Ministry Leader Bingo: The Holy Hilarity of Running a Christian Nonprofit

Let’s be honest—leading a Christian nonprofit is basically a full-contact sport… with spreadsheets. There’s no playbook, no halftime, and definitely no instant replay. Just a whole lot of faith, a couple of volunteers who may or may not know what they signed up for, and the Holy Spirit dragging you across the finish line by your lanyard.

So let’s play a little game I like to call “Ministry Leader Bingo.” If you’ve ever shouted “God, help!” while holding a clipboard and a juice box, this one’s for you.

🟩 Board Member Forgets the Meeting (Again)

🟩 The Bounce House You Rented for Outreach Night Deflates During the Closing Prayer

🟩 You Accidentally CC Your Entire Donor List on a Prayer Chain Email About Aunt Mabel’s Toe Surgery

🟩 Someone Donates a Couch That Smells Like Graham Crackers and Mystery

🟩 You Preach Stewardship While Your Office Printer is Held Together with Duct Tape and Hope

🟩 You Say “Yes” to a Grant Application You Definitely Don’t Understand

🟩 You’ve Eaten Leftover Banquet Chicken Three Days in a Row

🟩 A Child in Your Program Names Their Pet Lizard After You

🟩 You Boldly Proclaim “God Will Provide”… with absolutely no idea how to make payroll

Welcome to the wild, wonderful world of nonprofit ministry.

Let’s talk about the daily adventures:

Donors Who Want Monthly Updates

But only by mail. Preferably written in calligraphy. With photos of “smiling children doing things.”

Volunteers Who Were “Just Dropping Off a Donation”

...but now lead your Tuesday night group because you said thank you a little too sincerely.

Well-Meaning People With Big Ideas

“I think your ministry should add a food truck, a homeschool co-op, and maybe a traveling puppet team?”(You smile. You nod. You silently rebuke.)

The Van

You know the one. It was donated in 2003, smells like fruit snacks and spilled VBS dreams, and requires laying hands on the dashboard before every ignition attempt.

Emails From People Who Think You're the Church Down the Street

And want to know if their cousin can get baptized next Sunday.(You forward it. You pray for them anyway.)

Being the Graphic Designer, Janitor, Grant Writer, and Guest Speaker

All before noon. While someone’s toddler uses your office as a jungle gym.

But here’s the thing:

God sees it. Every meeting. Every heartbreak. Every moment of holy chaos.

And Scripture’s full of people just like you—called into the wild with nothing but faith and a loosely organized Google Sheet. Think Moses: didn’t want the job, couldn’t talk right, argued with God—and yet led a nation. Or Nehemiah, who rebuilt a wall with a sword in one hand and a hammer in the other. (You’ve done the equivalent with a baby on your hip and a board meeting in 10.)

Galatians 6:9 says it best:

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

God didn’t call you because you had the slickest donor presentation. He called you because you’re willing. Willing to love the messy. To serve the tired. To believe in miracles—especially the slow ones.

So laugh when the van won’t start. Smile when the toddler spills Cheerios into your printer tray. And keep showing up. You're not just running a nonprofit—you’re building the Kingdom. One graham cracker-covered miracle at a time.

Keep going, leader. You’re doing holy work—and you’re not alone. 🙌