Rick Warren starts his book by saying that this is not about you, however he then continues to write an entire book about you and how you should have purpose, how you should bring the lost to Christ, how you can be fulfilled in life, how you can feel happy. This is a secular self help book that has little to do with the bible regardless of how many misquoted, out of context, and just plain twisted quotes from the bible he includes.
“The greatest tragedy is not death, but life without purpose.” (PDL; p. 30;) How many self help books are there about having a purpose in life? But now I don't have to rely on God to give my life a purpose I can just ask Rick. Many people in the world have a purpose in life even Hitler but they are still not going to heaven. But I guess with the right purpose we can earn our way into heaven. Rick stresses works a lot in his books and that’s great because then I am in control, who needs faith. Sorry Rick I will stick with faith. People in life become so purpose driven that all else is neglected, the scriptures teach us to live a balanced life not a purpose driven one. Rick stated in one of his sermons: Now you’ve heard me say many times that the greatest thing you can do with your life is tell somebody about Jesus and invite them to come to know him. If you help somebody secure their eternal destiny that they spend the rest of their life in heaven, not hell, your life counts. Your life matters because nothing matters more than helping get a person and their eternal destiny settled. They will be forever ever grateful and thank you for the rest of eternity—thank you for telling me about Jesus Christ. (Rick Warren) Now God will love me, no more unconditional love for me this is better I can earn God's love and have people put me on a pedestal because they owe me for saving them. They will thank me for the rest of eternity? I thought God was worshiped in heaven not me.
His “blueprint for Christian living” contains such a generic message of purpose that even those in other religions (faiths) have embraced its message of purpose-driven living. If his book was grounded in “the words of faith and of good doctrine,” it would not be acceptable to other religions or be popular in the world!
“The religious vision is uncomplicated and accepting: ‘God wants to be your best friend.’ The secular world doesn't see an awesome God or a God of Judgment in Rick’s book but a golf buddy, or someone that you could sit down and have drink with. It’s much easier when we bring God down to our level instead of coming up to His level. I am sure that God appreciates that…. Probably not. In an interview with Pastors.com Rick says “The secret of reaching unbelievers is learning to think like an unbeliever. But the problem is - the longer you’re a Christian, the less you think like an unbeliever. And if you’re a seminary-trained pastor, you’re even more removed from unbelievers. You think like a pastor, not a pagan. So you have to intentionally learn to think like an unbeliever again.” Rick Warren Where in the scriptures does it say that, I must be using the wrong version. To think like an unbeliever we must deny the Holy Spirit that dwells within us. Although Rick Warren goes on to say that the message is not to be compromised or changed, his changing methods do just that. In order to “intentionally learn to think like an unbeliever” and “a pagan,” “the mind of Christ” which we have through the Holy Spirit (see 1 Corinthians “I began Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it …” (Psalm 127:1) According to his own admission, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6) “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.” (Romans 8:5-8) Starting churches that please unbelievers (enemies of God) does not serve Christ. “For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? For if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.” (Galatians 1:10) “Now you’ve heard me say many times that the greatest thing you can do with your life is tell somebody about Jesus and invite them to come to know him. And I’ve always said that was the greatest thing you could do with your life. I was wrong. There is one thing you could do greater than share Jesus Christ with somebody, and it is help start a church.” Rick Warren Starting a temporary building is more important than telling people of Christ which lasts a eternity? A church for people who hate church? A statement Rick Warren made on Conference in a discussion on “Myths of the Modern Mega-Church.” “So then I asked myself, what kind of church are we going to be? And I decided, why don’t we be a church for people who hate church? And so I went out and for twelve weeks I went door to door, and I knocked on homes for about 12 weeks and just took an opinion poll. I had a survey with me. I just said, ‘My name is Rick Warren. I’m not here to sell you anything, I’m not here to convert you, I’m not here to witness to you. I just want to ask you three or four questions. Question number one: Are you an active member of a local church – of any kind of religion –synagogue, mosque, whatever?’ If they said yes, I said,‘Great, God bless you, keep going,’ and I politely excused myself and went to the next home. When I’d find somebody who’d say, ‘No, I don’t go anywhere,’ I’d say, ‘Perfect; you’re just the kind of guy I want to talk to. This is great, you don’t go anywhere. So let me ask you a question. Why do you think most people don’t attend church?’ And I just wrote the answers down. I asked, ‘If you were looking for a church, what kind of things would you look for?’ And I’d just list them. ‘What advice would you give to me as the pastor of a new church? How can I help you?’ So they’d say, ‘I think churches exist for the community; not vice versa,’ and I’d write that down.” Rick Warren Again this is a clear example of what the New Age agenda is doing to the church. Satan has been doing this for thousands of years and only now with a society so depraved as in the days of Noah can people be convinced that this is right. Rick places belonging to a synagogue, mosque or whatever in the same category as being a born again Christian. He then tells us that he based his church on the wants and desires of the secular world and encourages us to do the same. This tells us that Churchianity is more important than Christianity. How can we trust the wants of an unbeliever in building a church? Being a carpenter I would not go to a florist and ask how to build a house, just the same I would not ask a carpenter how to grow flowers. Its just common sense but in a world where common sense (Gods knowledge that he implants in us from birth) is the enemy Satan wins. Rick then praised and blessed these people for belonging to a false faith. In order to make a church for those who hate God, means that the church has to change and that is unacceptable. But the catch 22 is that if the church changes to suit the world then there will be no reason for sinners to change to become part of the body of Christ. So tell me if sinners don't change then how are they saved? God has something to say about trying to make the church acceptable to the world. Unbelievers hate church because darkness cannot mix with light, evil no more wants to enter a place of light than a Christian would a place of dark. There is nothing that we can do about that, we would need to compromise the word of God to change this. “I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” (John 17:14) “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.” (John 15:18-21) “Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.” (Matthew 24:9) “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” (Mark God even goes so far as to say: “Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.” (Luke 6:26) “There was a day when our religious leaders were made fun of and laughed at and opposed, even put in jail and driven out of town, but nowadays they are riding on the shoulders of the mobs and the multitudes because they are trying to make Christianity as much like the world as possible in order to win the world. Don’t we know that the message of Jesus Christ runs contrary to man and not in favor of man?” A.W. Tozer Simply being a Christian does not automatically immunize us from deception. It isn’t unbelievers that Scripture repeatedly warns with: “Take heed that ye be not deceived” Luke 21:8 “Let no man deceive himself” 1 Corinthians 3:18 “Let no man deceive you with vain words” Ephesians 5:6 “Let no man deceive you by any means” 2 Thessalonians 2:3 “But watch thou in all things” 2 Timothy 4:5 “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith” 1 Corinthians 16:13 “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall” 1 Corinthians 10:12 “Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober” 1 Thessalonians 5:6 Holy Spirit led? “Are you looking for help to prepare a holiday message this year? Get help from Rick Warren himself! Click here to check out the special price …” Pastors.com “Having to prepare sermons for holidays can often be difficult and sometimes even distracting. Let this great resource tool of 34 Holiday Sermon Transcripts help you. This CD rom contains some of Rick Warren’s most effective “34 holiday sermon transcripts for only $99 ($238 value!) … “Order one for yourself and others to give as Christmas presents!”Pastors.com Pastors are being taught that they no longer need to spend time with the Holy Spirit to have a timely message that is Spirit led. Now we can just download a ready made message that is man led. We are entering a time of spiritual blindness that will lead to the satanic rule of the tribulation. I won't even say anything about the money being made, Money Changers sound familiar? “We’ve all heard speakers claim, ‘If you’ll just pray more, preach the word, and be dedicated, then your church will grow.’ Well, that’s just not true. I can show you thousands of churches where pastors are doctrinally sound; they love the Lord; they’re committed and spirit-filled and yet their churches are dying on the vine.” Rick Warren Rick trades in prayer, faith and sound doctrine for compromise and works. Here is what God had to say about this type of church. Ricks whole theory is that we can do it, doing church, change our methods on reaching the lost and rely on what I do, not what God does. “I am the true vine … Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” (John 15:1, 4-5) “My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change: for their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?” (Proverbs 24:21-22) “Meddle not with them that are given to change” Proverbs 24:21 Emerging Church wants to change everything about the church, our symbols make unbelievers feel uneasy so get rid of them, our music doesn't satisfy the flesh so change it, our words of worship makes unbelievers nervous so change the words, God's message doesn't appeal to everyone so change it, and ask unbelievers how to build a church, God warned of this type of teaching. On “‘The first Reformation was about belief; this one’s going to be about behavior,’ said Warren, pastor of Rick is placing beliefs and doctrines in the back seat and emphasizing works or Rick’s word for works which is “Purpose”. Stating that this one will be about deeds emphasizes again works and puts works as the primary mission of the church. ‘I’m not going to get into a debate over the non-essentials. I won’t try to change other denominations. Why be divisive?’ Rick Warren Its considered divisive to worry about false beliefs and false doctrines, these are non-essentials. Rick's new gospel includes Mormons, Catholics, Muslims, and many more saying that our “purpose” (works) will bring us together and don't worry about beliefs. Can everyone see Satan entering the door of the church? “We now have ‘purpose-driven’ churches in 122 countries. And if I were to ask every ‘purpose-driven’ church in “And so it doesn’t demand that they change from being Lutheran or Methodist or Nazarene or Assembly of God or Baptist or whatever. I don’t really care what your doctrine is. What I care about is, do you have a process by which you bring people into membership, build them up to maturity, train them for ministry, send them out on a mission, for the glory of God?” Rick Warren Rick doesn't care what his followers teach only that they teach, can you think of anything more dangerous to Christianity. This is for the glory of God, teaching false doctrine? “When Jesus sent the disciples into a village he said, ‘Find the man of peace.’ And he said, ‘When you find the man of peace you start working with that person, and if they respond to you, you work with them. If they don’t, you dust the dust off your shoes; you go to the next village.’ Who’s the man of peace in any village – or it might be a woman of peace – who has the most respect, they’re open and they’re influential? They don’t have to be a Christian. In fact, they could be a Muslim, but they’re open and they’re influential and you work with them to attack the five giants. And that’s going to bring the second Reformation.” Rick Warren First Rick twisted the whole verse into something else; second he is lumping all belief systems together and legitimatizing them. “Find the man of peace. Bless him. He blesses you back. Who is the man of peace? He’s influential and he’s open. He doesn’t have to be a Christian. Find a non-Christian who’s influential and open a Muslim or an atheist.” Rick Rick endorses non Christians and pagan believers and calls it Gods work. Pragmatism: (if it works do it) Rick Warren spoke at the TIME Global Health Summit on Foundation Ted Turner, and former U.S. President Bill Clinton. First, in the initial press conference that day, Rick Warren made the following comment: “My personal position is I will use whatever works.” Rick will use whatever tools at his disposal to accomplish his “purpose”. Then Rick Warren actually called for partnering with congregations of “all the different religions” not just for physical care but for spiritual care!: “Let’s just take my religion by itself. Christianity.… The church is bigger than any government in the world. Then you add in Muslims, you add in Hindus, you add in all the different religions, and you use those houses of worship as distribution centers, not just for spiritual care but health care.” Rick again endorses teaching other faiths which is referred to as the doctrines of devils in the bible. “Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee: But ye shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves: For thou shalt worship no other god: for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God: Lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they go awhoring after their gods …” (Exodus 34:12-15) God tells us that we are to smash the altars of the false religions of the world and Rick tells us to accept them and work with them and allow them to teach others to follow these demonic beliefs. Who will you follow? “Pastor Rick Warren, author of the smash best-seller ‘The Purpose-Driven Life,’ said at the briefing that he has rallied thousands in his church to begin missionary-style work in foreign countries. The effort would be on healing, not proselytizing, he said.” ABC News, Rick tells us that our job as Christians is not proselytizing! Proselytizing is preaching to those of pagan religions and telling them of Christ and the gift of salvation. To be clear by pagan I mean any religion other than born again Christianity. Now I may be old fashioned or naive but I understand that our job is to reach those that are lost so that they may receive ever lasting life, but Rick says leave them alone and work together don’t make waves. Rick continuously tells us that we need to reach the lost but he also says we are not to change them or even preach to them for that matter. This doesn't sound like God's message, it does however sound like the misleading message of the enemy. “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14) “Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.” (Luke13:23-24) God tells us that just because we have good intentions we will not enter heaven without good doctrine, New age philosophy teaches that good intentions are enough. They don't want us to preach, they wants us to change our methods that are bible based, they don't want us to to have any outward signs that we are Christians, are we ashamed of God and his message? “Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” (Mark 8:34-38) By changing biblical methods it changes the message and shows that the teacher is ashamed of the true word so he replaces it of one that sounds goods. Pragmatism Defin: the belief that whatever works is good as long as it achieves results “My personal position is I will use whatever works.” Rick Warren In “Pragmatism Goes to Church,” A.W. Tozer describes today’s Christianity well: -“For the pragmatist there are no absolutes Truth and morality float on a sea of human experience. -“The truth of any idea is its ability to produce desirable results.