Marketplace Ministry – Chuck Ripka’s Story
// April 7th, 2007 // Church Life
If you haven’t heard of Marketplace Ministry, the idea isn’t new. God wants to merge our “church” life with our “work” life. The division we create between the two isn’t a division that God created. There is a revival happening around the world (including the USA) inside the workplace. Chuck Ripka is one of many who are experiencing healings, miracles, and boat loads of salvations right there in the daily grind.
I dug out this CD I have of him telling his story about what God has done in his little bank. He was speaking at Manna Church in Sanford, NC. I’m not sure exactly when this was.
I strongly suggest you give it a concentrated listen. It will both challenge you and inspire you.
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[tags]Chuck Ripka, Marketplace, Ministry, Evangelism, Workplace, Witnessing[/tags]
Wow…what an awesome story.
Ben, it’s exactly as we concluded…it’s our obedience that matters and that’s the bottom line.
I was talking with a friend last Saturday right before we went out to do some ministry and we were talking about methods of evangelism and how you measure success.
It’s not in how many souls you save, just look at Noah.
It’s not in how articulate you are. Read 1 Corinthians.
It’s not how loud or quite you are.
The only possible way to measure success in the Kingdom of God is obedience. Are you doing what He is telling you to do? Which does have a prerequisite…are putting yourself in a position to listen to Him?
Chuck seems as if he’s doing this not out of method or strategy, but simply out of the instructions he received while in the presence of the Lord.
And that’s what it all boils down too…nothing matters except our ability to be in His presence.
Great mp3, thanks Ben! I’m glad I finally listened to it!
Paul
Yep, Chuck Ripka would certainly agree with your favorite mantra: “Every Christian is a Missionary.”
Hello Mr. Ben!
Wow, between reading some articles and posts (some by you) on Paul Ferree's website and now listening to Chuck, I'm really too emotionally spent (from the crying). to even respond the way I would like.
I'd just like to say that I am a School Social Worker by trade and Youth Director at my church and I've been depressed for months now (which is complicated). But, I feel the Lord calling me to do so much more but I feel stuck. I went to Spain to learn Spanish a few years ago for 4 months and when I returned, realized that it was about more than learning another language…. I really felt a calling to be abroad furthering God's Kingdom.
What Chuck said really inspired me to be excited about the ministry that is all around me here and now, and to still believe God for the bigger dreams when the time is right.
God bless your ministry!
I'm so glad this touched you. It sure has touched me. I've listened to this several times and I'm always amazed at what God can do with a person that surrended to Him. Ed Stetzer uses the phrase "live sent". The idea is that we should live as though we haven been sent as missionaries where we are. No matter where the "field" is, we are called to be missionaries in it.
Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing your heart. You've encouraged me!
I'm so glad this touched. It sure has touched me. I've listened to this several times and I'm always amazed at what God can do with a person that surrended to Him. Ed Stetzer uses the phrase "live sent". The idea is that we should live as though we haven been sent as missionaries where we are. No matter where the "field" is, we are called to be missionaries in it.
Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing your heart. You've encouraged me!
I've just finished reading "God out of the box" and I'm curisous how Chuck and the bank have faired since the financial crisis has hit. Where can I go to find out info regarding this. Is Chuck still involved in the Riverview Community Bank in Elk River? How has the bank held up under the crisis? What miracles were wittnessed through the crisis? You can see where I'm going with this. I was encouraged and excited to read how God is such a strong powerful force. I'm looking forward to meet Chuck and ask him myself.
I'm curious too. I don't have a way to contact him myself. It would be great to hear how that is going and what God is doing through him in the middle of this economic crash. My guess? Things have only gotten more amazing…