How to Turn Your Passion into a Ministry That Serves Others and Pleases God.

Are you passionate about something? Do you want to use your passion to serve others and please God? If so, you're in the right place.

In this guide, I will show how Richie turned his passion into a ministry and how you, too, can use your passions to serve others and please God.

Table of Contents

• How Richie turned his passion into a ministry.
• The Benefits of Turning Your Passion into a Ministry.
• Step 1: Identify Your Passion.
• How to identify your passion.
• Step 2. Validate your passion.
• Why you should validate your passion before starting a ministry.
• Step 3. Develop your passion and skills.
• Step 4. Define your purpose.
• Step 5. Define your Target Audience.
• Step 6. Build Your Platforms.
• Step 7: Serve Others.

How Richie turned his passion into a ministry.

Richie had always felt a calling to become a pastor. He loved the idea of preaching and encouraging others, especially those who had suffered a loss. So, he pursued his dream and enrolled in a seminary school to become a pastor.

After completing his studies, Richie was excited to put his newfound skills into practice.

However, when he moved to the United States, he found it challenging to find a job as a pastor. He had bills to pay, so he decided to become a nurse.

Despite his disappointment, Richie worked hard as a nurse and was always willing to go the extra mile to help his patients.

When the Covid-19 pandemic hit, Richie worked long hours day and night to help as many people as possible. It was a difficult time for everyone, but Richie never lost his compassion and empathy for those in need.

Richie noticed that many people died without any loved ones during his work at the hospital. He saw the pain and sorrow this caused and decided to take action. Every day, Richie would find time to call the relatives of those who had passed away, offering comfort and support.

Richie realized he had found a new calling as he continued making these calls. He had turned his passion for preaching and encouraging others into a ministry.

Richie learned that sometimes our dreams take unexpected turns. Even though he couldn't become a pastor in the traditional sense, he found a way to use his skills and passion to make a real difference in the world.

The Benefits of Turning Your Passion into a Ministry.

Turning your passion into a ministry can bring many benefits to your life and the lives of those you serve. Not only will you gain satisfaction from seeing how your work is helping others, but you'll also be able to share your gifts with the world.

This type of ministry allows you to use your talents and skills meaningfully for yourself and others. It also allows you to learn more about yourself and grow spiritually as you work to make a difference in the lives of people around you.

The story of Richie is essential because we don’t always end up where we are meant to be. Richie wanted to be a Pastor but ended up working in a hospital doing a job that paid his bills but didn’t fulfill his calling.

However, we must never forget that God does not make mistakes. Therefore our job is to always look for opportunities to serve wherever we are, as Richie did.

And one way we can do that is by turning our God-given passion into a ministry that serves others.

Let’s see how you, too, could turn your passion into a ministry. Here is a step-by-step guide.

Step 1: Identify Your Passion.

The first step in turning your passion into a ministry is to identify what you're passionate about.

I am sure your next question will be, “what if I don’t have a passion?”

That’s a great question and one you must explore.

In my short life, I’ve discovered that passions come and go. I remember a time when I was passionate about art. The process and looking at my final designs consumed most of my time, and I loved talking to others about art.

As I grew older, my passion changed slightly, and I became passionate about designing interfaces for the web. And not long after, my passion changed to helping people who want to become digital evangelists.

As you can see, passions change, and God can give you more than one talent. The problem is that God takes away the passions you don’t practice. Like I have lost my first passion.

Identifying or discovering your passion can be a different process for everyone. But the first stop should be on your knees, asking God to reveal his purpose for your life.

I have met people who developed a passion for something after going through some trying moments.

For example, I know a cancer survivor who developed a passion for helping other cancer patients.

You see, once you go through something and succeed, you now have a recipe to succeed. And the question is, “Do you sit on your recipe or help someone trying to get to where you are?”

How to identify your passion.

Identifying your passion can be a journey of self-discovery; it may take time and effort to figure out what truly drives and motivates you. Here are some ways to help you identify your passion:

1. Pay attention to what makes you happy.

Think about the activities or tasks that make you feel fulfilled, energized, and happy. Pay attention to the things that you enjoy doing and look forward to.

2. Explore new things.

Trying new things and stepping out of your comfort zone can help you discover new interests and passions. Take up a new hobby, join a club or group, or take a class in a subject that interests you.

3. Reflect on your childhood.

Think back to the activities that you enjoyed doing as a child. Did you love drawing, playing sports, or exploring the outdoors? Revisiting your childhood interests can help you reconnect with your passions.

4. Consider your values.

Your passions are often tied to your values and beliefs. Reflect on what matters most to you in life, and think about how you can pursue your passions in a way that aligns with your values.

5. Pay attention to what inspires you.

What books, movies, or people inspire you? Pay attention to the things that ignite your curiosity and motivate you to take action.

6. Ask for feedback.

Sometimes, others can see our passions more clearly than we can. Ask your friends, family, or colleagues what they think you're passionate about or what they see you light up when you talk about.

Once you've identified your passion, consider how to use it to serve others.

Step 2. Validate your passion.

The next step is to validate your passion. This means considering whether your passion is something God would approve of and if it would benefit others.

Research the area you are passionate about and look for ways to use it to help those in need. Think about creating a ministry that allows you to use your gifts and talents to bring joy and inspiration to those who need it.

When validating your passion, it's essential to consider how to use it to serve others and please God. You should ask yourself questions such as:

• Will this bring joy and inspiration to those who need it?
• Can I use my gifts and talents to create a ministry that helps needy people?
• What impact will this have on the lives of those around me?

