Entrepreneurs readily champion causes that contribute to the good of the world. While the world needs all the charities, orphanages, and non-profits it has and more, ministry is limited when one puts social causes first. Where is one to go, then, when he wants to do good and aid in the spread of the gospel? The clear-cut roles of pastor and missionary are the first choices, but some people are not called to be a public leader or uproot their lives.
Many people growing up in the church can point to trips and times of service where they experienced the joy of evangelism and missions, but could not sustain that motivation when they returned to their “real lives.” Foreign countries are just too far away, trips are too long, and funding is uncertain. It seems impossible, or at least highly inconvenient, to pursue such a service opportunity. However, when considering who one can serve, the people of the church are often left out.
Brian Mosley, president of RightNow Media, had one of these typical missions experiences. But instead of letting his inspiration fizzle out, he came to a realization. “Where we live doesn’t make us missionaries,” he states on his page on RightNow’s website. “The mission we are on makes us missionaries.” Bluefish TV, the parent ministry to RightNow, was a media company that created church resources. RightNow worked to connect people who had the typical mission trip motivation with further opportunities. Eventually, the two merged into a people-centered mission that exemplifies a grounded, holistic approach to ministry. Now they provide much needed video resources to churches, small-groups, and more, so that those ministries can focus more on the work they are called to do.
Ministering to the church instead of from it is essential but readily forgotten. While the church should not be full of cliques and navel-gazers, Christians need support just as much as non-Christians. The perception that the church should be better than needing support is frankly hypocritical and should be eradicated. And yes, evangelism is the ultimate goal of ministry, but it is certainly not the only function. So next time a service opportunity seems inacessible, look at what you can do to serve the people around you. Don’t waste your time looking for the best opportunity when there are people in need right in front of you.
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