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.

On the other hand, here are some heartaches regarding men preparing for ministry. One was asked to consider candidating. He agreed but stated that he would need more money despite having zero experience as a lead pastor. (He had been offered $82,000 and required $132,000!) Another aspiring to ministry said he “would not consider serving as a missionary.” A third had completed excellent PhD work yet could not connect in a meaningful and practical way with the church people. All these were good men yet each demonstrated significant need. Perhaps a teachable and hungry attitude coupled with mentorship by a more experienced man would have made a big difference. The academics were outstanding but academic answers were not sufficient. Giving the right answers is ineffective if we do not relate well with people.

Another man who prepared for ministry by earning a DMin did not believe “teens need preaching” so he determined to play kickball with them instead of attending the evening service. Another time, when a church member had emergency surgery, that same Doctor of Ministry declined to offer financial help from the church because he saw the family car turn into a restaurant parking lot. Perhaps for him the seminary classroom became like a discussion with medical students doing an autopsy, where options and alternatives can be examined at leisure. However, pastors do not minister to corpses. In real life there may not be the opportunity for advisable sterile equipment and surroundings; if the severed carotid artery is not stopped now, the patient dies. So in ministry, the ideal is not always doable. Help people. Apply the Scriptures. Talk to God and let people listen. Love no matter what. Some lessons can be learned only by doing ministry, not just discussing it.

Perhaps we can argue that thorough preparation for ministry requires shadowing a man doing ministry. There is no substitute for observing the day-by-day attitudes and actions of the man in ministry. Who would argue that a dentist is prepared for his work after classroom training alone? Further, how much help would it be to spend much time observing dental work and discussing with the dentist the decisions and procedures involved? Applying that to ministry, observing and discussing how an experienced minister works through ministry issues may become a positive contribution to both the endurance and effectiveness of future ministry.

Jesus spoke of a disciple (not a vocational minister) when He said, “It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord” (Matt. 10:25). He also said, “The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master” (Luke 6:40).

David L. Cummins put it like this: “We grant that Bible colleges and seminaries were not available in the early days of our republic as they are now, and much of ministerial training had to be given on a one-to-one basis. But in these days we would do well to establish pastoral and missionary apprenticeships, where Christian youth receive hands-on training for the work of the ministry at home and abroad. There is really no shortcut in successful Christian service. Formal education is essential, but it cannot replace actual experience received under the supervision of a tried and proven servant of God” (This Day in Baptist History II, p. 447).

Charles Wingard wrote, “We all need mentors. With so many voices telling us what to do, it’s vitally important that we have godly, thoughtful, experienced people showing us what to do. Preparing for a life in ministry is demanding work—and I’m not just talking about your seminary workload. You need real-life pastoral experience under the direction of a mentor.” (https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/future-pastors-mentors/)

Bob Jones Jr. (How to Improve Your Preaching, p. 14) wrote of one preparing to be an artist: “In one of the art galleries of Europe a young man stood enrapt before a portrait done by one of the great masters. As he looked his eyes filled with tears. Another visitor to the gallery noticed him standing there and said, ‘Young man, what troubles you?’ Still gazing on the painting, the youth replied, ‘I can’t paint like that. I never will be able to paint like that.’ Then his face brightened. ‘But, thank God,’ he said, ‘I am a painter too.’” The man preparing for ministry needs an example, perhaps even almost a hero. To have someone who believes in you, encourages you, and even admonishes you is of more value than a terminal degree.

Consider the influence of Paul’s life and words on Timothy. In Paul’s second epistle to Timothy, that younger man read these words from his mentor.

• “Timothy, my dearly beloved son . . .” (1:2)
• “I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day.” (1:3)
• “I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee.” (1:5)
• “Stir up the gift of God, which is in thee.” (1:6)
• “God hath not given us the spirit of fear.” (1:7)
• “Hold fast the form of sound words.” (1:13)
• “Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” (2:1)
• “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” (2:3)
• “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life.” (2:4)
• “The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.” (2:6)
• “Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.” (2:7)
• “Study to shew thyself approved unto God.” (2:15)
• “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace.” (2:22)
• “Foolish and unlearned questions avoid.” (2:23)
• “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.” (3:1)
• “Thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life . . .” (3:10)
• “Preach the word.” (4:2)
• “Make full proof of thy ministry.” (4:5)
• “Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me.” (4:9)
• “The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit.” (4:22)

And lest we forget, this relationship of ministry preparation apparently had its beginning with this counsel: “Then came he [Paul] to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek: which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium. Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek” (Acts 16:1–3). Consider that godly influence as well as the humble and teachable response from Timothy.

Years later, Paul wrote to this son in the faith: “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee” (1 Tim. 4:16). Is it not significant that Paul and God’s Spirit prioritized Timothy taking heed both to himself and his teaching, and which of the two was mentioned first? Sadly, the minister with apparent doctrinal fidelity and the absence of personal character is not uncommon today. Such a man might be spared if he had a “Paul” in his life who was invited to “talk straight” to him about any area of his life.

George Young wrote of a man named George Hunter, who could be described as a mentor: “He was not a man who would attract the attention of men of the world. He did not impress by his efficiency or his ability. His personality was neither dramatic nor glamorous. He was not a ‘good mixer,’ preferring to live apart from other missionaries, buying his food on the street and cooking it himself. Those accustomed to external judgments would dismiss him as an old crank and politely ignore him, but to the child of God with eyes to see, here was spiritual greatness of the highest order. There was something grand and inspiring about him. One look at his face and his bearing revealed the white purity and shining serenity of a man of God. Cheerfulness and gentleness radiated from him as he spoke about his work. Gaiety sparkled from his eyes as he related some humorous incident. He was one who obviously enjoyed life, for to him to live was Christ, and daily communion with his Lord had kept him fresh and alert. His faculties were amazingly bright for a man of eighty-three; he was vigorous in mind and good in memory as he related past adventures. What an interesting talker he was and what varied interests he had in travel, geography, exploration and languages, and yet one dominant purpose shone through all his talk—the will of God, which for him meant bringing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the needy people of Sinkiang. It was that which impressed me—his single-mindedness. He did me good by unconsciously revealing his interior simplicity of aim. He was not cluttered up by doing many things. He was unentangled by the affairs of this life. He just lived to do the will of God. Everything else grooved into this narrow way. Like an athlete, he cut out of his life all comforts and indulgences that his body might be tough and inured to intense suffering and strenuous effort. As we talked together, I felt I had the rare privilege of talking to a saint” (George Hunter: Apostle of Turkistan, pp. 98–99).

Here is an invaluable gift for a man preparing for ministry: “Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you” (Phil. 4:9). What an amazing statement of affirmation and encouragement!

Gentlemen who are serving in ministry need to give back. They can find men preparing for ministry and pour themselves into the man who wants that influence. There really is no substitute for a godly mentor, advisor, counselor, friend, and, in a word, a good pastor. All ministers need one. Be one.

Our podcast interview with the author of this article can be found
here: Interview 74: Preparation for Ministry

(Originally published in FrontLine • May/June 2025. Click here to subscribe to the magazine.)