ANSWERING THE CALL: Understanding And Responding To The Call To Full-Time Ministry

“Ron Lewis has helped more young people answer the Call to ministry than anybody I know. These principles will guide you confidently into the purposes of God.”

Dr. Rice Broocks, Co-founder, Every Nation,

Author of God’s Not Dead and Man, Myth, Messiah

WHAT IS FULL-TIME MINISTRY?

“‘Come follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will send you out to fish for people.’ At once, they left their nets and followed him.” Matthew 4:19-20

What do you think of when you hear the phrase, “full-time ministry?” Maybe you think of a man in a collar or flowing robes, a preacher on TV, or a missionary in the bush of Africa, the frozen tundra of Siberia, or the jungles of the Amazon. Perhaps you think of a campus minister who has helped you get to know Jesus in a personal way. To a degree, these can all be examples of full-time ministry. From here on, when I use the phrase “full-time ministry,” I am mindful that all ministry—in every sphere of life—is a full-time calling. However, for the sake ofclarity in this book, when I refer to full-time ministry, I am referring to a man or woman whose primary occupation is gospel ministry and all it entails.

Full-time ministry is a job, a vocation, and a career, but, as we will see, it is so much more.

This subject is often misunderstood and usually brings with it a handful of questions:

•Does God want you to go into full-time ministry? (Chapter 2)

•What is the real difference between a Christian who works a “secular job” and a full-time minister? (Chapter 3)

•Does it please God more if you are a full-time minister? (Chapter 3)

•If I go into ministry, where do I begin? (Chapter 5)

•What will it cost me to follow Jesus into full-time ministry? (Chapter 7)

•How can I be paid for doing Christian ministry? (Chapter 9)