Why do some ministers (even some God-anointed preacher’s and teachers) name “ministries” for themselves? That common practice in modern-day independent ministry doesn’t appear to be biblical. I can’t find an “Apostle Paul Ministries” or a “Philip the Evangelist Ministries” or even a “Peter the Rock Ministries,” anywhere in the Bible.

So many people have named “ministries” after themselves: “John Doe Ministries,” for example. However, God spoke through the prophet Isaiah saying: “I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another.” And Peter said: “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Jesus said: “For where two or three gather in My name, there am I with them,” and “And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”

What would God do if someone who has named a “ministry” for him/herself took his/her name off of it and instead put Jesus’ name in the title of the ministry? I believe that simple act of humility would release a fresh surge of God’s power. Will anyone have the courage to take their name off of God’s “ministry” and see? There is amazing power in the name of Jesus!

I don’t know why people self-name ministries. Maybe it is because of tradition: Most of us have grown up hearing about ministries that people have put their names on. It is a popular and common practice. But perhaps they could be even more effective with a name that directly refers to Christ. Perhaps that is something to think and pray about.

Maybe self-naming is thought to improve promotion and fund raising. Maybe ministers believe (or are persuaded by a marketing company) that they need to promote their own name and image because Jesus and His image doesn’t sell well in contemporary society. Perhaps they believe that if they don’t get the public’s attention with their name, and instead rely on Jesus’s name, money won’t come in.  Maybe they think that people would rather “sow a seed” into a ministry that has a nice marketing appeal focused on them and their personality, rather than a ministry focused solely on exalting the living, risen Jesus.