are any of you in the ministry? whats it like?

i am called to preach.
and its all i want to do anyway. i preach now, like at youth groups and stuff
(im only 19)
but im not a pastor yet.

and for those of you how are pastors, or who are well aquainted with the full-time ministry, whats it like?
how hard is it?
whats the biggest surprise youve ever had?
do you get discouraged?
do you even want to quit?
are truely fullfilling what you feel your calling is?
how great can you visualise your ministry being?
i have tons of questions.
these are just a few.

are there any pentecostal pastors here? or pentecostal people at all?
 
I am in cell group leader at my church, and a full-time housewife
smile.gif
- serve God in small things, and He will give you greater things! Bless you for wanting to be a pastor - as the Bible says, the desire to serve God must come first. He will provide the ministry.
 
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FOMWatts<><

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I am a minister, and I'm only 20 so I can sympathize with your many questions. Though I have not accepted a position at a church I have been called into the mission field at home and abroad. I have been many places in my five years of "being called". Nicaragua, France, Peru, Honduras, Phillipines, and the Bahamas, as well as in my home, and my state and my community. I would say it is the most exciting thing that has ever happened to me. It is not at all an easy job and I get very frustrated sometimes, but the rewards are unmatched by any other occupation. Though I am not ordained by man I am ordained by God to preach His word and He provides me with lots of oppotunities to share it with others. I wish you well in your ministry experience and it is encouraging to know that there are more being called out there! Keep in touch.

Proverbs 16:9 <><
 
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Blackwing

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Im in the music ministry and ill tell you its hard if you do not your goals straight.

Sometimes we are torn between excellence and the people around us desiring to be in the ministry but its not their thing.

Its a must that you have a vision that God gave you so that you cn be more effective in His work on this earth.

You will soon find out if that is the ministry that God is calling you for coz your motives will catch up with you sooner or later.

People in the ministry always must expect disappointment coz we are only human beings and prone to failure.

But i say young man keep up the fith that God has called you and be strong in the Lord as always.

Nothing is more gratifying than seeing the work of the Lord done because He used you as a vessel of His blessing.

GOD BLESS YOU!!!! :)
 
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I've been a pastor for 25 years...it's the greatest, most joyous, fulfilling...frustrating, nerve-racking, painful...exhilating, wonderful, blessed...devastating, hard, impossible...job in the whole world!

At 19 I could only see one side...now I see them both. But I would say this...you're never going to be bored! God will see to that!

:D
 
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Ministry is the most noble calling a person can receive. It demands all the knowledge and wisdom you can muster. It requires great patience, love and understanding and a willingness to listen.
Whilst I entered ministry and was ordained at 19, I do not recommend it to all. I had a church background and was schooled in a church boarding school all my life. I had initial Bible College training and was ordained to ministry whilst in Bible College and served a pastorate then. A lot of mistakes were made that could be attributed to age and lack of experience in dealing with people. I recommend getting all the training and experience possible and perhaps working with an older pastor for a time.
A professor early on said, "If you can possibly do anything other than ministry, do it." He was saying there must be a spiritual drive, a passion, to this high calling. On that I quite agree.
After 50 odd years of ministry, I have seen the changes in the church body, the differences in theological thinking and both the strengths and weaknesses of the local church bodies.
Another trait to develop is to be friendly to all, but familiar with none. A minister must be close to the people and removed at the same time. This is to remain focussed on why you are a minister, and to always be objective.
Wishing you well in your goals.

Cheers in the Lord,

Jim
 
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Ioustinos

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Hi Psalms!!!

I too am 19 and called to preach the Gospel :clap: I have been licensed to preach for a year but I am not yet ordained. The biggest things I have done while being in the ministry is teaching a bible study for 7 months, starting a "children's church" at my local congregation, and teaching on Saturdays in a jail ministry. This fall I will be attending Liberty University to begin a path to a degree in biblical studies. As advice to you I say this: Your life must match what you preach and many times your life is the greatest message that you will present to people. And always remember that we are leading men and women to Christ; this is a great responsibility and we should never take our calling lightly. :pray:

I would suggest a book by Richard Baxter "The Reformed Pastor". It is a wonderful book and it will strengthen your ministry.

May God Bless,

Jesaiah

Ps. Always seek God's direction in all that you do.
 
