Christian Ministries

Kinds of Christian Ministry

A Christian ministry is a way the church serves God and people in the name of Jesus Christ, usually organized around a group of people (like youth, men, women, or senior adults) or a need (like prayer, recovery, or marriage). The main kinds are ministries to an age or stage of life, ministries to a need, ministries of worship and prayer, and outreach beyond the church through missions and service. Every one of them leads back to the same two things: real community in a local church, and Christ himself.

What is a Christian ministry?

The church is one body with many members, and ministries are simply the many ways that body cares for people and points them to Jesus. Some gather a particular group; others meet a particular need. None of them is the point in itself. Each exists so that someone would be known, be helped, and above all meet Christ.

“For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.”
1 Corinthians 12:12
“As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”
1 Peter 4:10

What does ministry mean in the Bible?

The New Testament word most often translated ministry is the Greek diakonia, which simply means service. It is the word behind deacon, a servant. Ministry is therefore not first a job title or a stage; it is what every follower of Jesus is given to do. Jesus described his own life in the same terms, as a life of service that went as far as giving himself for many (Mark 10:45), and the apostles taught that every believer has received a gift to use for others (1 Peter 4:10). Pastors and leaders are given to the church to equip the whole body for this work of ministry (Ephesians 4:11-12).

What is the difference between a church ministry and a parachurch ministry?

A church ministry belongs to a local congregation: its youth group, its prayer team, its food pantry. A parachurch ministry is an organization that works alongside many churches, usually with one focus, such as students, athletes, Bible translation, or relief. Both can be good. The healthiest parachurch ministries send people back into local churches, and the healthiest churches welcome the help of trusted partners. You can explore well known examples, with their founders and founding years, on our guide to Christian organizations and ministries.

What are the main types of Christian ministries?

Most ministries fit one of four shapes. Ministries to an age or stage of life: children, youth, college students, young adults, singles, families, and senior adults. Ministries to a need: recovery, grief, marriage, disability, and care for the poor. Ministries of worship, prayer, and the Word: worship teams, prayer ministries, small groups, and Bible studies. Ministries of outreach: missions, evangelism, and service in the wider community. Here are the guides for each.

More kinds of ministry

These pages already exist for other kinds of ministry, some serving a group of people, some a particular need:

How to find any of them near you

Whatever you are looking for, the way in is the same: a healthy local church nearby. Most churches run these ministries or can point you to a trusted one, and The Living Bread keeps a growing directory to help you find one.

Find a church near you →  ·  Browse the church directory →

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Come and belong

Behind every ministry is one simple thing: people who need one another and a Saviour who came to gather them. Ministry is only worth anything because it helps someone find Christ and the family he is building. You do not have to arrive whole. Come as you are, and come and see.

“For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.”
1 Corinthians 12:12
Find a church near youWho is Jesus?The good news

Jesus Christ is Lord.

Frequently asked questions

What is a Christian ministry?
A Christian ministry is a way the church serves God and people. Some ministries are organized around a group of people, like youth, men, women, singles, or senior adults; others around a need, like prayer, worship, marriage, recovery, or Bible study. All of them exist to help people know Christ and one another.
What are the main types of Christian ministries?
Most ministries fit one of four shapes: ministries to an age or stage of life (children, youth, college, young adults, singles, families, senior adults), ministries to a need (recovery, grief, marriage, disability, the poor), ministries of worship, prayer, and the Word (worship, prayer, small groups, Bible study), and ministries of outreach (missions, evangelism, and community service).
What does the word ministry mean?
In the New Testament the word usually translated ministry is the Greek diakonia, which means service. Ministry is the service every follower of Jesus is given to do for God and for others, not only the work of pastors.
What is a parachurch ministry?
A parachurch ministry is a Christian organization that works alongside local churches rather than being a church itself, usually with one focus such as students, athletes, Bible translation, or relief. The healthiest ones send people back into local churches.
How do I find the right ministry for me?
Start with a healthy local church near you and ask what they offer. The best ministry is usually the one closest to you, where you can actually be known. The Living Bread keeps a directory of churches to help you find one.
Do I have to be a Christian to join a ministry?
Usually not. Many ministries warmly welcome people who are curious, questioning, or exploring faith. They are often exactly where someone first meets Jesus.