A friend of mine once did mission work in a country where Christianity was a small, struggling presence. His role was to mentor local pastors, and during one conversation, they asked about his home church in the U.S.

At the time, my friend’s church was in transition—they didn’t have a senior pastor. When he explained this, the overseas pastors reacted with confusion.

“Did he die?” they asked.

Taken aback, my friend clarified that the pastor had simply moved on to another church. But this only deepened their confusion.

To them, pastoring wasn’t a job—it was a calling. The idea that someone could leave one church for another simply because they felt it was a “better fit” was completely foreign to them.

That moment stuck with my friend—and with me. It made us realize how differently ministry is viewed in many parts of the world compared to the Western mindset.

And over the years, as I’ve worked with churches navigating leadership transitions, I’ve seen this reality play out again and again.

The Blurred Line Between Calling and Career

In America, ministry often functions like a career path.

We have:

• Pastoral job listings
• Leadership transitions driven by fit and preference
• Opportunities to move up, expand influence, and build platforms

There’s nothing inherently wrong with this. But somewhere along the way, we’ve allowed calling and vocation to become confused.

I’ve watched leaders trade their humility for opportunity.

I’ve seen ministries start with a God-given vision—only for that vision to be replaced by personal ambition.

God doesn’t call us to the big stage. He calls us to ministry.

When our vision becomes about:

• Our reputation
• Our career advancement
• Our salary and financial security
• Our influence and platform

…we have to ask ourselves:

Who are we really doing this for?

And have we subtly traded God’s vision for our own?

Ministry vs. Success: The Subtle Shift

Ministry offers many opportunities to grow, expand, and build.

• Writing books
• Speaking on bigger platforms
• Growing a following
• Expanding our influence

None of these things are wrong. In fact, they can be incredible tools for the Kingdom. But they also present a dangerous temptation—the temptation to equate ministry success with numerical growth and visibility.

When ministry becomes more about strategy than surrender, we risk losing the very thing God called us to in the first place.

Keeping God’s Vision at the Center

So how do we protect ourselves from this drift?

1. Regularly check your motives.

• Am I making decisions based on faithfulness or opportunity?
• Would I still do this if no one saw or recognized it?

2. Hold ministry with open hands.

• Success isn’t ours to manufacture.
• Growth is God’s responsibility, not ours.

3. Surround yourself with people who will challenge you.

• Do you have people who will call you out if you start chasing influence over obedience?
• Who in your life knows your heart well enough to ask hard questions?

Final Thought: God’s Vision Is Always Bigger Than Ours

The moment we make our vision the priority, we’ve already stepped away from God’s vision.

The size of your ministry doesn’t define its significance.

The visibility of your work doesn’t determine its value.

At the end of the day, faithfulness is the measure of success.

So let’s make sure we’re pursuing His vision—not just our own.