Read more here about the oldest known (3rd century) purpose-built church, located in Jordan.
I've been thinking a lot lately about a "call to ministry", either locally or cross-culturally. I don't see it in Scripture. I see a "call" to Christ. In that "calling", all believers are spiritually gifted and "called" to bring God as much glory as possible. If a believer, along with his/her church and by the Holy Spirit living within him, discerns that he can bring God the most glory by being "freed up" financially to invest most of his time serving the local church(s) through evangelism and/or discipleship, he should do so. No special "sign" is needed. This would be confirmed through a season of fruitful volunteer service, as well as through God's provision of finances through his church and other believers. If a believer discerns that his life can bring God more glory by continuing to financially support himself and others through a job while volunteering in ministry, he should continue to do so. He earns income to meet the needs of his family, to support financially those who are "freed up", and to buy himself time to expand the Kingdom himself. Neither our job nor our ministry should be our source of significance and identify. Our relationship with Christ is our significance and identify. Please ask the Lord of the harvest to send more "freed up" workers into His harvest field, especially among the unreached people groups of the world. This very short article expands on much of what I have just said using Scripture.
