deeds of compassion: “If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth” (1 John 3:17-18 NIV). The New Testament records how the earliest churches did just that. Baptists believe that salvation comes only by a faith response to the grace gift of God in Jesus Christ. We are not saved by good works but by faith. However, salvation is to result in good works: “We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works” (Ephesians 2:10). “Faith without works is dead,” the Bible teaches (James 2:20). Individuals who are saved by faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior become believer priests(1 Peter 2:5; Revelation 1:6). Each believer priest has a responsibility to minister to others. Ministry is a task not just for pastors and deacons but for all believer priests. Faced with a bewildering array of human need, believer priests are to exercise their soul competency to find and follow God’s will regarding which needs to meet. In this, they rely on the empowering (Acts 1:8) and leadership of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:25). Baptists practicecongregational church governance, local church autonomy, and voluntary cooperation. The Baptist denomination does not—cannot—dictate to churches which ministries to perform or how to relate to each other in ministry. Churches carry out a wide assortment of ministries. They also work together in voluntary cooperation to provide ministries beyond the local congregation through the work of associations, conventions, societies, unions, and informal networks. A strong commitment toreligious freedomhas led Baptists to carry out ministry apart from coercion. Individuals and churches are free to choose which ministries to conduct. The ministries are provided by freewill offerings of Baptists (2 Corinthians 8:1-8), not by funds collected by either taxation or denominational assessment, both of which would involve coercion. Baptist ministry is rooted in voluntary participation, support, and cooperation. Extent of Ministry The extent of Baptist ministry is based on the example and teachings of Jesus and the instructions of the Bible. Therefore, ministry is for the total person, for all kinds of people, and in all sorts of places. Thetotal personis the concern of Baptist ministry—spiritual, physical, mental, emotional, and social. Physical needsare met through such ministries as providing food, clothing, water, shelter, and medical care to those in need. Mental and emotional needsare met by such things as counseling, positive preaching and teaching, and visiting those who are confined. Social needsare met by fellowship, recreation, and inclusion of the lonely and social outcasts in these and other activities. Spiritual needsare addressed by evangelism, missions, discipleship, and Christian education. “Inasmuch as ye h one of the leas brethren, ye have Matthew
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