Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.  ~ Matthew 28:16-20 (NLT)

When writing down your dreams and desires, consider this: you CAN want a relationship with Jesus Christ AND have the desire to replace the 12-year-old mini-van you’ve been driving. You CAN want to introduce others to Christ AND season tickets for your alma mater’s home football games. You CAN be evangelistic AND still be tactful, timely, and congruent in exhorting others about faith in the marketplace.

You CAN be a minister AND work in the marketplace. The Greek word in the New Testament that is often translated as “ministry” is diakonia meaning “service.” The term is not limited to the service of a select few who hold a title or role in the church. The exact opposite is true. Paul said that those who hold offices in the church are given gifts for the purpose of enabling all of God’s people to do ministry:

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.
~ Ephesians 4:11-12 (ESV)

Success and leadership correlate as well for the Christian leader as they do a secular CEO, but with a different purpose and purified (or not) by a different faith. Your faith should be evident in the manner in which you express His commands and commission. Make Christ your filter, but honestly consider your desires and needs, and go about them with grace. Let God be God.