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A man’s ministry works out in ever-increasing circles:
1. Himself – He must take care of himself spiritually and physically, or he won’t be able to do much.
2. Wife – After keeping himself fit for ministry, the primary person he “ministers” to is his wife.
3. Children – If he has children, they are next.
4. Close Friends – He must have a close network of real-world friends who can know “ALL” of him and speak into his life.
5. Local Church – Those friends, ideally, should be in his local church, but, regardless, he must be “known” and cared for by his local church.
6. Greater Ministry – This “ministry” may be the “thing” he does for a living or a “side-hustle.” Either way, it’s SIXTH on the list, just like if it was what we call a “regular job.”
“Ministry” ALWAYS works out like this. It’s the way Jesus did things too:
1. He took care of Himself, even pulling away from folks to care for his soul.
2. He had Peter, James, and John.
3. He had the other Nine.
4. He had Mary, Martha, and a few other close friends.
5. He ministered to the crowds.
Rick Thomas leads a training network for Christians to assist them in becoming more effective soul care providers. RickThomas.Net reaches people around the world through consulting, training, podcasting, writing, counseling, and speaking.
In 1990 he earned a BA in Theology, and in 1991 he received a BS in Education. In 1993 he was ordained into Christian ministry, and in 2000 he graduated with an MA in Counseling from The Master’s University in Santa Clarita, CA. In 2006 he was recognized as a Fellow of the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC).
