Dependent men of God

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ATSTD

Well-known member
Feb 21, 2025
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#1
I dunno, I saw an Independent Women thread and thought, "aren't we supposed to be dependent on God?"

Anyone submitted to Christ? What kind of ministry does He have you doing?
 

Snackersmom

Senior Member
May 10, 2011
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#3
I'm not clear on whether this thread is open to females. 🤔

If it isn't, I'm not complaining. I'm just trying to respect your intent. 🤝😎
 

Gideon300

Well-known member
Mar 18, 2021
5,922
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Frankston, Victoria
christianlife.au
#5
I dunno, I saw an Independent Women thread and thought, "aren't we supposed to be dependent on God?"

Anyone submitted to Christ? What kind of ministry does He have you doing?
Absolutely we should be dependent on Christ. That is not what the thread was about. Should a woman be able to change a light globe? When my mother married, she's never done it. Since my father was in the military, she had to learn or sit in the dark. If you read the "ideal wife" in Proverbs 31, "ideal" does not mean helpless. Oh, and my mother was amazing. She raised 4 young children while her husband was away a great deal. That included changing light globes.

The wrong kind of independence is when a woman despises God's order and decides that men are unnecessary. Men can be just as guilty; it simply manifests itself differently.
 

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
Aug 13, 2014
28,656
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#6
I dunno, I saw an Independent Women thread and thought, "aren't we supposed to be dependent on God?"

Anyone submitted to Christ? What kind of ministry does He have you doing?
Oh dear, oh dear, oh dearie me... ATSTD you ask questions that usually a troll would ask. But given your history here, I'm going to assume it is a serious question.

The Independent Women thread didn't say anything about being independent from God. That's not at all what the thread was about.
 

Snackersmom

Senior Member
May 10, 2011
1,817
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#7
Of course. Are you submitted to Christ? And if so, what is the ministry that He has you doing?
OK good to know! From the title it sounded like you were only looking for input from males. Which is fine, but based off that, other females might be hesitant to post as well. Just FYI! 😊

Great questions though! I feel like each question deserves its own thread, they are such deep subjects that intersect but don't always coexist. Like, a person could be submitted to Christ, but without an "official" ministry title. Or, we could have an official ministry title, but an independent rebellious heart.

Certainly not telling you what to do, but I will wait to answer your questions until I know for sure if you want to start separate threads for them. 😎

And yes, just to clarify, as @Lynx and @Gideon300 already mentioned, my "Independent Women" thread was only referring to women who are dependent on God rather than another human. Independence from God is a fallen state that neither male nor female should ever aspire to! 😬
 

seoulsearch

OutWrite Trouble
May 23, 2009
17,191
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#8
I dunno, I saw an Independent Women thread and thought, "aren't we supposed to be dependent on God?" Anyone submitted to Christ? What kind of ministry does He have you doing?
I'm not meaning this in a sarcastic or disrespectful way at all -- I'm just genuinely curious -- but did you read @Snackersmom's beginning post in that thread? Because she explained in a very clear and concise way (as she always does) that her thread was NOT about being independent from God at all.

I'm just wondering if you read her post, what part about it was interpreted as operating independently from God?

I can see how you might have made that conclusion from reading just the title alone -- it happens all the time and we all do this now and then.

But if you read the first post, I think it's very well-stated and if it isn't, I'd like to know what brought about your conclusion -- it would be useful in learning how to better word my own thread posts as well.
 

ATSTD

Well-known member
Feb 21, 2025
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#9
I'm not meaning this in a sarcastic or disrespectful way at all -- I'm just genuinely curious -- but did you read @Snackersmom's beginning post in that thread? Because she explained in a very clear and concise way (as she always does) that her thread was NOT about being independent from God at all.

I'm just wondering if you read her post, what part about it was interpreted as operating independently from God?

I can see how you might have made that conclusion from reading just the title alone -- it happens all the time and we all do this now and then.