… -“The proof is that it succeeds; no one wants to argue with success. -“It [‘pragmatic philosophy’] asks no embarrassing questions about the wisdom of what we are doing or even about the morality of it. When it discovers something that works it soon finds a text to justify it, ‘consecrates’ it to the Lord and plunges ahead. Next a magazine article is written about it, then a book, and finally the inventor is granted an honorary degree. After that any question about the scripturalness of things or even the moral validity of them is completely swept away. You cannot argue with success. The method works; ergo, it must be good. -“The weakness of all this is its tragic shortsightedness. It is satisfied with present success and shakes off any suggestion that its works may go up in smoke in the day of Christ.” A.W. Tozer P. P.E.A.C.E. “Kay and I, and our Saddleback team, have committed to spending the rest of our lives sharing the message of Purpose and the strategy of the PEACE Plan with every corner of the world. “It will be a holy movement, involving all kinds of churches sharing the same purposes together, and I invite you to join us! Will you hear and obey the call of God?” Rick Warren Ricks global P.E.A.C.E. plan wants all belief systems to feed the poor and help the sick, a very noble plan however Rick doesn't want Christians to preach to them or give them a message that will save their souls only look after their physical needs. God tells us to ignore the flesh and to enrich the soul and by doing so inherit eternity, so again I ask who's message is Rick preaching, and for all his talk on not preaching God's message he sure is preaching his message of purpose. In Revelations the one world church that is the enemy of God sounds a lot like Rick Warrens interfaith church where all faith and beliefs work together and call it worshiping God. Djwhal Khul is a Tibetan Ascended Master World Teacher. A Pagan spiritualist that spoke of the coming age: -“I [Djwhal Khul] have a vision of the Plan Through the cooperation of A.A.B. I put this plan - as far as was possible - before you, calling your attention to the New Group of World Servers. The vision is a vision of group work, of group relationships, of group objectives, and of the group fusion to the larger Whole. -“There is a group of human beings, integrating now upon whom is laid the burden of leading humanity. They are starting movements that have in them the new vibration, they are saying Alice Bailey & Djwhal Khul A new group of world servers all joined as one, sounds like Rick heard this message. “things that are universal in their tone, they are enunciating principles that are cosmic, they are inclusive and not exclusive, they do not care what terminology a man uses; they insist that a man shall keep his own inner structure of truth to himself and not impose it on any one else they demonstrate the universal light, they are servers” Djwhal Khul Djwhal Khul doesn't care what you believe either, and says to not impose it on any one else, sounds like Ricks idea of Christianity. “They are tied by no dogmas or doctrines because they have the word which has come to them in the dark, which they have wrought out for themselves in the strife and stress of their own souls. They meet the need of their fellow men, and theirs is the message of Christ, ‘A new commandment I give you that you love one another.’ Alice Bailey, Djwhal Khul No dogmas or doctrines, remember Ricks words: “God won’t ask about your religious background or doctrinal views.” God's word made doctrine very important and rebuked those who tolerated false doctrine: “Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.” (2John 1:9) World Order “‘A new commandment I give you’ can be summed up in ‘inclusiveness’, the hallmark of the New Age, the universal spirit, identification, oneness with all your fellowmen. “How shall we fit ourselves to meet that requirement, to possess those characteristics which automatically put us into the group of world servers? You will never get there by talking about it You will get there by doing the next thing correctly.” Alice Bailey & Djwhal Khul Khul wants an age were all are included and considered spiritual, a oneness that can all work together ignoring beliefs. Rick stated. “It will be a holy movement, involving all kinds of churches sharing the same purposes together, and I invite you to join us!” Rick Warren “Love, brotherhood, cooperation, service, self-sacrifice, inclusiveness, freedom from doctrine, recognition of divinity - these are the characteristics of the citizen of the kingdom, and these still remain our ideals.” Alice Bailey Alice Bailey the starter of the current New Age movement which includes eastern mysticism, occult and numerous other belief systems. Had been very influential in leading this New Age Movement that really goes as far back as the Gnostic's. The words and ideas are very much the same. “As the Members of the Hierarchy [spirit realm] approach closer to us, the dream of brotherhood, of fellowship, of world cooperation and of a peace (based upon right human relations) becomes clearer in our minds. As They draw nearer we vision a new and vital world religion, a universal faith, at-one in its basic idealism with the past but different in its mode of expression.” Alice Bailey & Djwhal Khul “We must grasp this; we must realize that we shall find release only in the 1 service of the kingdom. 2 We have been held too long by the dogmas of the past, and there is today a natural revolt against the idea of individual salvation through the blood sacrifice of Christ.…3 It is essential that today we face the problem of the relation of Christ to the modern world, and dare to see the truth, without any theological bias.