The term “full-time minister” has always sounded wrong to me. Only recently have I begun to embrace my challenge with it. When a pastor or a missionary says they’ve been called into full-time ministry, I understand they decided to pursue a career working for a faith-based service organization such as a church or para-church organization. When we decide to follow Jesus, we receive the Holy Spirit and we begin the process of bending our entire life to Jesus.

When a pastor or a missionary says they’ve been called into full-time ministry, I understand they decided to pursue a career working for a faith-based service organization such as a church or para-church organization. But careless use of the term suggests that anyone else must be a part-time ministers or a no-time minister.