But if you read the first post, I think it's very well-stated and if it isn't, I'd like to know what brought about your conclusion -- it would be useful in learning how to better word my own thread posts as well.
I read the title and the first post and figured I should stir things up by writing a juicy title, a thought provoking opening sentence.and ask some good questions. A lot people on here come here to chat but I only know of one or two other people on here that have a ministry. so I wanted to see if others come here who have a ministry or is CC technically their ministry?
 

seoulsearch

OutWrite Trouble
May 23, 2009
17,191
6,044
113
#10
I read the title and the first post and figured I should stir things up by writing a juicy title, a thought provoking opening sentence.and ask some good questions. A lot people on here come here to chat but I only know of one or two other people on here that have a ministry. so I wanted to see if others come here who have a ministry or is CC technically their ministry?
I think it depends on what you define as ministry.

This is just me, but every spouse and every parent already has a built-in ministry -- their marriage and their kids. Their ministry is trying to navigate growing a Christian marriage and little humans from birth to adulthood in this crazy world where everything is against them.

The singles I know are all ministering to family and friends, helping to raise their kids and take care of their loved ones who are going through serious health issues.

Right now I feel I have a ministry to my parents, and that takes up the majority of my time.

I understand that for some Christians, these things "don't count." They only accept ministries that are somehow "official."

Years ago, I used to write to and visit prison inmates on my own time, through a site I found online. I wound up visiting 5 maximum security prisons across about 8 years, and exchanged hundreds, if not thousands of letters (this was before inmates could receive email.) There is one person I keep in touch with from that time, and God has transformed his life in ways that would amaze anyone.

But when a young woman in my home state who was doing the same thing was shot and killed by an inmate she wrote who had escaped, God told me to stop for my own safety.

I actually miss that ministry and would prefer it over most any other I've been involved in. But our callings and ministries change over time (at least, mine does.) One year, I invited a co-worker to church who eventually became a member. But she was afraid to take the membership classes and go through the initiation by herself, so God called me to go with her.

This was no small investment, as I think the membership classes took around 6 months. I went to every class with her. And when it was time for her to be officially welcomed into the church, I went through the whole public ceremony in front of the church with her as if I were also new, because she needed someone to be there for her.

For a while, I worked in the children's churches (but begged God to send me back to the prisons, because reading nursery rhymes umpteen times repeatedly is not my thing.)

For another part of my life, I went to support friend's ministries by working for the causes they were passionate about (soup kitchens, etc.) And I think this is also my current calling, as the past few years I've been spending my vacation time and money going to support the causes my Christian friends are involved in.

In the meantime, God always has me talking to people in some way about their lives, problems, and spiritual struggles, both online and in real life. Right now I've lost count of the number of people I know who are suffering from cancer and/have someone, or several people in their lives going through it, and I know God has told me to make time for them.

It might not be an "official" or "sanctioned" ministry in the eyes of others, but I have no doubt it's all part of my calling from God.
 

ATSTD

Well-known member
Feb 21, 2025
725
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Southern California
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#11
For a while, my ministry was just helping out with the bills at home, cooking meals for family and trying to be a good role model to my brother fro the past 10-11 years, which ended up failing miserably.

Randomly, I start arranging loops on GarageBand in November of 2023 because I remember God planted an idea in my mind in like 2012-2014 that he wanted me to become a Christian electronic music artist. In March of 2024, I start composing songs. I also adopt the artist name The Called and the music label name The Narrow Gate. During that entire year, I always thought of that vision God planted in my mind in 2012-2014. This month, March 2025, I finally start creating the vision God gave me in 2012-2014. Who knows where this will all go or what will happen with it but I'm glad to call God my boss, because for a while, that life in Egypt just wasn't what God wanted for me anymore. There is so much freedom living for God than anyone knows. I just wish more people knew about it, instead of rejecting Him.
 

ATSTD

Well-known member
Feb 21, 2025
725
274
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Southern California
www.lnk.bio
#12
I think it depends on what you define as ministry.

This is just me, but every spouse and every parent already has a built-in ministry -- their marriage and their kids. Their ministry is trying to navigate growing a Christian marriage and little humans from birth to adulthood in this crazy world where everything is against them.

The singles I know are all ministering to family and friends, helping to raise their kids and take care of their loved ones who are going through serious health issues.

Right now I feel I have a ministry to my parents, and that takes up the majority of my time.