… 4 It is quite possible that Christ is far more inclusive than we have been led to believe … 5 We have preached a God of love and have spread a doctrine of hate. 6 We have taught that Christ died to save the world and have endeavored to show that only believers could be saved But Christ founded a kingdom on earth, wherein all God’s children would have equal opportunity of expressing themselves as sons of the Father. This, many Christians find impossible to accept “Individual salvation is surely selfish in its interest and its origin. 7 We must serve in order to be saved, and only can we serve intelligently if we believe in the divinity of all men and also in Christ’s outstanding service to the race. The kingdom is a kingdom of servers, for every saved soul must without compromise join the ranks of those who ceaselessly serve their fellow men.” Alice Bailey As you can see the New Age movement spouts the same rhetoric as the emerging church. New Age quotes “The true Church is the “Each one of us has to tread the way of the cross alone, and enter God’s kingdom by right of achievement. But the way is found in service to our fellow men “It is through supreme service and sacrifice that we become followers of Christ and earn the right to enter into His kingdom, because we do not enter alone.. “He [‘Christ’] knew no separateness and the ‘great heresy of separateness’ was completely overcome by His all-inclusive spirit.” Alice Bailey “1. Countless men and women in every land will form themselves into groups for the promotion of goodwill and for the production of right human relations. So great will be their numbers that from being a small and relatively unimportant minority, they will be the largest and the most influential force in the world. Through them, the New Group of World Servers will be able to work successfully. “2. This active energy of loving understanding will mobilize a tremendous reaction against the potency of hate. To hate, to be separate, and to be exclusive will come to be regarded as the only sin …” Alice Bailey & Djwhal Khul This sounds like the P.E.A.C.E. Plan “We are concerned with only one subject, the ushering in of the new world order. We are occupied with the formation of that new party which will gather into its ranks all men of peace and good will, without interfering with their specific loyalties This new party can be regarded as the embodiment of the emerging Kingdom of God on earth It is a grouping of all those who - belonging as they do to every world religion and every nation and type of political party - are free from the spirit of hatred and separativeness, and who seek to see right conditions established on earth through mutual good will.” Alice Bailey & Djwhal Khul They call the “And then when you add in all the different peoples of faith (not Christians but various faiths) who would be people of peace – you know, when you talk about poverty and disease and illiteracy, these are not Christian issues, they’re human issues. And I’ll work with anybody who wants to work on them. You know? We just need to get people moving, mobilized.” Rick Warren Do you see the similarity between Ricks "Purpose" and the New Age oneness. “This kingdom, through its major power (a quality of synthesis, could you but realize it), is gathering together into itself men and women out of every nation and out of all parts of the Earth. It is absorbing them into itself not because they are orthodox or religious in the generally accepted sense of the term, but because of their quality. They, therefore, are demonstrating oneness and synthesis in such a simple way that men everywhere can grasp it. The New Group of World Servers is the vanguard of the “ Not Christ driven or lead, but purpose lead. We are well down the slippery slope and gaining speed. “The true values are to be summed up in the one word Service. They are expressed through inclusiveness and non-separateness. It is here that the Church, as usually understood, meets its major challenge. Is it spiritual enough to let go of theology and become truly human? Is it interested enough to widen its horizon and recognize as truly Christian all who demonstrate the Christ spirit, whether they be Hindu, Mohammedan, or Buddhist, whether they are labeled by any name other than that of orthodox Christian?” Alice Bailey
"And shall not God avenge His own elect, which cry day and night unto Him, though He bear long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man comes, shall He find FAITH on the earth? (Luke 18:7-8). “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;” (II Thess 2:3) “do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings;” (Hebrews 13:9a) “As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness, in deceitful scheming.” (Ephesians 4:14) “And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary.” (Gal 6:9) Watch out for anyone trying to interpret Scripture for you, or using the Bible like a "dictionary". That is, they make their point, and then refer to isolated texts, often hop scotching all over the Bible to "prove" their point. Used this way, the Bible can be made to say almost anything. Here are two Scriptures that don't belong together: "Judas went out and hanged himself", coupled with "Go thou and do likewise". Behold! A new doctrine formed in exactly the way the cults use the Bible. This article is meant to open your eyes not just to Rick Warren but to the pagan beliefs entering the churches. Rick isn’t the only one preaching this New Age Movement but is arguably the most notable in my opinion. Rick Warren is used as an example of the New Age agenda; he seems to be the most influential force in the “reformation of the church”. Rick Warren may be considered the AntiChrists, John the Baptist, paving the way for the new religion May God bless you and guide you. BC Ministries: Biblically Correct Ministries