Are YOU called into MINISTRY?

... why of course you are!!

You don't have to go to BIBLE COLLEGE or SEMINARY or have a Biblical degree to be in ministry. A pastor friend of mine, and I were just discussing this fact. He is trying to instill in his people that everyone is called into Ministry. Ministry by definition is,

The act of serving; ministration.
One that serves as a means; an instrumentality.
The profession, duties, and services of a minister.
The Christian clergy.
The period of service of a minister.
A governmental department presided over by a minister.
The building in which such a department is housed.
The duties, functions, or term of a governmental minister.
often Ministry Governmental ministers considered as a group.
The profession, duties, and services of a minister.
The Christian clergy.
The period of service of a minister.
A governmental department presided over by a minister.
The building in which such a department is housed.
The duties, functions, or term of a governmental minister.
often Ministry Governmental ministers considered as a group.
A governmental department presided over by a minister.
The building in which such a department is housed.
The duties, functions, or term of a governmental minister.
often Ministry Governmental ministers considered as a group.

"ministry." The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004. 24 Aug. 2008. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ministry>.

In all its basics, as the first definition above points out, ministry is "the act of serving". Everyone is called to serve. Just as Jesus was sent to serve, "Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." ~ Mark 10:43-45

Mark bought me a cool book at Kingdom Bound, called "SHINE" by the Newsboys, and it talks about them not as performers, but as Christians. I have yet to read it all, but I browsed through it, and found this cool quote which is about this topic of ministry.

"No matter what your occupation or calling in life -- whether you're a pastor, a missionary, or someone who checks water meters all day -- it's people that count. God has you where you are to touch the lives of those who cross your path. God has you where you are to hold your light high, like a city on a hill" - Ron Mehl (pg 261, Shine!c 2002 by the Newsboys.)

So be blessed as you go out and SERVE others in Jesus' name.
SHINE your light for all to see... "make em wonder what you got!"

Love & prayers,
Mitz