Self-Titled Ministry

Wow, two blogs in one day. That's rare for me, but I had to get this one off my chest.

There is something that really bugs me when people name their "ministry" or outreach after themselves, such as the (fake name for sake of not insulting someone directly) John Boy Williams Ministries, or The Joe Bob Jenkins Youth Ministry Center.

I have much more tolerance for for when someone else name something after you (like if John Boy, in honor of his mentor, started a Joe Bob Jenkins Youth Ministry Center), but even still, it makes me wonder what the focus of the ministry is. Are you self-promoting? Is it someone's personality or methodology or "name" that you desire others to be associated with, or is the goal to exalt the name of Jesus?

Now, this obviously isn't to say that John Boy Williams Ministries does not necessarily accomplish this, but there is just something about it that does not sit well with me. It just makes me want to ask them, "Do you think this is about you?" Because if so, please find another line of work.

That's my emotionally charged rant for the day.