Parachurch ministries refer to Christian organizations that work outside of the local church to fulfill a specific mission or provide a particular service. Some common examples include campus ministries, pregnancy resource centers, Christian media outlets, bible translation organizations, and advocacy groups. The question arises if parachurch ministries have biblical support or if they improperly supplant the role of the local church.
There are several passages in the New Testament that provide wisdom for how parachurch ministries can rightly relate to local churches:
1. Parachurch ministries are gifts to the church
In Ephesians 4:11-16, Paul describes how God gifts people in various ways to equip the church for ministry. This includes evangelists, pastors, teachers, prophets, and apostles. Many founders of parachurch ministries function in these giftings. Their ministries can be viewed as gifts from God to strengthen and mature the global church.
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, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (Ephesians 4:11-16)
Parachurch leaders use their gifts to equip all believers for ministry. Rather than detracting from the local church, they aim to build it up.
2. Parachurch ministries partner with the church
The New Testament highlights the importance of partnership and unity within the body of Christ. In Philippians 1:5, Paul commends the Philippian church for partnering with him in the work of the gospel. In 1 Corinthians 3:5-9, he describes how he and Apollos worked together as servants of God for the growth of the Corinthian church. This spirit of partnership and collaboration should characterize the relationship between parachurch ministries and local congregations.
I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. (Philippians 1:3-5)
What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building. (1 Corinthians 3:5-9)
Parachurch organizations function best when supporting and resourcing local church ministry, not supplanting it.
3. Parachurch leaders submit to church leadership
In Hebrews 13:17, the author instructs believers to submit to the authority of church leaders. The leaders keep watch and will give an account for the souls under their care. While parachurch ministry leaders have a degree of independence, they should still maintain accountable relationships within a local church context. This provides spiritual covering and prevents parachurch ministries from doctrinal drift.
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. (Hebrews 13:17)
Maintaining accountability to church leadership enables parachurch ministries to remain focused on building up the broader body of Christ.
4. Different parts of the body have distinct roles
1 Corinthians 12 speaks poetically of the church as a body with many members. Just as a body has different parts with different functions, so the body of Christ consists of various groups with distinct roles and callings.
For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. (1 Corinthians 12:14-18)
Parachurch groups have a particular purpose and specialized focus, just as church congregations meet other needs within the body. Diversity within the body strengthens the overall health of the church.
5. All gifts are for the common good
1 Corinthians 12 also explains that spiritual gifts are given by God for the benefit of the entire church body. Ministry groups likewise contribute to the overall health and growth of the global church.
All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many…But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. (1 Corinthians 12:11-13, 24-25)
Parachurch organizations use their unique gifts and callings to care for the church and further God’s kingdom purposes.
6. All ministry aims for spiritual growth
Ephesians 4 makes it clear that all gifts, leadership roles, and ministries within the church share the same aim—to equip believers for works of service so that the body of Christ may be built up. Parachurch groups are not “lone rangers” but share the greater goal of serving the church.
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. (Ephesians 4:11-13)
Parachurch organizations rightly focus on spiritual maturity and equipping believers for ministry.
7. Unity demonstrates Jesus’s love
In John 13:34-35, Jesus gives his disciples a new command to love one another just as he loved them. He says this sacrificial love will show the world they are his disciples. Parachurch groups and local churches demonstrate the love of Christ when they lay down turf wars and selfishness for the sake of gospel partnership.
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35)
Maintaining unity and showing love testifies to the sincerity of parachurch ministries’ faith.
8. All boast in the cross
In ministry, there can be the temptation to build one’s own platform and promote a particular brand. But in Galatians 6:14, Paul says the only thing he will boast in is the cross of Christ. This reminds parachurch groups to focus on exalting Jesus rather than drawing attention to themselves.
But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. (Galatians 6:14)
Parachurch ministries shine the spotlight on Jesus when they serve with humility, not self-promotion.
9. The glory goes to God
First Peter 4:10-11 makes it clear that in all forms of ministry, the praise and glory goes to God. Parachurch organizations recognize that they are stewards of the gifts God has given them. Ultimately, their ministry is not about them but honoring God.
As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 4:10-11)
God receives the honor when parachurch groups use their gifts well for kingdom purposes.
10. Do not hinder the gospel
In 1 Corinthians 9, Paul describes his willingness to surrender his rights for the sake of the gospel mission. He did not want anything to get in the way of people hearing the message of Christ. Parachurch ministries should have the same heart motivation of removing potential obstacles that may hinder others from coming to faith.
But we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ. (1 Corinthians 9:12b)
Parachurch groups rightly aim to spread the gospel, not create barriers to it.
In summary, the New Testament provides wisdom for how parachurch organizations can rightly relate to and serve the church. While maintaining a specialized focus, parachurch ministries aim to build up the global body of Christ in unity and love. They recognize their role as gifts to the church and partners in the gospel mission. Though organizationally distinct, parachurch groups and local churches share a common aim to make disciples and bring glory to God.
