The Training Necessities for Pastoral Ministry?

“If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.” -
I Timothy 3:1

If I were to give any man training for pastoral life in the ministry, I might first ask him
to explain his calling to me. You see, some of the biggest failures in the ministry have
been those who have approached it as simply a career and not a calling. The difference
between the two approaches is that there is a perceived limitation and ending point
with an occupation, but you never fully retire from a calling.The second area in which I
would spend time mentoring that man who is training for the ministry makes up the
remainder of this blog post.

If you were asked what are the primary components in the training for pastoral
ministry, what would you answer? Some might claim that you must attend and
graduate from seminary or a Bible college of some sort. And, while that is an aspect of
training, the statistics of men who failed miserably as a pastor are staggering when
this was their only strategy for preparation. In fact, current research suggests that
80% of men entering the ministry after only a college education will abandon it in the
first 5 years. Wow! From my experience, I didn’t even feel like I had begun to be a real
pastor until I crossed the 10-year mark. So, what is to be done to combat this tragic
statistic? It is my belief that employing the following five strategies to the training
plan for those called to pastoral ministry will at best correct the issue and at least slow
the decline.

1. The first strategy involves “self-awareness”- Prior to becoming a pastor and
even for the first few years of pastoral ministry, I fell into the trap of imitating
other pastors who had greatly influenced my life. Because I did not know who I
was, I borrowed who they were. However, I soon realized that God had called
me to pastor a specific people, not them, and so I gave myself permission to be
the me that God called me to be to the people He called me to lead. Socrates said
“know thyself,” and Shakespeare advised “to thyself be true.” Great advice.

2. The second strategy involves “self-directed learning”- Self-directed learning
is all about you taking responsibility for your own education and development.
That could involve obtaining a degree from a Bible college, or maybe opting for
a certification from an online training platform for seminary students. I learned
to become an avid reader of various genres of books to discover different views
and perspectives that assisted me greatly in understanding others, as well as
challenging my own preconceptions.

3. The third strategy involves “a deep appreciation for truth”- Pastors are
entrusted by God to deliver facts not opinions, truth not preferences. And yet,
many preachers are doing more pestering than pastoring these days. When you
have a deeper appreciation and love for the truth, nothing else will satisfy. The
truth is not conveyed through denominations or culture, but through God’s
Word. Become a daily reader of the Bible. Study it! Memorize it! Internalize it!
And, most of all, obey it!

4. The fourth strategy involves “a real compassion for all people”- Believe it or
not, there are some men holding the office of pastor who jest that “the ministry
would be great if it were not for the people.” While this is likely a joke, in my
opinion, it is in poor taste. Without the people, to whom would we minister?
Therefore, you must choose to love the sheep, else you will make a very
bewildered and ridiculous undershepherd.

5. The fifth strategy involves “mentorship”- A mentor is one who knows the
way, goes the way, and can show you the way. When selecting someone to
mentor you through pastoral ministry, they need not actually be a pastor
themselves. Maybe they are simply a great communicator, or possibly they are
a wise business professional. The ministry offers so many challenges that it is
unlikely that you will be naturally gifted to meet every difficulty. Thus, find
those men or even women who are getting wins in the area where you are not
and learn from them.

The point is simple: pastoral ministry is far too important and serious to enter into it
half-cocked or ill-prepared. Begin now, at whatever level you are on, employing these
five strategies and resolve from this day forward to never cast one of them aside.