What is a "Ministry"?

Several people have asked what I mean by stating that my wife and I have started a local ministry. It is very simple. The word "ministry" means "the act of serving." Shelby and I have decided to devote the rest of our lives to "local" service, in addition to the service we have always provided to those (in the COG's, mostly) that do not live near us.

In addition, the word "ministry" can denote the instrument through which one serves. Although one may serve without any structure at all...in the USA, it is advantageous to "organize" oneself to gain a tax deduction for donations, if nothing else. This may be in the form of a "church," or a non-profit organization (IRS code 501 C-3) that is not also a church. The more tax deductions one gets, the more resources he has with which to serve. What a blessing we, in America, have in this regard!

"Apple Ridge Ministries" is the instrument we will be using to gain a tax deduction for donations we, and others, make to this ministry. How it will be "organized" has not yet been decided. In any case, our financial dealings will be totally transparent, and entirely disclosed to contributors.

Some in our tradition are a bit spooked by the concept of someone starting a ministry independent of the existing large organizations. I think I understand that reaction. Please allow me to explain. Jesus said that the fields are white to harvest (John 4.35). It was true then, and it is true now. Today, there are billions of people who are not believers. That is the target audience. In particular, Apple Ridge Ministries has a threefold purpose- We seek to serve all in our area (especially the elderly and infirm), to preach the gospel to all in our area (especially those who have never been believers, or who have departed from the faith), and to support international missions that do the same. If our little corner of the world was saturated with the gospel, this effort would not be necessary. However, that is not the case.

For those to whom it may matter, there is no COG group meeting within an hour of where we live, and in several directions it is almost 2 hours. We have a large field that no one else (in COG-dom) is sowing. I have preached about evangelizing several times. In one message, I passed out small (individual serving) pie pans. As I held up a large aluminum pie pan, I made it clear that evangelizing does not mean splitting up the large pie into smaller pieces, but it means filling the smaller pans with NEW pies. We have been dismayed that so many seem to be focused on building on another man's foundation (Rom 15.20, Paul quoting Isa 52.15). That is not our approach.

To those who have asked questions, thank you for your interest in what we are doing! To all of you- thank you for your friendship. We humbly ask you to petition our Heavenly Father to draw people to His Son through our service (John 6.44; Rom 10.13-16).