Ministry used to be a verb. Apparently now it’s a noun.
I’ve been out of seminary for a few years now and I’ve noticed a trend lately that I think represents a very poor way of thinking about ministry. Many of the students and alumni I see these days are forming “ministries” instead of just going out and doing ministry. I can’t tell you how many students I know right now whose goal for getting educated is to “have a speaking and writing ministry.” Where are the pastors? Where are the teachers? Where are the evangelists? Ephesians 4 does not list “speakers and writers” as gifted positions God gave for the establishment of the Church!
Now, what these people are doing is a good thing so far as it goes, but the problem is that instead of involving themselves with the local church or schools they put up a false front and then attempt to fund their “ministry” by requesting donations. The thinking seems to be that doing ministry involves these steps:
- “Found” your ministry. (By “found” is meant “think up a title and make a website out of it.” The title should include words like National, International, Institute, Center, or Society.)
- Give yourself the title of “founder,” “director,” “president,” or whatever. (Note that from this point on you must never refer to yourself in the first person, rather you should use “us,” “we,” and “The Ministry.”)
- Get 501(c) 3 status for your “ministry” so you can accept tax exempt donations for your “ministry work.”
- Hit the road doing “speaking engagements” and ask for money for “The Ministry” so you can speak more.
The question these “ministries” need to ask themselves is why they should be siphoning off funding for the local church when it is the local church that should be paying them to preach or teach in the first place. What are these donations for anyway? If they are speaking they should be getting paid. And if they aren’t making enough doing speaking engagements then they should either get better or get another job! In the good ole’ days seminaries fed the churches. Students came to seminary in order to get training in how to support the Church - not compete with it by creating their own little tax-exempt solo careers. We need less superheroes and more laborers.
Sure, there will always be the Billy Grahams and James Dobsons of the world whose ministries are making a huge difference and require support from churches. But many today think that they should instantly be paid full time speakers just because they have a few PowerPoint presentations made from their class notes. It’s like the debt problem Americans face today. Kids graduate High School with nicer cars than people who have been working for twenty years and think they should be in a 3,000 square foot home by the time they’re out of college. They see the results of a lifetime of labor and think that’s just what they should have; so they go into massive debt instead of earning the income. In the same way, these “ministry founders” seem to think that being a Ravi Zacharias or a William Lane Craig involves nothing more than being able to parrot real scholars’ material in a 45 minute seminar. Then they beg for money because “the world needs to hear this stuff!”
I agree that the world needs to hear many of these messages - but it needs to hear them from all believers. And that requires training all believers (which is what Church is supposed to do). And I am talking about real training - not just weekend seminars. Churches and schools are the best places to prepare people for that sort of ministry - but what if all they do is run out and “found speaking ministries”? Sure, if these “ministers” become so popular that they can do it full time, fine. But people should not think that this is just what ministry is and simply ask people to fund them.
I think what irritates me the most, though, is the image manipulation. What right does an average seminary student or graduate have to act as though they are heading up some huge ministry when it is really just them trying to get paid to speak here and there? This is not doing ministry, this is spin doctoring. Does Gary Habermas have “The International Center for Resurrection Studies”? Does Tom Howe have “The Institute for Classical Hermeneutical Training”? And why doesn’t Win Corduan host “The National Society for the Philosophy of World Religions”? Because these “ministries” don’t exist (even though these guys could legitimately get them going if they so desired!).
Worse, if the terms used in titles like these are taken in their natural sense then it might even be seen as lying. These are not “centers” or “institutes” and they are not “national” or “international.” They are just people with websites. And that is enough! Why act like there is more to it than that? That is why I have dougbeaumont.org - not because of vanity, but because that’s all my ministry is: me, and what I do at school, church, and the venues where I speak. I am not “international,” I have no “institute,” and as far as I know no “societies” have formed because of me (unless they are secret societies and I have not been invited!).
Having a catchy title for a ministry is fine. Asking for donations because someone really can’t work and do her ministry well at the same time might be appropriate if her church cannot support her. But let’s be honest people . . . fake storefronts are no way to begin a legitimate ministry.
