Marketplace Ministry
Marketplace Ministry refers to evangelism or other Christian activities that are targeted towards the secular workplace, as opposed to homes, churches, or specialized venues. Open Christian Ministries is a para-church faith-based organizations that focus on Marketplace Ministry.
You may own your business or you might even be looking to go into the business world for the first time. You are also a Christian. You know that God has called you to more than just a Sunday walk with Him and you WANT to answer His call. If this sounds like you, then we can connect!
Yet there is a problem. You wonder exactly what that really means to you in your specific situation. What does answering God’s call look like on Monday morning?
Business and Ministry
Have you thought about this before? If you listen to most pastors, you probably hear that you need to leave the workplace/business and enter full-time, paid Christian ministry. They don’t mean any harm in their advice. It is just the way our culture has viewed it for a long time! For centuries, there has been a common mindset that says work and faith are separate. Some call it sacred vs. secular. Others say you will either be a minister or lay person.
This Doesn't calculate
First of all, if every Christian left their job and went to work for a church, the economy would collapse and churches would close due to exploding payrolls without the funds to cover them!
Then there is the Scripture you have read. Like this example:
Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically, as something done for the Lord and not for men, knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord. You serve the Lord Christ.– Colossians 3:23-24
What does it mean?
That word “whatever” seems to say that you can work for the Lord no matter where you are or what you are doing.
What Are You To Do? If that is the case, then what are you to do about it?
You want to serve Him, but you just don’t see yourself working in a church. You want to believe you can live out your faith right where you are, but you just aren’t sure how to get started.
Become one of the Marketplace Ministers
Maybe you have already started down this path, but you are stuck. You might even be progressing down this path, but you would certainly appreciate new ideas and different perspectives! We understand how You Feel and believe we have been where you are.
As you read it above, the age-old question is: "Can we do business and also do ministry and do both equally well?"
The Lausanne Movement explain how this Sunday-Monday, faith-work gap must be bridged. Yet for this to happen, we need to understand how big is the gap and how it came about. The fault lies with both lay people and the clergy.
We find that marketplace Christians such as Joseph, Esther, Daniel, Nehemiah, Lydia, Priscilla and Aquila are very prominent among God’s people.
At Open Christian Ministries, we desire to know Jesus Christ as a Savior, Sanctifier, Healer, and Coming King; and to complete His great commission.
We beseech you, whether you operate your own business or work for others, to never separate your business with your spiritual life. Christianity is about life. And Life must be lived whether at home, business, church or wherever one finds himself/herself. God created us to live and Jesus Christ has shown us how to live.