I would like to take this time to talk about the difference between a business, ministry, and hobby. The purpose of a business is to meet a need in the community and charge for this service in order to pay your bills, grow the business and employ others. A ministry is a calling from God to serve in sharing the Gospel and usually doesn’t involve charging others. A hobby is something that a person enjoys doing that isn’t bringing in any income except to cover the costs of materials used for the hobby… (If something cost $25 to make, then it’s sold for around $25 dollars). It is extremely important to know what you decide to do because if you are unsure and start moving in a direction you are not ready for; then whatever you are doing could come to a close quickly. Let’s talk about each briefly.
Business– Business should not be examined exactly like a ministry for a couple reasons. If a business has no way in making money, it should be discarded quickly. The person running a business should at least be able to break-even and pay their own salary in order to provide enough for themselves or family. Sometimes a person’s business can be their ministry. This gets a little rocky though because as I said bills must be paid and it gets more complicated when you accumulate team members who need to be paid as well. In ministry work, many people expect free services for different reasons, so be sure it is made clear in the beginning what the distinction is.
Ministry– A ministry is a mission that God has put on a person’s heart to share the Gospel in whatever magnitude they are called. Most ministries are looked at as giving away free services like clothes, food, someplace to sleep, and etc. In a ministry if a charge occurs, it is usually to cover the cost of materials used. For example, a band might travel to play at a youth center and charge the costs of hotel stay, food, and gas. Some ministries have non-profit businesses in order to provide jobs and a service for people; however, non-profits are businesses that are not looking to make a profit to allow the company to grow. Revenue does come in, but at a minimal level.
Hobby– Hobbies can evolve into a business once the proper elements are in place. Many people create things they enjoy doing. Some sell items or services but not enough to create a salary for those involved. When trying to go from hobby to salary, there are some things to consider. There is an idea referred to as “jumping the boat.” This is when a person quits their full time job in order to start their own business. The boats are metaphors for money and stability. When you jump from one boat (job with reliable income) to land on another (your new start-up) you need to make sure it is sure enough where you do not land in the water and are trying to survive. Usually the trend is to go from full-time, part-time, then transition to full time start-up.
I can only speak a little on each topic in order for this to be an article and not a book. I know as some are reading this they are thinking of someone (maybe themselves) and say that things worked out good for them and didn’t follow these ideas. This is only a basic idea from a business stand point and if you are a follower of Jesus Christ, you always want to be ready to move as He tells you. He may put something on your heart that you do not understand but you need to pray and be at peace with His leading. This is true for anything. He overrides all. God bless you on your journey!
Jason Bordeaux
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