Doing ministry together

Yesterday at Campbellsville University I had the opportunity to hear Dr. David Coffey speak at a chapel service and later at a luncheon. Dr. Coffey is the President of the Baptist World Alliance. He spoke of the ministry that the BWA is doing in many different parts of the world and emphasized the importance of Christians working together to advance the Kingdom of God throughout the world. He also spoke of the divisisons that sometimes exist between Baptists and how that negatively impacts our witness to the world.

I realize that not all my readers are Baptists, but his words should challenge each of us. Jesus also spoke of the dangers of division within His body. He said that a house divided against itself cannot stand. A powerful statement is sent throughout a community when the churches in that community work together in the name of Jesus Christ to make a difference. At the same time, when churches and denominations fight among themselves a negative message is sent that brings great harm to the cause of Christ.

I know of an association of churches who have worked together to minister to people in difficult economic circumstances nearly 200 miles away from their community. Most of these are bivocational churches. The ministry of these churches to the people of that region has had a great impact on those who have been served. In another community, several churches of different denominations join together each year to host a joint Vacation Bible School that serves about 200 children each summer. These churches don't agree on every point of doctrine and church government, but they do agree that children are important to God, and they realize that those things that bind them together are much greater than their minor points of disagreement.

It has been my joy to work with different denominations as they serve their bivocational ministers, and my schedule for 2008 includes some new denominations I have not worked with before. It is exciting to learn how different denominations are working to encourage their bivocational ministers and meet their needs. A few years ago a denominational leader invited me to be involved in a gathering of their bivocational leaders. I jokingly asked if he was sure that his group could handle having someone from my denomination in their meeting. He laughed and then said, "Bivocational ministry is too important to worry about denominational differences. We have enough issues as bivocational ministers without worrying about minor denominational differences." He is right, and that is true of most of the things that divide us.

Let's find ways to work together to take the glorious message of Jesus Christ into all the world.