Ministry & Leadership

A strong, lasting sense that God wants you to do something specific — a job, a place, a form of service — and that your life is meant for it.

A named branch of Christianity with its own structure, beliefs, and churches (Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran, Presbyterian). A non-denominational church is one that declines to belong to any of them.

Being trained in following Jesus — learning to think, pray, and live as a Christian, usually with the help of someone further along.

Telling other people about Jesus with the hope they'll believe — from a quiet conversation with a friend to a stranger with a megaphone.

An older or more experienced Christian who guides someone in their faith — meeting regularly, teaching, and taking an interest in their growth.

Any organized work of serving others in the church or in Jesus' name — from a food pantry to a choir to a career as a pastor. "My ministry" means the particular service someone does.

Christian work of sharing the faith and serving people in another culture or country — for a week (a mission trip), a few years, or a lifetime (a missionary).

The ceremony that formally makes someone a minister, pastor, priest, or deacon — with prayer and the laying on of hands, after the church has examined and approved them.

Church activities aimed at people outside the church — service projects, community events, food drives, anything that meets neighbors where they are.

A Christian organization that isn't a church — campus ministries, relief agencies, mission boards, publishers, youth outreaches — working "alongside" the church to do things a single congregation can't.

A guest preacher who fills in when a church's regular pastor is away — sick, on vacation, on sabbatical, or gone — and the arrangement by which churches find one.

Graduate school for pastors, priests, and ministers — usually a three-year Master of Divinity in Bible, theology, church history, and pastoral skills.

Leading by serving — putting the people you lead first, doing the humble tasks, and using authority for others' good rather than your own — modeled on Jesus washing His disciples' feet.

Managing money, time, abilities, and the earth as things that belong to God and are entrusted to you. Also, in practice, the name churches give the annual giving campaign.

How many missionaries and ministry workers fund their salaries — by asking friends, family, and churches to commit to regular monthly gifts.