Comments on: The Day I Walked Away from Ministry

By: david

david — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 15:51:55 +0000

i get this.

but i’m a pastor because it’s what God has called me to do. that doesn’t mean i can’t have an impact on those in the “world.”

i have relationships with those on my kids sports teams, with those i play soccer with (i don’t play on a church team or in a church league), with my neighbors and with my friend’s neighbors (i started a monthly poker game for that purpose).

that i am a pastor (and they know it) has no impact on their willingness to engage me in spiritual or other conversations.

By: Steve Hase

Steve Hase — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 16:22:35 +0000

I appreciate this dialogue, especially how contributors authentically desire to integrate their walk with Christ with all of the realms of their lives, especially their vocation. “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men…” Col 3:23 For 25 years God has led me to develop commercial projects in both electric generation markets and through competitive k12 public schools. while I occasionally felt an itch to go to seminary, I have found that the engagement, relevance, discipline, accountability, excellence of business has been an influential vehicle that God has used in my life to point people in His direction, to be “Salt and Light”, to be His hands and feet to His world. Business is all about stewarding assets, engaging people, creating opportunities and solving problems to meet peoples needs. I count it a privilege, what a challenge! This is why I count it a privilege to serve Christ in the business world. If you have a similar passion and are looking for like-minded peers, I encourage you to look into C12 Groups, where Christian business owners and CEO’s gather to build great businesses for a greater purpose. I was a dues-paying C12 member for six years and the value I received was priceless. Now we are serving more than 50 cities, and growing every day. Check us out at http://www.c12group.com.

Steve Hase

By: Jeff Pelletier

Jeff Pelletier — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 06:04:35 +0000

Tony,

I’d love to have you on “God’s Work in Progress” and talk about this. GWIP is a radio show that airs live on Monday’s at noon Pacific time. Here is a link: http://www.voiceamerica.com/worldtalkradio/vshow.aspx?sid=1619

Please contact me to move things forward. You need to be heard.

Jeff Pelletier
http://www.becominggreat.com

By: Bill Foote

Bill Foote — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 01:30:15 +0000

I can relate. Being a pastor is a great job that can also be frustrating because you can feel isolated amongst believers. I enjoyed being in the work place and sitting next to those who needed to hear the Gospel. Being able to develop relationships and converse over time about what was really important. As a pastor I can still “witness” but it is usually a brief encounter that is rushed rather than a conversation that comes out of relationship. You are absolutely right in saying the members of the congregation must be doing this because the pastor will not have the same opportunities.

By: Justin Dela Cruz

Justin Dela Cruz — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 17:02:44 +0000

Why is the focus on “ministry” and if you are doing it or not. Who cares? shouldn’t the focus be on living out your salvation in honor and service to God, through the gifts and grace he has entrusted you to steward? So it doesn’t matter what you call it, divide it, or categorize it. The american church has fixated over the word “ministry” and qualifying it various ways. Let’s get beyond that and serve and love God – living out the “Christian” life, in whatever path God leads you in.

By: R Wolf

R Wolf — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 01:39:04 +0000

Tony:
Thanks for this post. It was pure encouragement for me to read the thoughts of someone who understands the place where God has been taking my wife & me the last few years.

One year ago, I stepped out of “vocational ministry” after nearly 30 years in that line as a youth pastor and, finally, as an adult small group coordinator. I think it is true that I was a “man of the church,” yet I am also convinced that God called me into the marketplace because that is where He wants to maximize my effectiveness as His representative for the next season of my life.

Around 15 years ago, I came upon the “Everyday Commission” material produced by SonLife Ministries & Dann Spader. That may have been the beginning of my new perspective that ALL followers of Christ are His ambassadors (“missionaries” or “ministers” if you will) wherever we find ourselves – where we live, and work and play.

From my experience as a paid pastor, I can affirm your statement that the title shuts down conversation. One of my efforts to influence the unconvinced took me into a hobby that connected me with people who didn’t know what I did for a living. I enjoyed it so much, I ultimately left church work to return to the marketplace. As an aside, may I add that I refuse to call my new world “secular.” I believe that wherever God’s people go becomes “holy ground,” because He is there in us.

When I left church work, I told my friends I was looking for opportunities to extend God’s grace. Believe me… I found exactly that. opportunities to bring Jesus & His grace to people are everywhere in the “normal” world.

I don’t expect everyone to share our views on this. yet, as a good friend wisely advised me, I am through spending energy on attempts to persuade others to see my points of view. Instead, I’ll use that energy to live out the call God has on my life.

Thanks again.

By: Freedy

Freedy — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 01:10:59 +0000

Thank you for writing and inspiring. I am ministered to each time I read. I read it and found it interesting. http://www.youthforjesus.com

Freedy

By: Brian

Brian — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 23:40:11 +0000

Hey,

I started off in full time ministry straight out of college. I have a Church Music degree…its what I always thought God wanted from me. But then I was at the church 5 days a week and 6 nights a week surrounded by churched people. Where was the outreach opportunity. I now serve part-time, because my heart is still in church leadership, but I have a full time job at Starbucks. It’s a terrific place to meet people. My dad likes to tell people that I left the ministry to do ministry.

Brian

By: Hal Hunter

Hal Hunter — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 22:41:53 +0000

Semantically ministry is service. Service can take many shapes and involve many different opportunities to grow the Kingdom.

Let’s argue by analogy. Doctors deal directly with people, save lives and relieve pain. over a lifetime they may touch thousands of lives. They are doing front line ministry. Medical professors teach and enable doctors and may see very few if any patients. But, they touch and influence many doctors. Their knowledge, through others, may save not thousands but tens of thousands over a career.

By: Dave Faulkner

Dave Faulkner — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 21:14:59 +0000

Thank you for such an honest piece. Two quick thoughts, and the first may partly duplicate what one or two above have said: Ephesians 4, ‘preparing God’s people for works of service’ – therefore what you do is ministry. Secondly, if you are frustrated about spending all your time with Christians, is this not an argument for a ‘missional’ approach, not having the ‘come to church’ attitude but a ‘word made flesh and dwelt among us’ style? I’m a pastor, too, and my churches assume I am there for them. In a sense I am. But my wife and I intentionally involve ourselves in our local community, too.

Just my gut thoughts. Grace and peace be yours in abundance.