I was reading one of the many ministry books I have currently collected and have yet to finish. I was reading about high school seniors, thinking about the ones in my youth group, and thinking about their future plans.
None of the ones graduating this year are planning to go into ministry. Sprinkled throughout are education plans, health care plans, and a couple others.
I've heard churches boast about the number of ministry leaders (including but not limited to pastors) that have come out of their churches - including my own.
I've heard the statistics about how many people are actually connected to a church, and even taking that a step further, how many 'church members' are actually regular attenders in the church they are connected with.
I hear people talk about relying on God to teach, heal, and guide us, some to the extreme that they prefer not to use medical professionals or rely on the help of churches who teach skewed theology.
But I read in the Bible that we have been given gifts of knowledge, teaching, healing, prophecy, miraculous powers, and speaking and interpreting tongues.
Those are humans who have been gifted by God.
To be doctors.
To be pastors.
To be teachers.
I believe gathering with other believers is needed. I believe it is in community with others that we renew our purpose, find encouragement, realize we are not alone. We can share burdens and hear stories of what God has done in the lives of others.
I believe there are times when God speaks to us directly, maybe even takes away our support systems so that we must rely only on God.
I believe (even as a youth pastor) that most of the ministry we do of spreading the gospel to those who don't believe or aren't sure of their faith happens outside of church building walls.
So, who is spreading the faith more?
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