Discipling for Ministry

FrontLine: January/February 2021 | VOLUME 31 | NUMBER 1

This edition of FrontLine addresses essential issues in “Discipling for Ministry.” Our writers have a strong history of pouring their lives into the next generation. Many of their sons and daughters have followed them into ministry. You will find fresh ideas and much help for your own ministry of multiplication.

My opening article is a call to action that quantifies the urgent and immediate need for laborers. Michael Privett, a seasoned church pastor, carries a burden for reproducing pastors at home and abroad. His crisp article shares many wise and practical tips. Ken and Judy Endean bring years of effective ministry loaded with insightful parenting tips for pointing children and young people toward ministry. Their grown, ministry-minded children share their views from growing up in a ministry home.

Nathan Mestler, a new, young college president, encourages creative approaches to ministry education for the coming generation. Kevin Schaal emphasizes the importance of mature men entering the ministry a little later in life than we would normally expect. His perspective may well be the immediate answer to replacing the exiting generation of Christian servants. Chuck Phelps has personally mentored over seventy men for ministry. He provides a thoughtful, biblical framework for the reproduction of spiritual leaders. Marsh Fant shares helpful ideas on transitioning pastoral leadership to the next generation based on his own transition in pastoral ministry. Linda Shumate shares some compelling thoughts on women mentoring women. And, finally, I share some closing thoughts from my heart about the bright future of biblical ministry. What a privilege to work with these writers and the FrontLine staff. Our desire is that this edition will alert believers, stir hearts, advance strategic conversation, point us to the Lord for His wisdom and power, bend our knees before Him in vital prayer, and call us to concerted action.

Dr. Bruce McAllister serves as director of Ministry Relations for Gospel Fellowship Association (GFA) in Greenville, South Carolina.

FEATURES

The Coming Shortage of Pastors and Missionaries
Bruce McAllister

Jesus was very straightforward when He said, “The labourers are few.”

Passing the Baton
Michael Privett

Pastoral succession should be easy and automatic, but too many pastors and churches drop the baton.

Motivating Next-Generation Ministry
Ken Endean

The home is the most basic place to make disciples.

Re-Visioning Ministry Training in Times of Rapid Change
Nathan Mestler

There is a correlation between being a learner and being meek.

Pastoral Ministry as a Second Career
Kevin Schaal

Is it possible to enter ministry as a second career? Not exactly.

Reproducing Spiritual Leaders
Chuck Phelps

Our Savior reproduced Himself by training a generation of spiritual leaders who were accused of “turning the world upside down.”

Transitioning a Church to a New Pastor
Marsh Fant III

How can this be happening? Do I really want to go through with this? Am I ready? Is the church ready?

Honesty, Accountability, and Encouragement: Mentoring Women
Linda Shumate

When I was a young mother, my friend taught me Christian principles as she taught me how to can peaches.

A Bright Future for Biblical Ministry
Bruce McAllister

Those of us in the upper years of life and ministry really need God’s grace so that we might be faithful, fruitful, and fervent as we strive to finish well.

DEPARTMENTS

Mail Bag

On the Home Front

Regional Reports

At a Glance – Sovereign Counsel: A Gospel-Adorned

Response to Civil Government (Part 1)
Robert Vincent

With the Word to the World
Jim Tillotson

Outlive Your Life
Krista Sivnksty

Recovery and Grace
Drew Paul

Strength Is Not in Numbers but in the Lord
Jerry Sivnksty

FrontLine • January/February 2021. Click here to subscribe to the magazine.