Living Your Ministry: Integrating Faith into Daily Life

What if the real secret to transformative leadership in church planning and missionary work isn't in programs, but in people? In this compelling episode, we unpack the invaluable lesson that Jesus himself modeled: choosing and investing deeply in a few teachable, curious, and service-driven individuals. We're here to show you how to step away from traditional classroom settings and create impactful mentorship opportunities amid everyday activities. Whether you're playing a round of golf or simply enjoying a casual outing, meaningful conversations about faith and life can turn these moments into powerful, life-changing experiences.

Our conversation highlights the importance of never walking the ministry path alone. Instead of isolating your training to formal environments, integrate it into your daily life, continually bringing up discussions about Jesus and the Bible. This people-centric approach to ministry fosters deeper connections and equips those around you with the tools they need to thrive spiritually. If you're ready to take your leadership to the next level, tune in to learn how to make your ministry not just more effective, but more meaningful. Listen now and discover how to leave a lasting impact by investing in people, just as Jesus did.

Thanks for listening. Find us on YouTube, Substack, Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.

Transcript

W. Austin Gardner: 0:00

If you're a leader training multiple church planning, missionary, let me give you your best method of work Choose people as your method. It's not about a computer program, it's not about a certain series of preaching, it's not about certain activities. It's about people. It's about you choosing. You know Jesus. He chose 12 people and he spent time with them. I don't know when was he alone. Go read the gospels, and it says that when he was alone with the 12. And so you want to make people, and so what you want to do is you want to look for the people that are teachable.

W. Austin Gardner: 0:44

I would just say to you that a lot of young men aren't teachable and they're not the best people to have to try to teach you. You know, my wife and I were discussing it the other day, and I don't. If a guest starts disagreeing with me, I just go silent. I'm just like okay and I'm not going to argue with you, I'm not going to fight with you. I'm just like okay and I'm not going to argue with you, I'm not going to fight with you, I'll just go along with it. Whatever you say, follow me. And so if you've got a non-teachable person, you're not going to be able to get very far. So you want somebody that's teachable. You want somebody that's curious. I used to love it with the Peruvian young men. They'd say to me now, where does the and where'd you get that? Where'd you learn that? What book did you read that in? Why do you do that this way? Why do y'all do this? Why do y'all do that? Why do you think this way? And so they were always curious, and I think that's great. And then you want people that are interested in serving God. They really are thinking man. I'd like to do something for God with my life, and so I'd like to challenge you to work with people.

W. Austin Gardner: 1:47

Now that brings us back to something I mentioned yesterday Stop being alone. And it doesn't need to be a classroom setting where they're all bored out of their gourd. You've set them down to take another college class. That's, you know, college. We need the basic college courses. Take them all the way through college, get them through basic discipleship, get them through the Bible College, bible Institute, get them all that training. But then let them go with you. And you know, if that means you're going to go out and play a round of golf, take them with you. Play golf with them. If you're going to go out, whatever it is you're doing, go do it with them.

W. Austin Gardner: 2:25

Now, while you're doing it, what are you going to do? You're going to keep bringing up Jesus, keep bringing up Bible, keep bringing up things you can talk about. Whatever it is you're doing, spend time with people, invest yourself in people. Share everything you know with people. Let your most exciting conversations be with people. That's what your goal is. That's what you're trying to do. So people are our method. People are our method, and I hope that's the way you're living. I hope that's how you're doing ministry. If you're not, I hope it's how you'll start doing ministry. I love you. God bless you.