Philosophy of Ministry

GENERAL

It is my conviction that the ministry of the local church is to be a balanced ministry: It is important that we realize that Christ did not come to start a denominational or non-denominational "church". His desire was that men follow Him. As a Pastor, called by the Lord Jesus Christ, my primary calling is to train, equip and release the saints for the work of the ministry and to encourage, as the Holy Spirit leads, Unity without compromise in the universal Body of Christ. As we used to say at Full Gospel Business Meetings, "I don't care what church you belong to just as long as for Jesus you stand."

APPROACH TO MINISTRY

Ministering to every facet of the individual - spiritual, emotional and physical with an emphasis on the spiritual.

Ministering in such a way as to neither stress any one major doctrine of the church over another nor diminish the importance of any of them.
 
Ministering without partiality to all who seek to know Christ - for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Ministering in such a way as to fulfill all aspects of the mission of the Church
to be an agency of God for the evangelizing of the world .

to be a corporate body in which man may worship God
to build a body of saints being perfected in the image of His son.

Matthew 28:18-20 : Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Acts 1:8 : But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

Ephesians 4:11-13 : It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

The primary purpose of the pastor is summarized in Ephesians 4:12, "to prepare God's people for works of service".

THE PASTOR'S GOAL

The primary goal of the pastor is summarized in Ephesians 4: 12b-13, "so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."

THE PASTOR'S TASK

The immediate task of the pastor is to train, teach, exhort and encourage the members of the local body to fulfill the duties necessary for the reaching of these goals. He is to raise up leadership and workers who can perform the work of the ministry.

HOW THE PASTOR IS TO PERFORM HIS TASK

Through the ministries of prayer, teaching and preaching. Acts 6:2-4 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, "It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3 Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word."

Through the development of close relationships with God's people. Through visitation, counseling, and one-on-one discipleship the pastor must exemplify the love by which the disciples of Christ are to be known. It is the pastor's responsibility to know and care for those whom God has placed in his care. John 13:35: By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

By providing opportunities of service to those in the local church so they may serve in areas that coincide with the spiritual gifts with which God has blessed them - that they may glorify God and edify the Body of Christ. 1Cor. 12:4-7: There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. 7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.

Through the oversight of the general functioning of the local church - administering with care and with the help of those whom God calls to leadership in that church. The pastor is to make sure that the church has a vision, is accomplishing its purpose and is moving towards its goal.

FAVORITE SCRIPTURE

Eph. 2:10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

PASTOR'S MOTTO

"Don't just sit there - do something!"

SERVANT PROFILE OF REV. ROBERT J. PAQUET, PH.D.