No – let me rephrase that.
Tom and I are serial- entrepreneurs!
We love building businesses…it’s natural, it’s fun, it’s what we do.
We know that we’re not only gifted, blessed and “wired” for this work . But, we also know – WITH CERTAINTY – that this is exactly what God has called us to do for His kingdom!!!
Your Kingdom come.
Your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:10)
So – let me ask:
Do you know what you are wired and called to do for God’s Kingdom?
Maybe you just aren’t sure how to make it happen?
Or like many…you find yourself stuck in a 9-5 job?
Perhaps you find yourself wishing you could be on mission for God rather than working for a living?
Or…maybe you are engaged in work that you love?
Yet you find yourself parking God at the door of your business rather than inviting Him in?
Until Identity and Destiny – every business we built was secular in nature. God was over here in our “private lives”…and work was over there on the other side of life. Separate and distinct – with no clear understanding of how the two could come together.
Sound familiar? Don’t feel alone. That is the case for the vast majority of Christians in today’s world.
But here’s what we’ve learned:
Only about 2% of Christians are truly called to be pastors. That leaves a whopping 98% of us. But does that mean the rest of us are simply not called?
Absolutely not!
As c12 founder Buck Jacobs says,
“There are not two class of Christians. The call of God to be a pastor or missionary is no more holy than the call of God to be president of a company or a janitor. The position doesn’t define it’s holiness, it is the call of God that defines it. What and who he calls is the measure, not the title.”
God belongs not just in your church and your volunteer work in missions. He belongs not just in your homes, families and small groups. God belongs in every area of your life – and that includes your work. In fact we would say…especially your work!
The 98% of us who are not called to be pastors are therefore called to some other kind of work.
Does that mean we can’t have a big impact for the Kingdom. Does that mean we cannot influence the world for Christ?
Again…absolutely NOT!!!
For some, we are called to be influencers right in our own back yard. We are called stay home, raise our children, home school or care for aging parents.
But for most of us we are called to work outside the home. We are called to be influencers in business, government, communications, education, entertainment, finance or the arts. We are called to take our lives and make them count for the expansion of God’s Kingdom in everything we do.
How about you?
Is this resonating with you?
Is it convicting you?
Is it making you curious, excited or hopeful that it is actually God’s will for you to be right where you are and still be able to make an impact?
If you are ready to bring your life, your work and your love for God all together; if you want to learn a lot more about what it means to fully integrate who you are – what you do – and the call God has on your life…keep reading.
The power and importance of marketplace ministry is going to be the focus of this blog going forward.
And it’s not going to be a lot of theory…it is going to be practical – real life stuff!!!
I hope you will comment, engage and share your stories.
I am asking – and praying – that this blog become a dialogue rather than a monologue. I want this to be a gathering place for those who want to be influencers in the marketplace. Let’s inspire, encourage and support each other in this call of God to “GO”!
And for us…it is into the marketplace.
Will you join me???
Give me a quick post and let me know you are on board…even if it is just to let me know you are trying to figure out what this is all about.
Come – let’s journey together!
This is so exciting . . . and once again, perfectly God-timed! Thank you, Pam. I’m in :)
Hi Karen –
Thanks for jumping in!!! Marketplace ministry is an exciting place to be called.
Yet…as the Scriptures say, “the harvest is plentiful…the laborers are few.”
Undeterred, I pray in faith that the number of laborers will grow to meet
God’s desire for His Kingdom
Hi Karen,
I know that God is calling me into the music industry in L.A. to sing and maybe do audio engineering. God’s plan is slowly unfolding and He recently opened a huge door up there. I talked with you on the phone sometime last year and was completely depressed. I was living at home with my parents and now I am living in San Diego and God totally set me free from depression, codependency, anger, fear, doubt, confusion, EVERYTHING!!! God is so good and I’m so excited to start down this new path!!
Hi Ally
I remember talking with you and I am so excited to see that you stepped out in faith and began to do something different.
Often we wait for something to change by not doing anything. But I have found that waiting is a verb. It is not passive
it is active. It means seeking God, listening to his direction and promptings, then taking the steps to move toward the
vision he has given. You do the steps…God does the rest. That is our mantra here at I & D! Please keep us posted…we are
so excited for you! ~ Pam
Oh my goodness this is so direct to me today! My heart is longing & craving for “more” in my life, more than I have ever thought I could have, do or be! I have this crazy surge of energy boiling in me as I continue to seek God’s hand in my life and in how He designed me to be.
I have been blessed to be at home w/ my girls this summer after God spoke to me and told me to quit my job I had at an insurance office (that I did not like) in June. I LOVE being home and I LOVE the time I get each day to dive into God’s word and to write to my hearts content, I do love to put words onto paper! I would love to be able to stay home and do some type of work from here so I do pray on that many times a day!!!
