When to start a ministry
Have A Great Ministry Idea? 5 Things To Do Before Starting A New Ministry
you're smart you're talented you're
hard-working and more than that you now
have a great idea that you just know
could change the world change life and
change eternity so the question is do
you begin to build a ministry from
scratch or is God calling you to do
something different with those one of
the things I love most about working
with lay ministers who have an
entrepreneurial spirit is that those
type of people can look at the world and
see it in all of its ugliness its
harshness and its brokenness and they
can look at the world and say wow there
are so many opportunities to do great
good here ministerial entrepreneurs are
the ones who can see the ugliness of the
world but they don't lose hope and more
than that these are the kind of people
who usually have the gifts and talents
to be able to pull it off which is so
exciting it's exciting when you stumble
across what a unique idea that no one
else is doing and it's exciting when you
begin to sit back and dream and realize
that it's possible that it's possible to
change the world and it's exciting when
you begin to do on it and see the
practical steps that would take you to
the place where that idea is no longer
just a dream no longer in an intangible
reality but it's real and it's making a
difference it's an exciting time
terrific al Qaeda had a very similar
experience and she was on that
and heard God her her hearts begin to
serve the poorest of the poor that was
an exciting idea and she jumps on it
right away because here's the thing most
ideas are stillborn they never receive
the breath of life that comes through
hard work determination and discipline
that brings the idea to life but Theresa
decided that she would be different and
so she gets off that train and she
immediately begins to make her idea come
into action and she does that by writing
to her bishop that was the first step
that she needed to take and she just
wouldn't stop bugging the guy for a long
time month after month letter after
letter she writes and write and write
write until he gets very irritated with
her and he also only sends back a letter
saying I will not permit you to start
this ministry until you answer these
question and I get really pumped when I
actually see the questions that he sent
to her because they are the basics of
any business plan that somebody would
want to put into action in order to
build a new enterprise but there's one
question in particular that really does
stand out to me as well he asked is
there anyone else already doing this
work now in the secular world doing a
research before you start an enterprise
or business is so important you need to
make sure that the market can support
your product there's even a desire for
the product and to see what other people
are doing so that you can know how you
can make unique contributions the field
but ministry isn't business so why would
the bishop asked Rufus do research
before starting this ministry
and importantly why should you also do
research before taking the enormous risk
of building a ministry from scratch let
me explain why while at the same time
walking you through the steps that you
need to take in order to do research on
your great awesome
Shanaya step number one do the research
the Internet makes this very easy you
can also call up your local diocesan
office and once you maybe find a
non-profit that has a similar initiative
you can ask them who are people also in
your field who will you collaborate with
and this gives you a broader base to
begin to understand who is already doing
something similar because chances are is
that your unique idea isn't that unique
hopefully other people have seen the
need and also share your passion and
enthusiasm for it and they're already
doing great things in the world go find
them because that will launch you into
step number two step number two is to
learn from them go and find out
everything you can about how they do
that ministry and why because chances
are they've already made mistakes and
learned from them so learn from their
mistakes learn about their style learn
about their approach study the weak
points in their ministry and try to
figure out why are those post weak which
then leads you into step number three
while you're studying these
organisations network with them if don't
see them as a competition these are
people who share your heart and
excitement for the same mission get to
know them encourage them let them
encourage you these people can end up
becoming some of your biggest allies
advocates and even collaborators so
reach out to them for ask yourself this
tough question
because this question actually stands on
the fact that a similar organization
already exists and that you have a
passion for their mission is there a
possibility that God could be calling
you to join their team instead of
starting a ministry from scratch because
you could be an answer to their prayers
they are searching for people who love
the mission and
have that passion enthusiasm if you
already have it maybe you're being
called to help support to them and what
they're already doing five if through
prayer you discern that God's actually
calling you to start a unique ministry
from scratch
then you must be able to answer the
question what is the unique contribution
that this ministry is going to make to
the field for instance maybe there is a
great ministry that's halfway across the
country that's been fabulous work but
you want to make it happen in your local
area or maybe you think those folks have
a great mission that you want to
prioritize its first set of values or to
focus on a different type of activity
adventure program so the thing is is
when you're a bishop or your staff or
your participants or your donors come to
you and ask what makes this ministry
different you must be ready to tell them
but more importantly I also think asking
about what unique contribution and
ministry can make to the world gives you
a chance to really wrestle with God and
come to greater self knowledge about the
gifts and talents that he has given to
you who does he create you to be
it's an exciting question and it's an
opportunity to grow in relationship with
them and in the end having that great
world-changing idea is so exciting and I
know you probably want to get started
right away so the first step that you
should begin to take is to do the
research and doing the research is not a
waste of time
it helps you to tighten your idea it
helps you to build up a network of
collaborators and advocates and
ultimately doing the research will help
give you more ideas so that the ministry
is ultimately going to be more fruitful
and don't worry about taking time for
research because if this idea comes from
God he's not going to let it leave it's
going to stick with you and it's going
to bug you you you you
so go go start doing a research through
the research so you can begin to change
the world but more importantly that you
would change life and eternity if you
have a great idea share it with us here
at the Ezzor project we would love to be
able to support and encourage you and in
the meantime like us on Facebook
subscribe on YouTube and I'll see you
next week
