It is an incontestable fact that the minister more makes the ministry. The minister is important than the ministry because his life gives direction and relevance to his ministry. Over and over again it has been confirmed – the pole position of the minister’s life to the ministry. No ministry can rise higher than the life of the minister. His life will make or mar the ministry. Despite the complexity of 21st century ministry. the life of the minister is the focal point.
A. Foundation and Basis
- Ministers are God’s ambassadors to the world.
- Ministers occupy a high pedestal in society.
- Gospel ministers are the hope and pillar of the world.
- Complex ministerial problems are mounting.
- Too much complain and justifiable criticism about ministers.
- Respect for ministers is waning due to disappointments.
- Because of unnecessary stagnation, barrenness and death of churches and ministries.
B. Complexity of 21st Century Ministry
Though the Scripture remains the same, but the world in which we are called to minister is fast changing and people are becoming more sophisticated by the day. Here are some of the facts:
- Consumer mentality of people
- Celebration of ‘success’ and achievers
- White washing sins and
- Jet-age and fast living.
- Internet, technology and information overload.
- Global village and influence.
- Economic woes and high cost of living.
- Competition for people’s attention.
- Scarcity of true and godly ministerial models.
- Independent spirit and free enterprise.
Due to the aforementioned challenges of 21st century ministry, many ministers are compromising rather than conquering these challenges. Too many are at a loss on how to remain true in such a terrible time when everyone is doing it, whether it is right or wrong.
C. Multiple Ministerial Problems today
- Shallow, yo-yo and charlatan ministers
- Immaturity and babyhood
- Professional businessmen financial gain.
- Lying, deceitful and untrustworthy.
- Unsaved professional beggars.
- Those who should follow but, who are already leading others
- Fornicators, adulterers and immoral ministers
- Envious, jealous, hatred and unforgiving ministers
- Syncretism, christopaganism and demonic pacts
- Pride of position, title and attainments.
- Focus on success, prosperity, wealth and worth.
- Uncooked, half-baked and undone ministers.
- Impervious to correction, training and learning.
- Short cut to numerical, financial and material success.
- Oppression of workers, staffs and aids.
- Unspirituality as a result of no devotional time with God.
- Prejudice and too much conservatism.
- Inability to truly lead as a result of low ability.
- Preaching other things that the undiluted word of God.
- Building ministry according to whim and caprices not according to godly and Bible pattern.
The adverse effect of these problems have been dragging the name of Christ in the mud; dishonouring God; sending many to hell; closing the gospel against many; death and decline of churches and ministries; hardening of peoples heart against the gospel; grieving the Spirit of God; premature end to a promising work and source of sadness to genuine Christians.
Recommended Reading
FLOURISHING MINISTERS, FLOURISHING MINISTRY
Top Ten Lessons From The Life of David
PRODUCTIVITY: The Master Key of Abundance
D. Your Life is Your Ministry
To minimize these ministerial problems today, every gospel minister must return back to basic -our life. Focusing on maintaining a healthy, spiritual, personal, private, public, family, business and prayer life will go a long way to reduce these problems to barest minimum.
- Fight for a holy and transparent life.
- Determine to be a godly model.
- Imbibe a learning spirit.
- Fight for a good name and integrity.,
- Cultivate and struggle for a consistent life of prayer.
- Don’t harbour lust, hatred, and unforgiving spirit.
- Abide in Him, His word, and His perfect will always.
- Build a relationship with Him that nothing will destroy.
- Remain open, humble, transparent, and optimistic.
- Be a good father, good husband and family man.
- Don’t let anybody steal your dream.