Ministry Isn’t Just For Pastors
During a recent trip to Springfield, Missouri, Erik Cooper found time to visit his 86-year-old aunt and uncle—faithful missionaries and bivocational pastors who have spent their lives serving Jesus without fanfare or headlines. As they reminisced, Erik was reminded of the power of simple, steady obedience in the kingdom of God. His uncle shared a story about a man who wanted nothing to do with church—so instead of preaching from a pulpit, he put on work gloves and met him in the forest, logging trees and sharing the gospel in the midst of real life. This story is a reminder: ministry doesn’t just happen inside a church building. The gospel moves wherever God’s people go. Whether you’re running a business, leading a team, or showing up to work every day, your faith belongs there. The marketplace is a sacred space, and you are a temple of the Holy Spirit.
Erik Cooper
Erik began his career in the business world before spending twelve years in full-time ministry, serving on staff at a large suburban church and later as a church planter in downtown Indianapolis. Today, he serves as the President of a family of business-oriented nonprofit organizations that work together to mobilize the marketplace to make Jesus known in the world. He leads The Stone Table, which equips marketplace believers and invests in global mission initiatives, and Community Reinvestment Foundation, a nonprofit real estate company providing high-quality affordable housing in Indiana and directing its profits to missions through The Stone Table.
