The Uncomfortable Truth: My Struggle with Charging for Ministry and What The Holy Spirit Has Asked Me to Do About It.
The Uncomfortable Truth:
My Struggle with Charging for Ministry and What The Holy Spirit Has Asked Me to Do About It.
I have a confession to make, one that sits uncomfortably in my spirit, especially given my years of academic pursuit in the realm of ministry. I struggle. I mean really struggle, with the very act of charging people for any form of ministry I offer.
This internal conflict presents a genuine challenge. I hold a Master's degree in Ministry and stand on the precipice of completing my Doctorate in Ministry (just that final 5%!). It's not that I subscribe to the misguided notion that those called to full-time ministry should live in poverty. Quite the opposite. I firmly believe that those who dedicate their lives to serving the Lord and His people deserve to have their needs met.
However, my deep-seated conviction lies in the how of that provision. I cannot reconcile the idea of directly charging individuals for ministry with what I understand to be the biblical model. When we look to the scriptures, we see a different picture. We see the early church, moved by hearts overflowing with generosity and obedience to God's leading, providing for the needs of those who labored full-time in the gospel. Their support stemmed from a willing and Spirit-led outpouring, not a fee for service.
This conviction is why I'm making a significant shift regarding our upcoming 2025 Fall Intensive Discipleship Course in the vibrant mission field of Puerto Rico. You won't find a detailed breakdown of specific funding needs for each student. You won't see a price tag attached to the transformative experience we believe this course will be.
Instead, the financial needs for this endeavor will be brought before the Lord in prayer, with unwavering trust that He will provide. As we share this incredible training opportunity, our reliance will be solely on His abundant grace and the prompting of hearts He touches. I have an absolute, unwavering faith that God will provide for every single person He calls to join us on this trip.
This isn't some untested theory for me. Our lives as missionaries, chronicled in detail on my other blog, Radical Faith: Beyond Belief, have been a living testament to this principle. We have witnessed firsthand the faithfulness of God to meet our every need as we step out in obedience. We stand on the shoulders of giants like George Muller, whose life was a powerful demonstration of God's provision through prayer and unwavering faith.
I believe with all my heart that the Lord is stirring within this generation of believers a deep hunger for authenticity, a burning desire to see the church awakened. He is calling us to rise up with a fierce zeal for the unadulterated truth of the Gospel and an even greater zeal for living out that truth in tangible ways.
This Intensive Discipleship Course in Puerto Rico is not about us asking for money from anyone other than the One who owns the cattle on a thousand hills. It's about creating an environment where faith is not just talked about, but actively lived out, even in the realm of provision. It's about trusting the Lord implicitly, believing that if He has called us to this work, He will undoubtedly equip and sustain it.
Join us in Puerto Rico, not because you can afford a fee, but because the Lord has placed a stirring in your heart. Join us as we step out in faith, trusting that the same God who provided for the early church, the same God who sustained countless missionaries throughout history, will provide for us now. Let this be a testament to His faithfulness and a powerful step in awakening the church to a radical, unwavering faith.
To learn more about the 2025 Fall Intensive Discipleship Course in Puerto Rico and how you can be a part of this faith-filled journey, https://www.theexchangemin.com/school-of-discipleship
And be sure to follow our ongoing journey of faith and trust at Radical Faith: Beyond Belief www.missionarytalesbeyondbelief.blogspot.com
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