FLOURISHING MINISTERS, FLOURISHING MINISTRY: CHRUCH AND MINISTRY

For too long a time, there has been no clear line of demarcation between Church and Ministry. Too many ministry has turned into church and too many churches are being run like a ministry. On the other hand, many pastors don’t fulfill their ministry simply because they are in a church and many churches have experienced crisis because they don’t give room to the ministry of saints. It is high time we look at this issues one after the other for the sake of much needed clarity.

1. Difference Between Church and Ministry

CHURCH:

A church is a public property according to CAMD 1990

A local body of believers meeting on Sundays and Weekdays for fellowship and edification.
A church collects offerings, tithes and dues from members.
A church has a fellowship hall.
A church has a pastor, boards and registered members.
The church focus on sinners and members.
The church is a non-profit organization that should not engage in buying, selling and profit making.
The church is one aspect of ministry.
The church aims to win sinners, reach out to change lives and prepare them for heaven.

MINISTRY:

A ministry is a personal affair, an enterprise.
A ministry is outreach oriented, has no Sunday Service.
A ministry depends on sponsors, honorariums and sales.
The ministry runs from an office or Secretariat.
A ministry has the Executive Director and the rest are staffs.
Ministry focuses on one aspect of need in people’s lives through outreaches, publications, tapes, books and teachings.
A ministry can be run as an enterprise or company paying tax to government. Not every ministry must turn to a church.
Two basic aims of ministry: incorporate, nurture, train and sensitize people towards reaching out.

2. The Overseer / Senior Pastor and Ministry – II Tim. 4:5-6

Too many church founders have made a shipwreck of their lives and families because there is no clear understanding of what is church and ministry and corporate ministry. Every Overseer, Pastor must understand the difference between personal ministry and corporate ministry.

You may start out as a ministry and later through God’s leading turn into a church. The church and ministry must have separate registration and boards.
At 55 years of age, a Pastor must move from church ministry to outward personal ministry.
There are ministers that never enter their real ministry all their life. They have an entry point say as an evangelist – but they remain there for life.
Corporate ministry is church properly registered; a public property; cannot be inherited; have boards, incorporated trustees, keeps proper financial records, admits members and operates by a constitution.
Your personal ministry must be clearly spelt out for everyone to see. Your personal ministry may come in form of:
Tapes of your messages.
Invitations to minister outside.
Books authored by you.
Outlines of your teachings.
Nursery and Primary Schools.
Mobile Training Schools.
Specialized and Interdenominational prayer, deliverance and teaching programmes.

To run these personal ministries successfully with your church; you must put a line of demarcation, speak clearly about it, balance your time, let there be no clash of interest and above all, your gifts is not meant for those inside alone but for the whole world. Personal ministry is an avenue of extending the impact of your life and ministry:-

Without personal ministry, you cannot fulfill all your dreams.
Without personal ministry, you cannot utilize all your gifts.
Without personal ministry, you stand to be frustrated and discouraged.
Without personal ministry, your suffering is a sure guarantee.
Without personal ministry, you cannot be truly fulfilled.
There are monies that belong to you, but are not in your local church.

Below are some examples of corporate and personal ministry in practice:

Archbisop Benson Idahosa: IWO, Books, tapes and outside invitations are personal, while Church of God Mission is the corporate ministry.
W.F. Kumuyi: Deeper Life Bible Church is corporate ministry while Life Tapes Ltd., Zoe Publishing House Ltd are personal.
Pastor E.A. Adeboye: The Redeemed Christian Church of God is corporate ministry, while Christ Redeemer’s Ministry oversees books, tapes, schools. bookshops and eateries.
Bishop David Oyedepo: Faith Tabernacle, Winners, Chapel is corporate ministry, DOMI oversees WOFBI, Dominion Publishing House, Covenant Schools, books and tapes.
Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries is corporate, while Battle cry Christian Ministry is private.

Both corporate and personal ministry can be run alongside each other, provided the timing is right, doesn’t hinder each other. Personal ministry have the capacity to bring more exposure, impact, growth and open door to the corporate ministry.

3. Ministry Inside Church – Rom. 12:6-8

Too many churches have recorded crisis and breakaway simply because they fail to welcome the ministry of the saints. It is high time that churches began to recognize the concept of ministry inside the church. The local church must allow people to initiate ministries to various segments of the society. Ministry in the church must be initiated by those whom the Lord has given the vision. They do it with active encouragement by the church. Such ministries, when properly done and maturely handled, help to grow the church. Here are reasons why churches don’t welcome ministries: –

Ignorance on the part of the church leaders.
Immaturity on the part of those who have the vision.
Unfounded fear of breakaway. Envy and jealousy.
Traditional Mindset.
Ego and personality clash. Failure to see potentials.
Wrong teachings and notions. Inferiority complex.
Nasty experiences from ministry people.
Lack of credibility.
Collecting people’s tithe and offering by ministry people.

Denominational churches have not known how to handle the personal ministry of the saints. More often than not, it has lead to crisis and problems.

A case in point is C.A.C with WOSEM & Kiibati and The Redeemed Christian Church of God always detest those who have personal ministries.

Yet, the truth is that God gives ministries to the saints. The saints are to use their gifts, callings, burdens and expertise to witness and win their world to Christ. Without embracing and allowing the personal ministry of the saints, the church will keep on being in crisis, breakaway and stagnation. Billy Graham, Reinhard Bonnke, Graham power and Peter Wagner are still church members, whose pastors allowed and supported their worldwide ministries.