ANSWERING THE CALL

"Ron Lewis has helped more young people answer the Call to ministry than anybody I know. These principles will guide you confidently into the purposes of God." Dr. Rice Broocks, Co-founder, Every Nation, Author of God's Not Dead and Man, Myth, Messiah WHAT IS FULL-TIME MINISTRY? "'Come follow me,' Jesus said, 'and I will send you out to fish for people.' At once, they left their nets and followed him." Matthew 4:19-20 What do you think of when you hear the phrase, "full-time ministry?" Maybe you think of a man in a collar or flowing robes, a preacher on TV, or a missionary in the bush of Africa, the frozen tundra of Siberia, or the jungles of the Amazon. Perhaps you think of a campus minister who has helped you get to know Jesus in a personal way. To a degree, these can all be examples of full-time ministry. From here on, when I use the phrase "full-time ministry," I am mindful that all ministry-in every sphere of life-is a full-time calling. However, for the sake ofclarity in this book, when I refer to full-time ministry, I am referring to a man or woman whose primary occupation is gospel ministry and all it entails. Full-time ministry is a job, a vocation, and a career, but, as we will see, it is so much more. This subject is often misunderstood and usually brings with it a handful of questions: •Does God want you to go into full-time ministry? (Chapter 2) •What is the real difference between a Christian who works a "secular job" and a full-time minister? (Chapter 3) •Does it please God more if you are a full-time minister? (Chapter 3) •If I go into ministry, where do I begin? (Chapter 5) •What will it cost me to follow Jesus into full-time ministry? (Chapter 7) •How can I be paid for doing Christian ministry? (Chapter 9)