16 responses so far ↓
Josh // February 21, 2008 at 4:10 am
Thanks so much for these comments. I am a youth pastor in a church and everyday I am reminded of the need for real ministry IN the church. I am also a student at SES, and I am everyday reminded that my studies are not designed to help me get out of “church” work but to make me better equipped to serve the Body of Christ.
Daniel // February 21, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Fantastic observation; you are very right. Many people (Christians and Non-Christians) ask me what I am going to seminary for. I think the goal is obvious and should be: to preach, teach, and evangelize. Yes, writing a few books is also a possible goal, but I want to be involved in a church, not trying to set up my own “ministry” apart from a church. Preach it brother!
L-Boogie // February 22, 2008 at 1:02 am
Crap! I hate you Doug! I really hate you!
And your wife…and dog.
I can’t hate your kid cause it’s not his fault.
It is your dog’s fault even though I’m not sure how.
But you are right and I’ve struggled with this. I feel like my only options are to get my PhD or to start a church. I’m leaning the PhD route.
Love,
Your brother in Christ,
L
Spidey // February 22, 2008 at 3:53 am
After reading your blog I had to sit back and take a careful evaluation of my “ministry.” I agree with you that alot of people put up fronts to appear to be bigger than they are or to seem to be doing more than they are. I was a full time Youth Pastor before graduating from SES, so I didnt go to school to get a better job. I actually loved working with kids. It’s funny, Lawyers take the bar and move on to practice law, Doctors complete school to go on to practice medicine, I went to school to learn apologetics only to come out to find that no one wanted to hire me to work in my field. So what did I do? I applied to be a Youth Pastor, Evangelism Leader, Discipleship Leader . . .but, in the words of Tony Soprano . . “Forget about it.” So I reached out to help the local churches in the Bay Area develop Apologetic ministries in their churches by doing quarterly training. I spend atleast 3 -4 months at a church teaching on the foundation of Christianity, Cults, and Theology. I don’t take a fee but people do give donations. I also developed . . excuse me . . “founded” ( lol) a conference I put on each year out here to equip others. That brings me to the point of why I had to get a 501 status, because if you recieve a dollar from anyone you have to give an account by government regulations. So I had to give myself the title of Prez (HNIC) ” just a joke, calm down.” I say all this to say that I wish more churches (or even my church for that matter) would give me the opportunity to actually minister to the body of Christ. Outside of pastoring (which I dont believe is my gift) I may not have started a para ministry if I could have been working in ministry in the local church full time. I think myself and others have to evaluate why we do what we do. Are you really concerned about the lost? or do you like the attention speaking gives you? Do you really care about the baby in the womb? or do you flatter yourself at how well you handled that mother on the issue of abortion? People get your mind right. It’s true I’m just a guy with a computer and a website, but I also have a great education and happen to know guys like Doug Beaumont (my brotha from anotha mother). In boxing there is a saying that says “there are more guys who are punch drunk from pats on the back rather than punches to the face” the urban philosopher KRS1 said people walk around saying “I’m so and so, I’m this, I’m that, but their all just wic wic whack.” Thanks for the blog. BTW, I think I hate your dog too.
Doug Beaumont // February 22, 2008 at 6:43 am
Spidey and L-Boogie,
You guys are actually part of the reason I get so frustrated with people who have “fake” ministries. Yours are real, and these spinners could end up making legit gigs like yours look bad (at least on the surface).
Spidey - you host a Christian conference in California on apologetics and you know what it’s called? “The Apologetics Conference of the Whole Freakin World”? No - it’s the “California Christian Apologetics Conference” - which is exactly what it IS! And you take donations because you actually need them to do what you do - conferences are expensive (especially with the top drawer people you have come speak . . .). You’re not just asking people to fund an apologetic rock star lifestyle.
L-Boogie, you wanted to start a Center - an actual BUILDING where people did ministry. When the Center did not get the funding it needed (again - Church’s fault) you did something else. You did not start a website and call it a Center.
