Variables in an Array from Custom Meta Data

Is it possible to turn this into a variable so I can later call it into an array?

/* Variable */
<?php $events = echo $ministry_meta['ministry_events'][0];?>

Like this

/* Array */
<?php $loop = new WP_Query(
        array(
			'post_type' => 'events',
			'posts_per_page' => 10,
			'tax_query' => array(
  				array( 'taxonomy' => 'event-cat',
        			'field' => 'slug',
					'terms' => $events
					)
			)
       ) ); ?>

This is how I am currently pulling in custom meta information from my custom post type.

<?php echo $ministry_meta['ministry_events'][0];?>

I would like to turn it into a variable to I can
include it in the array. I hope this makes sense. Thanks in advance for any help.