Preparing for the Ministry

Preparing for the ministry requires knowing what ministry is. It is easy to have idealized thoughts about any profession. For example, in high school, one of my daughters wanted to be a nurse—until she was required to serve in a hospital one summer. Though she loved helping people, she was bothered around their suffering. She learned that God made her a “people person,” but she was not well-suited to be a nurse.

So how does a man know what ministry really is? Is it the man in the pulpit? Is it a well-educated scholar? Is it leadership abilities? Does it include other needs like counseling, prayer, music, administration and so much more? While all these are areas to develop as much as possible, that growth should continue throughout a life of ministry. But what is essential in preparing for ministry? I will argue that the greatest preparation for ministry is considerable time with a man doing the ministry you aim to do. It has been said, “If you want to learn how to do something well, find someone who is already doing it and learn from him.”

When I was a newer pastor, God brought into my life a retired pastor. I invited him to return each year for preaching services with the prayerful hope that the church would be helped. Whether that happened or not, I was helped immensely. Observing the pattern of everything he did fashioned me. Whether connecting with men or ladies, older or younger, children, deacons, visitors, or members, he demonstrated respect and love. His ministry was all about people: knowing them, helping them, loving them, pointing them to God and His Word. How could anything be more obvious? But observing that being lived out was a powerful and ministry-changing example for me.