You both are doing real ministry and not fronting like so many others (and if you guys had just gone Word Faith I am sure you’d have the money you need by now!). In summary - neither of you is wic wic, nor are you whack (see how down I am when I talk to you guys!).
And my dog can eat your dog’s lunch.
Mike // February 23, 2008 at 6:03 am
Doug,
You have inspired me with this article so . . .
have just founded a new ministry: “The International Institute for the Creation of National Centers To Promote Ministries Which Will Seek to Procure Speaking Engagements to Let People Know that Ministry is Best Done in the Local Church.” We will also be writing a book about this need entitled “Its the Church, Stupid!”
Thank you for giving our new “Ministry” direction.
P.S. Could you spare $50 for the funds that we will need to begin arranging our speaking engagements?
Michael Signorelli // February 29, 2008 at 2:01 am
Dear Sir,
I am 39 years old and have been a believer for almost 12 years. I have only been in “professional” ministry for 2 and 1/2 years. It is amazing how much mail I get from, “ministries” looking for the “almighty” dollar. It seems like more men and women are in “para-ministry” then in “church ministry”…but I might add, I have yet to finish my degree with Moody and am perhaps cynical and naive in this matter.
Doug Beaumont // February 29, 2008 at 3:00 am
Michael,
I’d say cynical and NOT naive.
DB
spicher // February 29, 2008 at 7:32 am
I have a secret society involving the watching of spinal tap and musing about Doug, and remembering his hair before he shaved it.
I have to agree with the notion that Doug brings forth here. I get particularly annoyed at those, who were mentioned previously, that reduce someone’s thought to a power point and take credit for it. It’s what I like to call plagiarism. But I suppose if it’s for the gospel, then sometimes we need to be all things to all men that some might be saved [of course, that was a joke].
Furthermore, I am firmly convinced that people ought to work more with the local church. Who knows, maybe if people were united, the church would possibly be more effective. Jesus spoke about unity, and most people seem to act very much in a compartmentalized fashion.
Davis // March 6, 2008 at 9:36 pm
I think I remember a blog comments thread where the philosopher Tim McGrew was talking about how he was able to respond to Alvin Plantinga’s critique of the historical argument for the resurrection. Basically, McGrew was able to respond because he had been studying probability theory for 10+ years.
I just find it ironic, like you mentioned, because some seminary students place work like that in a powerpoint slide, as if they came up with the solution themselves.
However, if I could rake in the $$$ like some of the ‘Centers for Apologetic Learning and Really Really Important Church Training Seminars’ aspire to, I’d have a hard time turning it down. Fortunately, I won’t ever. Lay people find me boring.
spicher // March 6, 2008 at 10:08 pm
How come doug hasn’t responded to my awesome comment???
i bet the guys at http://www.tiestin.wordpress.com will respond in a timely fashion to comments that are posted.
yes, i am shameless.
Doug Beaumont // March 7, 2008 at 12:20 am
Spicher,
Now that you are a Ph.D. student I was too overwhelmed with awe to respond to you.
I’ll let you use my blog for your shameless BLOG promotion only because you like the Sex Pistols.
Doug Beaumont // March 7, 2008 at 12:20 am
Davis,
Just so you don’t whine like Spicher:
NICE COMMENTS!
-db
Jeremy Garrett // March 14, 2008 at 9:38 pm
Cool blog, serving is becoming a lost art. I heard a 7th grade kid say ” psht, i don’t have to SERVE them!”. The current church generation is a model of feeling and getting, not serving (like Jesus). too many people wanting to be first. Thanks
jae // March 19, 2008 at 11:00 pm
so my ministry can longer uphold my title of the co-founding first lady to the director? dang!! …um…I heart doug and doug’s blog…thanks for being such an intelligent guy. i linked your blog to mine: theindecisivepinay.wordpress.com so that other people can gain knowledge from the great and fantastic doug (not that anyone reads my blog).
Doug Beaumont // March 21, 2008 at 3:33 am
First Lady Mrs. Co-President,
Your blog looks cool - thanks for the link (mine are mostly apologetics and theology, when you start philosophizing I’ll add you hahaha).
Heart u2
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