What are the benefits of being part of a ministerial fellowship?

Stepping out into a life of ministry brings many questions with it: Where? When? How? Why? While all of these questions are important and must be resolved, perhaps the most important question a young minister must answer is...

"Who do I want to become?" The answer to this question is often answered in another "Who" question: "Who do I want to connect myself with?" The truth of the matter is, inevitably the people we choose to connect ourselves with have a profound impact on who we become, what we work towards, where we are planted, the pace at which we grow in gifting and opportunity, and how we accomplish what God has called us to do.

Many years ago as a young Bible school graduate I was faced with a destiny-shaping decision: did I want to become part of a ministerial fellowship or strike out on my own? I decided I wanted to be part of something, that I needed the support and encouragement that a ministerial fellowship could bring to me. That decision has made all the difference in my life.

My time spent partnered in ministry with Elim Fellowship has had a profound impact on my life by providing for me in seven distinct, tangible ways.

Encouragement for Getting Started in Ministry

The three most vulnerable and influential times in a person's life are the beginning of something, the end of something, and during times of change. As a young minister just beginning to step out into God's purposes and destiny for my life, partnering with people who had the desire and the ability to stand with me was crucial. A healthy ministerial fellowship will provide godly leadership, experience, encouragement, and accountability you take your first wobbly steps into the "real world" ministry.
Too often I see young ministers with an abundance of God-given potential connect with the wrong leaders and suffer immensely for it. Without having people around to encourage and motivate you during this important time, a mistake can be devastating. In the United States military there are eight to ten support staff members for every front-lines soldier, taking care of his health, supplies, information, and armament. This type of support structure is necessary throughout a minister's life, but is especially paramount during these first formative years.

People Who Opened Doors for Me

After graduating from Elim Bible Institute I took a position helping out at an Elim affiliated church in the city of Oswego in upstate New York. Although I spent most of my time that winter shoveling the perpetual snowfall off of the church parking lot, it was during this time that I began to develop a real heart for college students. Paul Johansson, an extremely influential part of Elim's history, took notice of my desire to minister to college students and opened the door for me to begin developing an intercampus college ministry. Little did he know that 30 years later B.A.S.I.C. college ministries would still be reaching secular university campuses.
In recent years, I've been able to open doors for the next generation of young leaders; encouraging them to go farther and higher than I ever did. I see every young leader as I see my own children and want to do whatever possible to help them find their place in ministry. Right now we're working to birth a church planting movement aimed at helping young leaders by providing them an "on ramp" into ministry at all levels. I say "we" because all throughout the Fellowship established leaders are opening doors and providing opportunities for young leaders to flourish.

Generational Empowerment

In the story of the Prodigal Son, we see the power of connecting generations. A younger son separates himself from the protection and provision of his father motivated by a fear that his father would not use his position to help him, but to control him. This son's orphan spirit is demonstrated in that he could only see his father through the lens of restriction, not of empowerment. In a similar fashion, the older brother's improper view of his father caused him to experience separation without ever leaving his father's house. He saw his father as someone he had to please to get what he wanted, not as a friend or a mentor. Later in the story, boys both are confronted with the fact that their father wanted to give not just his fortune, but also his heart to his sons; his desire was to bless.
My greatest fulfillment in ministry has been when I've had the opportunity to pass it on to the next generation. On January 1st, 2009 I had the opportunity to hand over leadership of Elim Gospel Church, the church I had pastored for 20 years, to Joshua Finley, my 27 year old associate pastor. Nothing is more exciting than to see an anointed young person moving into the area of their God-given calling. Having a passion to reach your generation, while maintaining the wisdom to remain connected with spiritual fathers, is a recipe for great success.

Transformational Triangle

There are three things that inspire change in a person's life: truth, trials, and relationships. They form a transformational triangle that when filled with the Holy Spirit's guidance causes me to change as a person. It is very difficult to grow without relationships. Being involved in a ministerial fellowship hasn't always meant that I was surrounded by people who agreed with me; yet my relationship in that fellowship has helped me grow immensely. Elim Fellowship has helped me experience God's Truth, has supported me through life's many trials, and has provided relationships that have encouraged and sustained me while spurring me on to growth and maturity in Christ.

Trans-Local Impact

Many of us will be called to specific communities for our life's ministry but it is important that we do not lose sight of the greater plan of God for the earth. Elim Fellowship provides a platform for networking within a local area, but also enhances a minister's ability to stay connected with those beyond their area of direct influence. Through interaction with other constituents in your region, men's and women's conferences, youth ministries, and other area gatherings you will be able to connect with like-minded people who are also committed to seeing the world changed through the power of the Gospel. We must understand that the call on our lives is not just community impacting but world impacting. A ministerial fellowship gives you the network to truly be involved in national and international impact!

Influence Without Control

One of the core values of Elim is a willingness to provide support, direction, and oversight without having to get credit for it or put our name on everything that we do. Because Elim Fellowship is not a denomination, we can bless the entire body of Christ without fostering any sense of competition. Perhaps you've heard of B.A.S.I.C. College Ministry, Mobilized to Serve, or Helimission. All of these ministries were birthed through the Elim movement and have become a part of a trans-denominational effort to reach the world. Campus Target is another such ministry that was started by graduates of Elim Bible Institute, but whose DNA is to unite American believers in the mission of reaching Aisa with the Gospel. By connecting with established Elim ministers who have been working in Aisa for years, they have been able to build a bridge and are now reaping a great harvest in that nation.

Benefits of Family

As a father of three I know that, in the short term, running a family can be quite a challenge. There was a time when my wife, Terri, and I would have looked at building our family and raising our children as chores without many rewards; but that has all changed for us now. All three of my adult children attended Elim Bible Institute and are now involved in full time ministry with Elim Fellowship serving as ministry leaders and missionaries around the world. It is such a joy for me and my wife to sit down with them and strategize about ministry and swap stories of God working around the world.
I have a very similar experience with Elim Fellowship. When I first became involved it seemed like mostly chores and challenges; but after building relationships for a lifetime, Elim Fellowship has become an incredible spiritual family for me. I have reached my time of reaping and I love it. Although you may feel like choosing to join yourself with a ministerial fellowship will hold you back initially, I would encourage you to go through your season of chores and challenges in order that you might reap your own harvest of blessing in the future.

Regardless of what stage of life and ministry you find yourself in, I would earnestly encourage you to consider joining a ministerial fellowship. Connecting yourself with a family of other leaders with like-minded values and vision will provide you with the opportunity, encouragement, resources, accountability, and support necessary for accomplishing the unique call that God has placed upon your life. Make sure that building this kind of family is a part of your spiritual agenda and make the decision to join a team like Elim Fellowship at the earliest opportunity.

By Rev. Michael Cavanaugh - Vice President of Elim Fellowship