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altya

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are there any pentecostal pastors here? or pentecostal people at all?

I am IN a penticostal church but I AM A SON OF GOD

I am also called, called to do whatever but actually to prophesy. I am not very fond of this because if people do not like the word they ‘kill’ the prophet.
This happened quite a few times in my life and when I was a prophet in training I take offence very easy. I use for a time the ‘hit and run’ method, but I run more than I hit. I believed I am grown up now and are fit to help people. I do have many who come back and testify that the word I gave them manifest in their lives.

and for those of you how are pastors, or who are well aquainted with the full-time ministry, whats it like?

I feel my ministry is part of me. I tried to with draw a few times but could not. I feel so miserable in these times I could die.

how hard is it?

The ministry is impossible if you try it on your own. There is only one way and its to flow in the anointing. Let the Holy Spirit lead you and then its easy.

whats the biggest surprise youve ever had?

The back biting and jealousy amongst some of the leaders. I could not believe how jealous some of them can get if you preach ‘better’ than them. I though we would work together as a team but was very surprise that some don’t.

do you get discouraged?

Yes, I do. I sometimes feel if I just can run home and hid. You know like Jonah. With a conference we must all be ready to preach any time and our message must be in the flow of the conference. When the service starts we don’t know who is going to preach and I promises you there is lots of prayers going up in that time.

do you even want to quit?

Yes I do, every time things do not work out my way I feel like running.

are truely fullfilling what you feel your calling
is?

Not yet, I am still in training.

how great can you visualise your ministry being?

According to prophesies on my life, world wide, I have started to move out of my country already. I do have an invitation for Australia, Perth, early next year.
 
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filosofer

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Read 2 Cor. 11!

I would encourage you to find a small group of fellow ministers who cna provide encouragement, support, and accountability. Most leaders in church bodies do not understand the needs of pastors. That may seem suprising. But I have found that because most pastors move on the average of 2-3 years, they do not have spiritual stability. So a pastor can serve 30 years but really only have the spiritual maturity as a pastor of a one who has served 2-3 years. He just repeats the same situation. So someone can end up in leadership and never have to face some of the hard issues of ministry.

There is a cycle of relationship between a pastor and congregation:
12-18 months - honeymoon

18 mo. - 3 years - adjustment

3-5 years - trust is forming

5-9 years - time for great personal and congregational growth

10-15 years - reaping the benefits of a teamwork system of ministry.

Again, most pastors never discover this. The time that is most challenging but most important is 3-5 years.

Congregations likewise can become routine pastor-grinders: "If one can't take it, well, let's just get another."

After 20+ years as a pastor (who got a late start ;) ), I think the most important character trait is humility. Sadly, in many pastors it seems they become smug or arrogant.

---

Always be a person of the Word. There is nothing more important in your life - no matter what the "professional" demands are.
 
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wow,
i have long forgetton that i made this post.
i just found it again today.

well it is great to know that we have well experienced men and women here. and some like me who are knew to it.
thankyou all for your replies, they are appreciated and not forgotten.

i think the greatest thing ive learned so far is submission, i havent mastered it yet, but i beleive that that is the key to my success.

i feel like the young prophet jeremiah, who cried out to god "AH, I AM BUT A CHILD!" and god said back "SAY NOT I AM A CHILD! YOU WILL GO WHERE I TELL YOU TO GO, AND SAY WHAT I TELL YOU TO SAY."

and thats all it takes to get started right.
i dont know everything yet, but god has confidence in me, so i will to.
and i wont worry about decisions and mistakes, ill just wait on the lord and move when he says move, and speak when he says speak, and use the words he tells me.
so, there will be no mistake, because i am only the puppet.

if im not moving in obedience to god, then i should be waiting on another instruction, in my prayer place or from the word of god.
well, thats what i think anyway.
 
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My wife and I have been in the full time ministry for almost 3 years now and I can say that you will go through highs and lows, ups and downs, joys and sorrows, super faith and discouragement, but God will be with you every step of the way.
If you know like you know like you know, that you are called to preach, ask God where He would have you. Pastoring may be your calling, but it may not be. Evangelism and also traveling with a team is another way to preach as well.
I know a 19 year old in Canada that is holding his own crusades now and is used mightily in the gifts and preaches.
Just remember, let God anoint your every word and let God do all the work through you. It's the anointing that destroys the yoke.
 
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