Do you ever feel unimportant in the Kingdom of God?  Like who you are and what you do is on a lower tier while others are on a higher one?  I sure did. I was so frustrated because I knew I had a call on my life to full-time ministry, but I WAS NOT a fit for being a church pastor. I also knew I was an entrepreneur.  I could not reconcile the pull between the two.  I thought they were polar opposite callings.  Boy, was I wrong!

It all started with my new job. Commuting 90 miles to work. I made a commitment to not turn on the radio for the morning commute. I wanted to learn how to pray. My new job had so much adventure built in, but I wanted this job to be different. I prayed for my family on the way to work and others who had specific prayer requests, but then my world got rocked. One day, in my email inbox, my friend Bob sent me the Today God is First devotional from Os Hillman. For the first time in my life, I learned that God loved my work and that my workplace was my mission field. I was floored.

Have you ever considered that the Body of Christ is spread out all over the world, in every imaginable workplace SO THAT MINISTRY can be done there? You are surrounded by people who need to be led to Jesus, so Pastor them!

You don’t need to go to a building that houses the church on Sunday in order to be a pastor, you just need to love people above yourself and lead them to Jesus through caring for their needs.

The Church is everywhere: in our neighborhoods, in our workplaces and of course in the 4 walls building we also call a church. If Jesus had wanted us to build a bunch of buildings, he probably would have downloaded a few blueprints for us.

When the Body of Christ is outside the 4 walls church the body of Christ is unified in reaching the workplaces of this country. Stop thinking there is a little “c” church or parachurch, we are THE Church and it was Jesus’ idea.

What is your workplace like for you? Are they nice to you and care about your happiness? Imagine if every person who calls themselves a Christian actually saw their workplace as more than an income stream, but a place of ministry.

Forty years ago, Jim and I met each other, become best friends and thought we were meant to be full-time pastors or missionaries. Now, Jim and I have the pleasure of helping our radio and podcast listeners understand what we really committed to 40 years ago - living in full time ministry every day.

The very term "LAY" minister implies that there are two tiers in ministry. This word derives negative feelings in me about a two tiered system of importance in the kingdom.

Where did we get the idea that we HAVE to quit our job in order to be in ministry? You do not need to quit a perfectly good job that uses your skills, pays the bills, and fills a need.