Age and Experience in a pastor

If he is a Godly man and he is relevent to everyone (young adults and teens included) in the church, then there should be nothing wrong with it.  BUT, if churches are not open to younger pastors simply because they are young and inexperienced, then there is something wrong. 

Generation X is the most "un-churched" generation ever.  They aren't going to start coming to church if there is an old guy who isn't relevent preaching at them.  Young preachers know what it is like to be young in this time, and they can play an important role in ministering to young adults and teens.

1 Timothy 4:12-13 "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.  Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching."

I just recently moved, but the church I used to go to was really alive. A smalltown non-denominational one. We didn't have any one full time pastor. we had three unordained or whatever, (they hadn't gone to college and gotten whatever pastors get lol), one used to play almost semi pro hockey one was a retired highschool teacher, and I forget what the other did. But they'd take turns every Sunday, one would speak. They were all very wise Godly men and I enjoyed hearing them and I'm 15! Another thing, we met in a banquet hall of a hotel!!!!! I don't think it matters if the person preaching had masters in theology, (or whatever) where you meet, what kind of people are there, what you wear, as long as you're worshipping the Lord, and preaching the right stuff. It's all in the heart right?! Now, I mean, sometimes the young can be a bit inexperienced, but if God has given them a gift to preach, let them preach!?Paul himself said he hadn't gone through any specific training. It says something along those lines, sorry, unfortunately God has not given me the gift of memorizing lol! But also, you shouldn't just take in everything some guy on a soap box is preaching, you still have to use discretion (is that the right word?) But by no means do you hafta have "experience running out of their ears and grey hairs growing out of their head"lol! That was funny!God Bless! Hope this helped! But hey, I'm just a kid are you supposed to listen to someone 6 years your jr?!lol!

DWJD - Very good post.  You make some valid points.  The scriptures do not give any criteria for someone to preach, only for someone to lead as an elder.  Experience, age, education, etc. are not necessary factors for a preacher. 

This post started with a question of "Age and experience in a 'Pastor'".  We must separate the idea of a Pastor and a Preacher as they are not necessarily the same.  In fact, the idea of a single 'Pastor' leading a church is unbiblical.  The scriptures speak of a group of elders as the governing authority of any local congregation.  Paul does say that an elder should not be a "new convert, lest he become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil". (1 Tim 3:6)  And the idea of the word 'elder' implies older in age.  How much older?  I suppose that is up to the discretion of the congregation and those involved in the selection process.  The man that preaches in the congregation does not have to be one of the elders, but if he is, he should then be selected by the same criteria as all other elders.

 

If you feel God leading you to teach and preach, then do it! Start in your youth group. Lead prayer at lunch. Witness to the fellow next to you in line at Burger King. If its in you to do let it out! If God calls you to it you will succeed no matter how old you are or where you set up shop. Become a deacon and preach at meetings to start out if you have to. People are drawn to Godly people despite themselves. Its like proverbs says, 'don't kiss the judges @#$ to get justice, ask God for it.'

What I've seen that has been fairly common for younger people like yourself SoliderofChrist is the church gives you a full-time ministry posistions as a youth leader or assistant pastor. It seems fairly logical to me, this helps you get your feet wet first to learn how the church functions in every aspect from finances to worship, rather than throwing you into the pool and letting you drown because of younger pastors lack of experience. These internships usually last atleast for atleast a couple of years. The hard part about this is the emotional ties that are formed through out time and when the assistant pastor/youth minister leaves to pastor a church of his own its hard to let go of a pillar of the church. But, the church should understand its for the furtherance of God's kingdom. Hope I helped.

Some congregations like them straight out of seminary- salaries aren't quite as high.


Have you thought of first trying for a job as a hospital chaplain?