Doing research in the area you are passionate about can help determine if your passion is something God would approve of. Once you are confident that your passion aligns with God's will, you can turn it into a ministry.

Warning: Watch out for discouragements.

The process of validating your passion and ministry is one most people skip for good reasons.

While working on the Delmethod, I found the validation process most challenging.

First, the people I shared the idea with did not fully comprehend the idea, and they thought it wouldn’t work.

I was hit the second time when I presented the idea to my church family and didn’t get any feedback.

But I believed in my idea so much that I wrote my first article and sent it to my family for feedback, and it is safe to say that my family is yet to read the article.

You may face these issues when validating your passion and ministry idea. To say that I was discouraged would be an understatement.

But just when I was about to give up, One person read my article, which changed everything.

I was reminded of Jesus preaching to the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4. Jesus didn't need to preach to a massive crowd to make an impact.

By speaking to just one person, the Samaritan woman, he was able to change her life and the lives of many others in her village.

It's easy to get caught up in the numbers and feel like we are not making a difference if we are not reaching a large audience.

Find one person to validate your ministry idea.

However, we should remember that every conversation and personal connection can profoundly impact us.

By focusing on connecting with just one person at a time and sharing our stories and encouragement, we can make a real difference in their lives, and that impact can ripple out to many others.

A warning is that many will say no to your ideas but look for that ONE yes. Once you get one person to validate your ministry, you will use that person as a persona and build your ministry around meeting that person’s needs.

Why you should validate your passion before starting a ministry.

When you validate your passion, you ensure it aligns with God's will and will benefit others.

Doing this research can help you understand the potential impact of your ministry and the best way to use your gifts and talents to serve those in need.

The validation process will also help you create a ministry focused on God's will rather than just doing something because it’s what you want. Validating your passion will help create a meaningful and beneficial ministry to those you wish to serve.

The goal is to ensure that your passion aligns with God's will and serves others' needs, not your interests. If this is so, you are ready to move on to the next step.

Step 3. Develop your passion and skills.

Once you have identified and validated your passion, developing your skills is next.

This is an essential part of making a meaningful impact on your ministry. You can do this by learning new skills, honing existing ones, and engaging in activities that will better serve the people around you and help you grow.

For example, if you like writing, you can read books about writing, take writing classes or workshops, and practice writing regularly. If your passion is more practical, such as carpentry or teaching, you can find volunteer opportunities or apprenticeships to help you develop your craft.

No matter what skill set you develop, you must stay focused and diligent in making the most of your ministry.

In the case of Richie, we see that he already had a massive bank of skills from Seminary School. And his validation process looked a little different than most people because he identified a need with the people he served.

Action Item: Look at the skills you already have and those you need to build your ministry.

Step 4. Define your purpose.

Once you have identified and developed your passion, the next step is to define your purpose. This is the core of your ministry and will guide your decisions and actions.

Ask yourself why you are doing this ministry and what you hope to achieve. Consider how it will help those around you and bring glory to God.

Write down your purpose and use it as a reference point when making decisions about your ministry. This will ensure that your efforts focus on achieving your purpose and pleasing God.

Example of a Ministry statement of Purpose.

Step 5. Define your Target Audience.

Defining your audience is essential in turning your passion into a ministry. Knowing who you are serving will help you focus your efforts and ensure that your ministry meets the needs of those you are trying to help.

Consider the demographics of your audience, such as age, gender, and location, as well as their interests and needs. This will help you tailor your ministry activities to meet the needs of your target audience and ensure that your ministry is successful.

Once you have identified and defined your target audience, you can begin to create a plan for how to reach them. This plan should include activities and events to engage your audience and help them benefit from your ministry.

Consider how to use your skills and talents in a way that will best serve your audience.

You can also research other ministries and organizations in your area to find out what activities have been successful for them. Additionally, look for ways to partner with other organizations or churches to expand the reach of your ministry.

Richie's target audience is people who need spiritual help and a shoulder to lean on. It's especially meant for those who have gone through tough times, like losing someone close to them. Richie generally wants to give comfort and encouragement during challenging times while providing spiritual guidance and support.

Step 6. Build Your Platforms.

Now that you have defined your purpose and identified your passion, it is time to build the necessary platforms to make your ministry a reality.

Whether you are building an offline or online ministry, you still need a digital presence where people can get more information about your ministry.

Your digital platforms include creating an online presence and developing relationships with community members. Having a social media account or website for your ministry will allow you to reach out to potential donors, volunteers, and people in need.

Additionally, establishing relationships with other ministries, churches, and organizations in the community will help you create a network of support and resources for your ministry.

If you need more information about the available digital evangelism methods you can use, please check out - 8 Digital Evangelism Methods Every Ministry Should Use In 2022.

Step 7: Serve Others.

Serving others is the final step in turning your passion into a ministry. This means using your skills and platform to impact the world positively. Whether volunteering, donating, or simply sharing your message, find ways to serve others and make a difference in their lives.

As you serve others, remember that you are not serving numbers but individuals. Therefore, do not be discouraged if your ministry is not reaching many people.

Jesus, at the well, preached to one person, and we know the result. The story of Richie is also a perfect example of how you can create a ministry that impacts one person at a time.

My final thoughts

In conclusion, turning your passion into a ministry serving others and pleasing God is a rewarding and fulfilling journey. Following these simple steps, you can use your passion to positively impact the world and inspire others to do the same.

I hope this article pushes you further into turning your passion into a ministry like Richie did.

Do you have a passion? Let us know in the comments, or write to us through the contact page and tell us what you are doing with your passion or if you need more help serving others with your passion.