What is Successful Ministry?

IC leaders ask more questions now than ever before? Slowly emerging from Covid…we scan the horizon for what the “new” normal will look like. As healthy and humble leaders, we need to ask critical questions of ourselves and the people God entrusts us to lead. The potential for unprecedented gospel ministry is right in front of us….will we step up to the challenge?

One of the major questions I hear IC leaders asking is “What are you doing with _________? (particular challenge)” or “What should I do with ______________?” The blank can be filled with things like decreased finances, increasingly transitory leaders, shifting Covid restrictions, people not returning, or people not willing to engage in ministry. It doesn’t really matter what response is in the blank because at the core of the question, is either a misunderstanding or genuinely not knowing what successful future ministry looks like in the new normal.

What is “successful” ministry, anyway?

To some it is large churches, to others it means having a staff, to others it would be full funding, or enough money for the basics, or time to fulfill the vision. Successful ministry may be defined as keeping people in the church long enough to make disciples, or having a stable leadership team, or everyone getting along, or simply surviving, or ….

We want to not only survive in the new normal, but we want to thrive in God’s work in the decades to come.

There is an answer to the question, “What should I do with __________?”, no matter what word is in the blank. It is a guarantee of “successful” ministry no matter what pandemic hits us next. A certain win regardless of who leaves or joins our churches. Are you ready for the time-tested secret sauce for the new normal?

God has something better for us than striving for surviving. He simply wants us to be faithful.

God wants you to be faithful in the “now” normal. That’s it.

Faithfulness is a key thread in the Bible. We know that the Father is faithful to never leave or disown His children. We know that the Son is faithful past the point of death all the way into new life. We experience the Spirit’s faithfulness expanding our understanding of the gospel, opening the eyes of others and empowering us all for God’s kingdom work. We could dive deep into a biblical theology of faithfulness but this isn’t a sermon and I’ll leave that to you and the Holy Spirit to figure out what preach to your IC about this topic.

Since we know God is so faithful, what if we simply focused on being faithful today? God has been moving my heart closer and closer to Him by reminding me that although I don’t know what the future holds, I do know the God who holds the future. I don’t know about you, but God has given me more than enough to be faithful with today and tomorrow, and I’m sure He will guide me in the days after that!

The Apostle Paul knew about life change, His whole world got turned upside down after his conversion. He didn’t have to wear a mask, but He had to wear chains! Paul didn’t have to socially distance at 2 meters, instead he went head first into ministry risking his very life! He didn’t have to learn of the latest government restrictions for meeting because he was confined to a prison.

In the midst of serious change and the beginning of the church, as we know it, Paul has one singular focus. As his life is changing all around him, the spiritual climate buzzing with potential, the gospel spreading worldwide like wildfire, Paul has one concern: faithfulness. As he stands before the Ephesian elders in Acts 20:22-24 look at what Paul has to say:

And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

I don’t care if I die, I just want to finish testifying to the gospel of the grace of God.

I’m not fearful, I just want to be faithful.

What does faithfully serving God with the time, resources, knowledge and people look like for you today?

Think about it. Say “Hey Siri” or “OK Google” or “Alexa” – set timer for 2 minutes”

Trust me, you have 2 minutes to ask God about being faithful….

So, how can we be faithful in the now normal? Let’s take a moment out as a global movement of Jesus followers and listen to the Spirit speak to us through the Word. Pray and read the following passages:

1 Kings 2:3 – “Do what the LORD your God commands and follow his teachings. Obey everything written in the Law of Moses. Then you will be a success, no matter what you do or where you go”

Proverbs 3:1-4 My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man”

Psalm 37:4 “Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness”

Matthew 25:22-23 – “Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ 23  His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’

Note: (The master didn’t say “Well done good and successful servant,”) but “well done good and faithful servant.” Success and failure are master vocabulary, faithfulness is steward/servant vocabulary.

2 Tim. 2:11-13
If we have died with him, we will also live with him;
if we endure, we will also reign with him;
if we deny him, he also will deny us;
if we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he cannot deny himself.

And finally, the verse God used in my heart that started this whole post. After Paul addresses divisions in the church (we know a thing or two about that, don’t we!?) he says these words in 1 Cor 4:1-2

“This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.

Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.

So fellow stewards of people, trust, position, influence, money, truth… imagine if in 6 months, 6 years or 60 years we were all found faithful with what God entrusted to us. Imagine the things God could do in and through us in the IC movement. Imagine second and third generation disciples who make disciples in countries and cities that you and I haven’t even heard about. Imagine people groups currently walking in darkness that will see the light of Jesus through faithful sharing of the gospel.

I look forward to what God will do in and through us for His glory. We can trust him, he is the very definition of faithfulness.

Bill Koogler