For any people or place to be fully reached with the Gospel we need to see hundreds and thousands of followers of Jesus living out sharing the Gospel and making disciples as part of their everyday life. This season I wanted to celebrate and learn from these modern-day heroes of the faith. Everyone you hear interviewed is NOT getting paid by a ministry or church.
I’m probably the worst person to be capturing these stories because I haven’t ever done what I’m celebrating here. Living on mission for Jesus while working a job… a job that most people wouldn't consider ministry.
The reason I had to capture these stories, despite being completely unqualified, is because I found out that these people are my heroes. All around the world, there are unsung heroes of the faith working full-time jobs at the same time that they are sharing the Gospel, making disciples, and planting churches. Quite honestly, they are doing it in a way that puts most of us in paid ministry vocations to shame.
And I’m not talking about the traditional bi-vocational pastor. Usually, when we talk about that we picture a man who works odd hours in a factory or as a janitor so he can pastor a church that isn’t fully financially supporting him yet. (In that instance, the end goal is usually that the church will eventually pay him a full-time salary.)
I’m talking about people that are owning the mission of Jesus to make disciples who make disciples right where God has placed them: In their job. Instead of seeing a call to ministry as changing vocations, they see a call to ministry right where they are. They are following Paul’s instruction to “live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned them.” (1 Corinthians 7:17, NIV) Their end goal is not being supported by a church, but seeing self-supporting churches start and reproduce while they keep working their job.
So even though I’ve never done what these heroes are doing, I couldn’t not capture their amazing insights and pass them on. And I hope to call all of us to do the same.
The more I spend time learning from these brothers and sisters in Christ, the more I believe that this is the path to reaching the lost around us… There are millions of people that won’t come to a church building or a ministry event, but who do work alongside followers of Jesus every day.
Even more exciting than that, this is also a path to reach the ends of the earth… Many nations are closed to paid Christian workers but open to Christians working jobs inside their country.
If you are in a paid ministry vocation, I know you’ll find some valuable insights here. In my conversations these awesome men and women of God often left me, in a paid ministry vocation, challenged about how I’m stewarding my schedule, reaching the lost, making disciples, and building up churches.
If you are already living on mission for Jesus in your job (or even just attempting to), you are already my hero. Honestly, I’m here to learn from you. You are doing amazing work for the kingdom of God and you’re not alone in that endeavor. Keep it up. Anything good you find here is not from me, but from brothers and sisters in Christ living on mission the same way you are doing. I hope this spurs you on to even greater things.
Season 2: Covocational Laborers
Author Brad Brisco shares the benefits and challenges of Covocational Church Planting.
A few guys from #NoPlaceLeft Oklahoma City are launching a new podcast. Listen to find out more.
Ross, the financial analyst from Season 2 Episode 13, shares some more stories of God working in amazing ways today.
How do you make disciples, pursue movement and combat hunger in the inner city? Check out this conversation with Carl to see what he is learning.
Listen for how a property management company with literally thousands of units is stewarding its resources to build the kingdom.
What does an elder in a simple house church look like? Tre does a great job explaining from personal experience.
Just a normal family, taking on the mission of Jesus where God has placed them... even when it's difficult.
Are the things that we are busy with having an impact on multiplying God’s kingdom?
As you pursue the lost and hope to see a movement of reproducing disciples and churches, you have to question each opportunity that comes your way: Will this help me make disciples or not?
Kevin encourages us to start with our Jerusalem and Judea, but be open to the ends of the earth if God calls.
Seeing the Bible Belt as a mission field... while working full time.
Check out this new podcast about how every believer has a role to play in the mission of God. I had originally planned this to be bonus content, but the topic fits so well with Season 2 of On the Road that I made it a stand-alone episode.
“If I don’t approach work as my primary mission field, I’m wasting 60+ hours a week.” - Tyler
If we're called to be in line with God's mission, it's imperative we're seeking natural rhythms in our week to make that happen.
"My church would tell me every Sunday morning that 'I’m sent' but I didn’t know what it looked liked to be a sent one and I didn’t know how to do that 9-5 Monday through Friday at my job." - Ross the Financial Analyst. Listen for how things changed for Ross.
Some people jump out of aircraft for their jobs... AND live on mission for Jesus at the same time.
"The gospel and the great commission and the mission of Jesus Christ needs to be super incarnational so everybody can do it. And then I looked around and I didn't see any examples." - Jared. Find out what Jared did next by listening to this episode.
How to find a job: 1) Pray. 2) Have Gospel conversations. Brandon, who is pursuing #NoPlaceLeft at a plastic factory, shares how God lead him to two different jobs through praying and sharing the Gospel.
Gibby is a general contractor in North Carolina with some great stories of how God shows up when we faithfully share the Gospel and disciple people to obey the Word.
Living on mission at college, plus how sharing the Gospel helps you obey Jesus with all of your life.
What if there wasn't any divide between "secular" work and "sacred ministry? Listen to Nick who is living that out.
Working on mission, no matter your vocation, actually lends itself to multiplication of ministry.
Time for a story of #NoPlaceLeft work in Europe... from two guys NOT getting paid as missionaries or pastors.
Ever feel like your full time job is a backup plan for God's work in the world? This will encourage you that God wants to use your vocation to expand his kingdom.
Can you really pursue #NoPlaceLeft with a job, young kids, and a full schedule? Listen for some great perspective to orient your life around the gospel and discipleship from Brett and Abigail.
What would you do with your time if you could support yourself on two work days each week? Whose kingdom would you build with that extra time?
What does it look like to pursue the lost, make disciples, plant churches, and reproduce leaders... while managing a dry cleaning store? The very things you would expect are challenges also provide some of the best opportunities.
Living on mission for Jesus with a career in digital marketing? Great. Living on mission for Jesus with a career in digital marketing AND 16-month old twins? Amazing!