I understand that for some Christians, these things "don't count." They only accept ministries that are somehow "official."

Years ago, I used to write to and visit prison inmates on my own time, through a site I found online. I wound up visiting 5 maximum security prisons across about 8 years, and exchanged hundreds, if not thousands of letters (this was before inmates could receive email.) There is one person I keep in touch with from that time, and God has transformed his life in ways that would amaze anyone.

But when a young woman in my home state who was doing the same thing was shot and killed by an inmate she wrote who had escaped, God told me to stop for my own safety.

I actually miss that ministry and would prefer it over most any other I've been involved in. But our callings and ministries change over time (at least, mine does.) One year, I invited a co-worker to church who eventually became a member. But she was afraid to take the membership classes and go through the initiation by herself, so God called me to go with her.

This was no small investment, as I think the membership classes took around 6 months. I went to every class with her. And when it was time for her to be officially welcomed into the church, I went through the whole public ceremony in front of the church with her as if I were also new, because she needed someone to be there for her.

For a while, I worked in the children's churches (but begged God to send me back to the prisons, because reading nursery rhymes umpteen times repeatedly is not my thing.)

For another part of my life, I went to support friend's ministries by working for the causes they were passionate about (soup kitchens, etc.) And I think this is also my current calling, as the past few years I've been spending my vacation time and money going to support the causes my Christian friends are involved in.

In the meantime, God always has me talking to people in some way about their lives, problems, and spiritual struggles, both online and in real life. Right now I've lost count of the number of people I know who are suffering from cancer and/have someone, or several people in their lives going through it, and I know God has told me to make time for them.

It might not be an "official" or "sanctioned" ministry in the eyes of others, but I have no doubt it's all part of my calling from God.
People reject me because they rejected Jesus first.
 

Snackersmom

Senior Member
May 10, 2011
1,817
404
83
#13
Of course. Are you submitted to Christ? And if so, what is the ministry that He has you doing?
Alrighty, I understand your intent on the title better now.

Am I submitted to Christ.... I think saying I am 100% submitted to Him would require knowledge of my own heart on a level that only God Himself can discern. But I do know that there's quite a few things I wanted but abstained from because I felt God was saying "No." And also some things I REALLY didn't want to do, but I did anyway because I felt certain God was telling me to (spoiler: I survived and it always worked out 😉). I don't think I'm 100% submitted to Him though; I'd be a bit suspicious of anyone who claimed they are. But I do try to seek Him in areas of my daily life, including finances, business, relationships, ministry, and even hobbies.

So, what ministry am I involved in..... quite a few, but to varying degrees. There's a few overseas I support with resources and encouragement. Locally, I'm called to youth ministry, which is where the majority of my ministry time goes. I absolutely love it!

I also consider my role in business to be part ministry. I've witnessed to plenty of my customers, and all the people who work to make the business run are a part of my ministry. I pray about a lot of things concerning them. Often I am a "first boss" to a teenager, and that's not a role I take lightly. But those kids give more than they take, seriously. 🥲

I totally agree with you and @seoulsearch that our immediate families are automatically part of our ministry. 😎👍

I also operate as "God's random weirdo" in my spare time when out and about. I've given flowers to strangers in the name of Jesus, chased people down in parking lots asking if they needed prayer (only one person has ever said no), snot-cried in parking lots with strangers after giving them flowers or praying for them and subsequently finding out they were going through a really rough time. I could tell a few stories. But anyway....

The only officially sanctioned church title I've ever had was "head of stage". I'm the only one who volunteered for it but I loved it. I provided flowers every week for the pulpit. Not much of a ministry I guess, but Jesus showed me how to fix that. Every week right after the service I asked Him who to give the flowers to. And every week I got a name. Crazy stuff..... more snot-crying. Jesus always knows who needs a little extra something to get through the week. 😎 A couple of people even mentioned at their baptisms that getting the flowers the first Sunday they attended was a major reason why they decided to come back the following week, and eventually gave their lives to Jesus. I never had a deep spiritual conversation with either of them, yet it all worked together to get them where God wanted them to be. I love how He operates, I'm a big fan for sure 🙌.

