What does the budget crisis in America, the earthquake and nuclear threat in Japan, the rising cost of oil and the unemployment rate all have in common? One word: IMPACT!

Each of us has been impacted by these events on some level, in some way, shape, form or fashion. The reach of these events has not only impacted the communities in which we live, but has also had a tremendous impact in industries, systems, other nations and of course the world. In fact, these events and its reach has had major implications across the globe.  What about your ministry and its impact? What is the depth of your reach?

To determine the impact of your ministry, you should consider whether what you do and the service you provide touches these five major arenas: communiies, industries, systems, nations and then the world. The forward thought among business gurus is that who you attract or minister to falls within 3 categories: health, relationships and money. While that very well may be true, in ministry you need to solidify your base in a main arena before you can focus on another. Many will say my ministry is worldwide because of Christ and the Bible declares that I am called to preach the gospel throughout all nations. Yes! Yes! of course. However, you cannot have a worldwide ministry until you have had a major impact in your community.

A mistake most ministries make is not fully understanding or grasping the reality that each arena builds upon another and is impacted solely from the community perspective. I'm not saying you cannot have a vision to have a global vision or a ministry that spans the globe; what I am saying is that many ministers overtax the people and/or neglect their current flock by seeking worldwide status in other nations when the community in which they are currently assigned has not been fully mastered.

Having global impact in your ministry means affecting every area on a community level by impacting those same industries and systems; nations within your reach. Take for example the ministry of Christ. He started in the community (temple) expanded to affecting an industry (finance); system (political Pharisees/Saducees) and nations (Galilee, Samaria, Jordan) and then ultimately the world. His impact, his reach became global when he mastered one at a time and made changes and saw changes in each area he touched.

Your impact- the depth of your reach is not about numbers of people who attend an event sponsored by you, or the amount brick and mortar laid for a large facility. Your impact is determined by the impactful changes made which affect your community and those who live within it. Then when those results are seen, you can be assured that industries, systems, other nations and yes ultimately the world have been affected by your ministry.