A Philosophy of Ministry

Making decisions and walking in leadership based on the ways of God:

Many years ago I compiled a philosophy of ministry, list of guiding leadership principles for leadership and decision-making in our church. In discussing them with a young leader, he said those apply to almost every area of leadership. I have updated the list and offer them to you. Let me know if you have anything you would add or any comments.

1. We believe that true ministry is initiated by God. Simply replicating another church’s ministry or responding to a program request is insufficient; there must be a discernible sense of God’s direction.
2. We believe that what God initiates, He also empowers. When God provides vision and guidance, concerns about personnel, resources, or outcomes are minimized. Where God guides, He provides. If necessary provisions (e.g., funding, personnel) are lacking, we must reassess whether we are following His lead.
3. We believe that true ministry is received rather than achieved. Recognizing something as God’s will does not imply immediate action; timing is crucial. Often, there is a waiting period between recognizing a need and God providing a solution. We must patiently wait in faith for His direction and then act accordingly.
4. We believe that true ministry results from surrender, not human commitment. Ministry driven by human effort involves striving and lacks eternal significance. In contrast, ministry arising from surrender to God requires continuous dependence on Him and has lasting value.
5. We believe that God alone receives glory for His work. Human-driven ministry glorifies individuals, whereas ministry resulting from surrender to God glorifies Him, as He accomplishes the work and brings about results.
6. We believe that true ministry, ordained by the Lord, is accomplished by a living organism—The Church—infused with life by the Holy Spirit, rather than merely an organization. Traditional business models of structure, leadership, and programs that do not honor the ways of God or the life of God may look successful in the world, but ultimately will not succeed in accomplishing God’s plan and can impede the Lord’s work by creating religious consumers rather than multiplying disciples.
7. We believe that church leadership’s role is to equip all believers to know God, discover their design and gifts and participate in His work. This is different than the broken model of a professional clergy that is expected to do all the work of ministry in the church. There should be no clergy-laity distinction; every follower of Christ shares the responsibility within a local church. Only those who have completed their race are spectators (Hebrews 12:1-4).
8. We believe that the foundation for leadership interaction and collaboration in God’s work mirrors the Trinity—the God Community, comprising the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God exemplifies humility, mutual honor, interdependence, and unity, which should underpin human relationships within all God-given authority structures, including marriage, family, church, and workplace.
9. We believe that the Biblical decision-making process among leaders is not democratic. A democratic process often leads to form factions as individuals push personal agendas. Instead, New Testament leaders demonstrate praying together, seeking God’s counsel, and achieving unity. Jesus’ followers recognize His voice (John 10:27), and those led by the Holy Spirit are God’s children (Romans 8:14-17). Acts 15:28 shows leaders united in saying, “it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us.” Similarly, Acts 13:1-5 describes key Antioch leaders praying, fasting, and confidently acting on God’s direction: “While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus.”

• Updated “Philosophy of Ministry” from an earlier version adopted by River of Life Community Church. Biblical quotes from ESV Bible