Going into full-time ministry

I once heard my mentor, John Wimber, say on an audio tape, “The day I got saved I went into full-time ministry, and I’ve been in it ever since.” At the time I heard him say it I thought he was saying, “When I got saved I began the journey that lead me into the full-time ministry positions I now hold.” I think my mindset stopped me from understanding the full implication of what John was saying. It probably would have been helpful if he had explained a little more.

When I heard John say this, I was on my own trajectory toward “full-time” ministry. I was serving as the Executive Pastor (unpaid) of a church, helping to lead them to a new worship center location. In that role I was doing all of the things that the “full-time” ministers were doing: meeting in staff meetings, making plans, executing them, and dealing with the stuff that goes on behind the scenes of any normal church. Eventually I accidentally ended up the pastor of a Vineyard church. At last, I was truly in “full-time” ministry (although still unpaid!).

Over the years I have heard numbers of people say, “I wish I could be in full-time ministry.” What they are saying is, “I wish I could stop working as a ___________ (you fill in the blank) and work full-time as a pastor, or missionary, or nonprofit leader of some kind.” It is only in the last few months that I have figured out that Jesus wants me to be in full-time ministry and he has wanted that to be my condition from the day he called me to follow him.

In the last few months I have had a shift in my worldview, especially concerning my business as a lawyer. I have begun to see my law practice as my “flock,” the people God has sent to me for ministry. Since that shift I have begun to see my clients through Jesus’ eyes and my daily life as one divine appointment after another. The results have been mind-blowing! I have seen Jesus enter the courtroom with me and set a captive free. I have been given the opportunity to share the good news about Christ with others. I have prayed for physical healing and seen instantaneous results. I have comforted the bereaved and the hopeless. It has been an amazing time.

I have seen that one of John Wimber’s favorite sayings is true, “The meat is in the streets!”

I have shared my thrilling insight with others, and have been shocked and surprised when they have said, “You didn’t know that? I’ve know that for years!” Why didn’t anyone tell me? I’ve been thinking long and hard about that question. This seems like the biggest and well-kept secret in Christianity, Jesus has called all of his followers to be full-time ministers and to partner with the Holy Spirit in daily service to the world they inhabit.

Maybe professional pastors and chaplains don’t know this fundamental fact of discipleship. Maybe the implications are too frightening to the paid professionals. All I know for sure is, I have been bitten by the bug and will never go back to my former way of thinking and living.