myself into and reach.

My wife and I have been trying to find a church home within or near South Riding. A month later, we’re still floundering alone in the community. And that’s taking a toll on me spiritually.

I don’t have lofty expectations for our new church home. I only want three things… 1) that the church teach correct doctrine (i.e., Reformed theology), 2) the church have a passion for reaching the South Riding community, and 3) there be clear opportunity for me to teach in some capacity (e.g., small groups, evangelism training, etc.). I don’t think these are impossible or even outrageous goals. Surely, I can find one church in the South Riding area that meets these requirements. But I have not.

We’ve visited three Reformed churches in the area – each one with their pluses and minuses. If we can’t find another Reformed church, we’ll have to choose between imperfect options. But maybe we’re supposed to learn that no church is perfect, and that we need to be able to tolerate an imperfect situation.

But where should w compromise? Which of my requirements is expendable?

I’ve spent a decade going to a church that I believe taught imperfect doctrine. Why make the switch now?

I’ve been doing evangelism ministry independent of my home church for over a year, so what difference does it make if the church is focused on South Riding (as I am) or not?

And as for teaching, I can certainly go out and find new believers to join a small group at my home – all on my own. Why do I need to tie my teaching with a church?

I guess the answer to all these questions is… Because I’m tired.

I’m tired of trying to do everything on my own. I’m tired of having to plan all the logistics of my ministry. I want to be a part of a church that has the same calling as me – a church that can take some of the burden off my shoulders and work with me in ministry.

I don’t want to do everything. I don’t want the glory. I want to work with a church and other believers who are similarly called, so I can finally take a back seat and let other people shine.

Lord, help us to find a church in South Riding.

Here’s a blast from America’s past. A list of rules for “Christian mechanics, merchants &c.” Let’s see this posted in corporate offices today.

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