Jeff Adams

Two separate but special experiences somehow got connected in the hidden dark recesses of my brain. Do you ever have things like that happen to you? I sure hope so! let me explain. Both experiences have to do with perceptions of ministry.

This morning I had the honor of giving the commencement address for the graduation of Calvary Bible College and Theological Seminary. Calvary is not a large school, but it is a fine one. I have known some truly outstanding Calvary grads who have been mightily used of God in diverse places and capacities. Calvary has been a part of our city for over 70 years and numbers of KCBT folks have studied there. In fact, three people from our church family graduated today. Chris Devanny received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biblical Counseling and Jeff Cox, our executive pastor of operations, received his Master of Science Degree in Bible and Theology, both with honors! Also, Gee Hae Park received a Masters of Arts Degree in Biblical Counseling in absentia, having returned to Korea.

I felt very honored to have been asked to speak on this occasion, though I must admit it felt a bit strange to be “introduced” in my own church and stranger still to speak from the pulpit I use every Sunday decked out in full academic regalia. Years ago I gave the commencement address at Maryland Bible College and Seminary and was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree. This was the first time, though, that I have worn my official colors since earning my Ph.D. I didn’t even wear regalia at my own graduation because I opted not to attend (that was a stupid, short-sighted decision).

What does one say when asked to give a commencement speech? I used Genesis 12:1 as my basis.

Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: Genesis 12:1

My challenge was for the graduates to likewise get out! I told them it was time for them to get out into the world, to get out of their comfort zone and to get out of the classroom into a lifetime of intentional learning. I gave them my top five practices for getting out from where you are to where you need to be: 1) spend structured, substantive time with God daily in prayer and in his word, 2) journal, 3) read books, 4) take care of your body, and 5) invest your life in people.

With over 90 graduates, this was a large class for Calvary. Looking out over this group cranked up my imagination and caused me to wonder how God would be using these graduates. Since this is a Bible college and seminary, most of them will be involved in some aspect of “career type” ministry such as teachers in Christian schools, missionaries, pastors and staff members in churches.

The second separate event that got connected in my mind with the first was a wedding Cheryl and I attended last night in Springfield, Missouri. As we were walking toward the church, I looked across the parking lot to see a gentleman I had known for some years. To see him there was not really a surprise since the groom’s family are mutual friends. I was happy to see him because I knew that he had gone through a very difficult period of life and I had not heard from him for several months. He holds a doctor of Education degree and has been involved in the field of education for many years. During this same time he has had a fruitful ministry to college students and a mission ministry that has spanned the earth. His recent difficulties resulted in resigning his ministry position, and I was concerned to see how he was dealing with all that.

For many people, transitioning from “ministry” to “secular work” is grueling torture. One of the reasons for this is that we have artificially divided life into “spiritual” and “secular.” We think of “ministry” and “job.” We unfortunately think that ministry is standing behind a pulpit and preaching or teaching, or starting a church. Anything less is just not real ministry, or so we often think. I have known missionaries, for example, who have found it necessary to transition off the field and faced the possibility of finding a different type of employment. More than one has said something to the effect, “I just can’t lower myself to taking a secular job after having been so long in ministry.”

While I can certainly appreciate that it would be difficult to make such a transition, that type of thinking reveals a basic flaw in understanding the nature of true biblical ministry. I’ve often said that one of our objectives is for every member of our church to be a minister. If that means that everyone should be a pastor, missionary or church planter, we would all be in trouble! No. What I mean is that every one of us as followers of Jesus Christ should understand that we live to serve God and minister to others.

With that criteria, I was delighted to hear my friend’s report. He had purchased a business — a dog daycare and grooming business! Honestly, I have never heard him so excited about ministry! He is having the time of his life! He has open doors to minister to people he never dreamed possible. I think he gets it! He doesn’t feel that he has “lowered” himself at all, only that he has entered into a new type or phase of ministry, and one that is very effective and rewarding. That doesn’t make his previous difficulties go away, but it sure makes it easier to deal with them.

How I long for a day when followers of Jesus Christ are just that – followers of Jesus Christ! Obviously, there is a need for leaders in the church just as in any organization. Yet in the true church all are ministers. When we “come to church,” that is not the time to “do ministry.” That is the time to equip believers so that all can go out to do the ministry that really matters whether that is in a public school classroom, a bank, an office, a factory or a doggie day care business!

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: Ephesians 4:11-13

Here’s how I see it. As a pastor my job is to perfect the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. I am an a trainer. Ministry is the job of all of us no matter what we do for a living.