I could go on WAYYYYY too long about this subject, so I will stop there. Don't even get me started on youth ministry haha I'd type all night 😆. Totally agree that there is so much more freedom living for God than most people realize! He's the best boss for sure 😎.
 

ATSTD

Well-known member
Feb 21, 2025
725
274
63
37
Southern California
www.lnk.bio
#14
Alrighty, I understand your intent on the title better now.

Am I submitted to Christ.... I think saying I am 100% submitted to Him would require knowledge of my own heart on a level that only God Himself can discern. But I do know that there's quite a few things I wanted but abstained from because I felt God was saying "No." And also some things I REALLY didn't want to do, but I did anyway because I felt certain God was telling me to (spoiler: I survived and it always worked out 😉). I don't think I'm 100% submitted to Him though; I'd be a bit suspicious of anyone who claimed they are. But I do try to seek Him in areas of my daily life, including finances, business, relationships, ministry, and even hobbies.

So, what ministry am I involved in..... quite a few, but to varying degrees. There's a few overseas I support with resources and encouragement. Locally, I'm called to youth ministry, which is where the majority of my ministry time goes. I absolutely love it!

I also consider my role in business to be part ministry. I've witnessed to plenty of my customers, and all the people who work to make the business run are a part of my ministry. I pray about a lot of things concerning them. Often I am a "first boss" to a teenager, and that's not a role I take lightly. But those kids give more than they take, seriously. 🥲

I totally agree with you and @seoulsearch that our immediate families are automatically part of our ministry. 😎👍

I also operate as "God's random weirdo" in my spare time when out and about. I've given flowers to strangers in the name of Jesus, chased people down in parking lots asking if they needed prayer (only one person has ever said no), snot-cried in parking lots with strangers after giving them flowers or praying for them and subsequently finding out they were going through a really rough time. I could tell a few stories. But anyway....

The only officially sanctioned church title I've ever had was "head of stage". I'm the only one who volunteered for it but I loved it. I provided flowers every week for the pulpit. Not much of a ministry I guess, but Jesus showed me how to fix that. Every week right after the service I asked Him who to give the flowers to. And every week I got a name. Crazy stuff..... more snot-crying. Jesus always knows who needs a little extra something to get through the week. 😎 A couple of people even mentioned at their baptisms that getting the flowers the first Sunday they attended was a major reason why they decided to come back the following week, and eventually gave their lives to Jesus. I never had a deep spiritual conversation with either of them, yet it all worked together to get them where God wanted them to be. I love how He operates, I'm a big fan for sure 🙌.

I could go on WAYYYYY too long about this subject, so I will stop there. Don't even get me started on youth ministry haha I'd type all night 😆. Totally agree that there is so much more freedom living for God than most people realize! He's the best boss for sure 😎.
You are quite amazing. Thank you for writing that.
 

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
Aug 13, 2014
28,656
10,234
113
#18
Bragging on God?
No, bragging about all the good things they are doing.

If I talk about all the ministries I am doing, it starts to sound an awful lot like I am bragging... About ME.
 

Snackersmom

Senior Member
May 10, 2011
1,817
404
83
#19
You are quite amazing. Thank you for writing that.
Thanks, but not really..... God brought the awesome. Whatever part was "me" I tended to mess up lol 😆.

I remember once I dragged my feet for EIGHT. WHOLE. MONTHS. To do something that God clearly, repeatedly, UNDENIABLY told me to do. But I didn't wanna. He literally had to start threatening me to get me to do it lol 😂. And guess what? Turned out to be one of the best experiences of my life. Because He's cool like that 😎.

But anyway.... @Lynx is probably right that people are hesitant to post because either they don't see what they are doing as ministry (even if it is) or they don't want to sound braggy. I wouldn't even have posted if you hadn't called me out specifically lol. But once I got started I figured maybe my story could help others see how God could use them, even if they don't have an "official" title, or a gift for Apologetics- style evangelism.

My ministry efforts were very frustrating until the day I realized it's not about doing something FOR God, it's about doing something WITH Him. If He's working with you then ya can't go wrong.... because He's the one who brings the awesomeness and increase. He's the vine, we're the branches.... without Him we can't do anything! 🤓