When I first became a Christian, a friend and I often went to Santa Barbara, California, to help people. Over time, we called our efforts a “ministry” because that’s what it was. We primarily helped the unhoused and shared the message of Jesus with them, but we assisted anyone the Lord brought to our attention, including the housed. Still, our ministry initially focused on sharing Jesus with the unhoused population of Santa Barbara.

However, our pastor, for we attended and served at a local church, took issue with our ministry. When people asked us which church we attended, we’d tell them, and because of this, our pastor said we were representing our church without permission.

I had a difficult time with this concept because, as a Christian, my position was to tell people about Jesus. It didn’t matter that I was a new convert or hadn’t read the Bible cover to cover yet. Indeed, the more I read the Bible, the more convinced I became that what I was doing was right. After all, what did Paul do after he was saved?

But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human being. I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus.

Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Cephas and stayed with him fifteen days. I saw none of the other apostles—only James, the Lord’s brother. I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie (emphasis added).

Galatians 1:15-20 (NIV)

Instead of seeking approval from those in Jerusalem after his conversion, Paul went to Arabia and then Damascus. Only after three years did he seek out Peter in Jerusalem to “get acquainted” with him.

Therefore, when I read Galatians, I found it difficult to submit to my pastor and cease the ministry my brother and I had begun—a ministry that had already grown from two to three people helping the lost in Santa Barbara.

Over the last 18 years, I’ve learned that Christians seem mostly divided into two groups: those who are saved and immediately think they should become preachers or pastors and those who don’t feel qualified to preach and can’t imagine sharing the gospel with anyone.

In 2 Corinthians 5, Paul provides insight into what happens when we become Christians:

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)

When I was first saved as a “new creation,” I wanted to tell others about Christ. This was a Biblical desire inspired by the Holy Spirit. I believe this with all my heart, especially in light of what Paul says next:

All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God (emphasis added).

2 Corinthians 5:18-20 (NIV)

This ministry of reconciliation is one that every Christian is part of. We may have individual ministries, but this ministry is our cornerstone, the foundation upon which all other ministries are built. After all, what good is helping people with food, clothing, shelter, and other basic needs if the goal isn’t to spread the word that people must be reconciled to God—a reconciliation that can only come through Christ Jesus?

The Apostle Paul isn’t the only example of someone leaving their former life behind to follow God’s purpose. Consider these passages from Amos:

Then Amaziah said to Amos, “Get out, you seer! Go back to the land of Judah. Earn your bread there and do your prophesying there. Don’t prophesy anymore at Bethel, because this is the king’s sanctuary and the temple of the kingdom.”

Amos answered Amaziah, “I was neither a prophet nor the son of a prophet, but I was a shepherd, and I also took care of sycamore-fig trees. But the Lord took me from tending the flock and said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel’ (emphasis added).

Amos 7:12-15 (NIV)

Amos was a shepherd from Tekoa in Judah when the word of the Lord came to him, telling him to go to Israel and prophesy. Amos obeyed the Lord without question.

When we consider Amos and our calling as Christians, it doesn’t matter whether we think we were called to preach. We are all ambassadors of Christ. For some, this might mean sharing God’s love throughout our day as we travel from home to work and back again. Others might be destined to be ordained preachers, pastors, and ministers, while some are teachers. Regardless of our specific calling, we are all Christ’s ambassadors.

“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, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV)