Generally speaking, a ministry is a functional subset often found within a church focused upon a specific task or function. Where a church will normally consist of and maintain many ministries, a ministry rarely crosses between churches. If a ministry were to cross between churches it will usually be a standalone organization or entity of its own.
What is a ministry
A ministry is the people within a church (normally) performing a like-minded task/function. There is no direct definition of “what a ministry is” given in the Bible, so every church classifies its ministries and what can constitute a ministry. A very simplistic overview is that a ministry is the functional unit of the church.
Ministry :
1. the service, functions, or profession of a minister of religion.
2. the body or class of ministers of religion; clergy.
3. the service, function, or office of a minister of state.
4. the body of ministers of state.
5. (usually initial capital letter) any of the administrative governmental departments of certain countries usually under the direction of a minister of state.
6. (usually initial capital letter) the building that houses such an administrative department.
Dictionary.com
What is a church
A church is a collection of believers in a shared ideology. This collection can be held locally, or globally. The key is that there is a unification based upon theology and tradition.
How many churches are there in the USA?
According to Hartford Institute for religious research, there are over 350,000 churches in the USA.
Hartford Institute
Difference between a ministry and a church infographic
How does the Bible define a 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, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,
- 2 Timothy 2:15 ESV
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
- Romans 10:13-15 ESV
For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”
How does the Bible define a church
And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
- Acts 20:28 ESV
Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.
Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
- Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