We have the financial means for me to stay home another 2 months and after that, I do not know what will come to be. My husband & I are asking God for His guidance & provision in our life.
I am recovering from anorexia and I am in the “final push” into my free life…to delivery from ed (eating disorder) and it is a liberating discovery journey to say the least!
Throughout the last 6 years, both my husband and myself have found a growing desire to serve others, to help others through trials & struggles in life, to coach or run a “Healing Home” of some type…to share God & Hope with anyone we can. There is so much need out in the world and I/we want to serve our Lord according to His great plan for our lives.
Thank you for the truth in this blog post, it’s good timing as I have such a strong need to be “more!!”
Hi Jen –
I am so glad for your willingness to be transparent…to share your story and speak of the longings of your heart! Shouting out a HUGE Whoo Hoo on your victory over ed…I know many who have been down that difficult road…yet I know through the healing power of Jesus – victory is indeed possible. Prayers going out for you right now!!!
I am not here on the blog to sell things…but if you have not yet done our 40 day journey to purpose in the Identity and Destiny workbook – it might be the perfect time to seek God through that study for the answers you seek. As one of our clients said, “I now have a power that very few people have – the power to say No because my Yes is so big!!!” And, if you would like to chat…let me know and I will send you a link to schedule a complimentary “Get Clarity Now” coaching call. I would love to help if you would allow? Blessings – and thanks for your post!!! ~Pam
Hi Pam,
Thank you for your reply and offer to chat!
I have been looking at your 40 day journey for a while now but have not committed to it, and I do want too. I just have to do it! :)
I would love to chat with you for a bit, as of the last few days, I am really wondering & praying on what to do for this upcoming school year when my girls go back to school. Your willing ear & advice would be a blessing to me! Let me know how we go about setting something up.
Have a blessed Sunday,
Jen
Awesome post!! Awesome!
p
Thanks Pat…I knew you would love it if you had time to read it…it is all about making God the center of our lives…work and all!!!
I’m in the midst of the “what’s next Lord” step right now – I’ve been out of full time ministry for about 6 years and really wanting to get back into it. Not in a Pastoral role but in the Administrative/Operations/Developing ministries and also leading worship areas. It’s what I do – I have a 4 page resume to prove it lol. Problem is I think I’m running into the ” Oh this lady is approaching 50″ mentality when they see my resume – as though my experience isn’t valuable because of my age. I don’t look 50, I don’t act 50 and I don’t always think 50 – but yet I feel like I’m being shelved to some extent – to the point of tears at this stage honestly. So what am I supposed to do?
I probably should have mentioned that part of the reason for full time ministry at this point to is that my husband was placed on disability in Nov and even right now a part time ministry position would help as well 25-30 solid hours would be a HUGE help. It’s not the MAIN reason I want to get back into ministry – it’s about 1/4 of it.
Cherylann…You are beautiful – inside and out! Your lovely picture with your post surely doesn’t look anything like 50!!! And I know that feeling…I am just months away from the big – 6-0…yes – that is sixty!?! And wow…I know all the crazy doubts, discounting and wondering that comes as we hit these milestones of life. Yet, I know that if we are still here…God has work left for us to do. And that include you and me – and many who are in there 50’s , 60’s and 70’s who are part of the I & D community!
You are uniquely created, purposed and called to make a difference in the world for Christ…and the Lord as your creator is the one who has the answers. Seek and ask him to reveal what He has for you and how to go about pursuing it. And if I can help you gain some clarity…I would be happy to send you a link to schedule one of our complimentary “Get Clarity Now!” coaching calls. (Just let me know). Or…we can just continue the dialogue here on the blog! Glad to have you here! ~Pam
Pam –
Thanks so much! It’s so hard when you’ve been in ministry before and you have the experience and the tides of churches are changing and sometimes they go off in tangents lol and then come around.
My heart is ministry – in a HUGE way. My experience is ministry and my desire is to make a difference in the lives of those around me and beyond.
How do you keep yourself in the game when you feel like your age is against you?
Hi Cherylann
I have an 89 year old mother who is a wonderful role model! She is still beautiful and still active in her church and a number of other volunteer activities. She is amazing! She has shown me it is possible to weather the phases of aging…embrace the changes that I see happening when I look in the mirror…knowing all the while that the lines are from years of smiling, crying, taking life as it came. And in it all, I know that God has been weaving a story together that is mine and mine alone. A life that has the power to help others who have yet to walk this road. Rather than seeing it as a life that has been used us…I see it as a woman who has great wisdom…learned through life experience. No one who is 20, 30, or 40 can have what we have at 50 and 60. It is learned…it is earned!!!
I believe that the Almighty has created me for purpose,I may not fully know it,but with my baby steps I know I will,for it is His will for me to live on purpose…
I am in…
Such an encouraging email today, validating my reading of God’s Word that He has a purpose, plan and many promises He will fulfill! Thank you –