How to become a Pastor?

[Determinedheart]

I know I have this call on my life but I am stuck with thinking when you have a call on your life do you just wait for God to tell you every step or do you ask other people as well to help you to get to where you know God is eventually going to take you? and if so what do I need to do to become a Pastor? God has already prepared my heart and equipped me with wisdom and love and knowledge so whats is next ? do I just wait and see? What else do I have to do to prepare for this?( oh yes, and I belong to a Petacostal church ) I do know I have to keep studying my bible don't quite know that inside out yet ,any other suggestions?

 

[vespasia]

Go and talk with your churches pastoral leadership.

 

[Strong in Him]

I know I have this call on my life but I am stuck with thinking when you have a call on your life do you just wait for God to tell you every step or do you ask other people as well to help you to get to where you know God is eventually going to take you? and if so what do I need to do to become a Pastor? God has already prepared my heart and equipped me with wisdom and love and knowledge so whats is next ? do I just wait and see? What else do I have to do to prepare for this?( oh yes, and I belong to a Petacostal church ) I do know I have to keep studying my bible don't quite know that inside out yet ,any other suggestions?

Well speaking from my own experience, I'd say that he just reveals one step at a time. I mean it may not be the case for you, he might have already said "I want you to be a pastor", but for myself, I'm just beginning to think that maybe he wants me to be a minister. I still don't know, but I know how he's guided, strengthened and encouraged me in all the small steps, and enabled me to do things that I never thought I could. The idea of going further still scares me, but he is faithful and will continue to equip and guide me just as he's always done.

On a practical level, you need to talk to a minister, or someone. He, or she, will know the next step to take, what training you need and so on. Other people need the chance to affirm God's call on your life, and recognise the ministry he is giving you. And you will need their prayers and support as you step out and begin this ministry.

 

[Determinedheart]

Well speaking from my own experience, I'd say that he just reveals one step at a time. I mean it may not be the case for you, he might have already said "I want you to be a pastor", but for myself, I'm just beginning to think that maybe he wants me to be a minister. I still don't know, but I know how he's guided, strengthened and encouraged me in all the small steps, and enabled me to do things that I never thought I could. The idea of going further still scares me, but he is faithful and will continue to equip and guide me just as he's always done.

On a practical level, you need to talk to a minister, or someone. He, or she, will know the next step to take, what training you need and so on. Other people need the chance to affirm God's call on your life, and recognise the ministry he is giving you. And you will need their prayers and support as you step out and begin this ministry.

Yes, I agree thank you

 

[akledbet]

It's such an exciting thing to have a call to ministry! It's great that you're willing to be obedient and do what God wants you to do. My advice would be to find a pastor that you look up to and talk with him or her. He or she can tell you their experiences and maybe even mentor you. I think right now, at 15, God probably just wants you to be faithful where He has you at the moment. Ministering to your friends and people in your church is very important. Use that wisdom you say God has given you and just seek after Him and He'll tell you where to go next. Waiting is hard a lot of the time, especially when you want to get where God's going to take you...but just think of this time in your life as a time of preparation. God had to prepare Moses and David and Paul, even the disciples for many years, so don't lose heart! As far as the legistics of it, eventually you will need to be licensed and become ordained (I guess this could differ depending on denomination) You would then need to send out your resume to different churches or your denominations local association. (again names and specifics may differ here) You may also consider whether or not you want to go to some type of Bible College or even seminary after that. Good luck hon, and God bless!

 

[Strong in Him]

Thanks for finding this thread and making me read my own advice again. I have been thinking a lot lately about being called - I'm still not sure what to.

 

[Godsgurl4evr]

I think that if in your HEART you feel that preaching is what you want to do then you should pray to God and ask him what he thinks. If you feel stronger about it the more you pray then maybe you should start studying your Bible and start looking at Bible Colleges. Talk to ministers in your area for help. Or your youth pastor if your a teen. Everyone around you that can help, seek them for help! ​

 

[kingdomseek4]

Find out exactly what the Lord's will is in the matter. If you have not already done so. Once you know what the Lord's will is then you can pray accordingly. Do not go outside of the authority that you are under to confirm your calling. God will always use the delegated authority that you are under to send you out. Look at the scriptures to find what I say is true or not. Paul and Barnabas were separated unto the work. The disciples were sent by Jesus. Elisha was under Elijah. Timothy stayed under Paul's authority until Paul died. Always stay under authority whatever you do. I am not saying that you are thinking any different. I am just encouraging you to do so. Pray over the issue and talk with YOUR pastor until it is confirmed. May the Lord continue to bless you with the wisdom and spiritual knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. God bless.

 

[mystery4]

Becoming a pastor within different denoms is different so the best idea would be to ask your church pastors or someone within your church who would know. THe other thing is to get involved within different ministry capacities within your church. The longer you stay between two decisions the harder and more stressed you become. Make a decision and stick with it, if that wasn't God's choice he will let you know. A friend of mine who is studying theology always wanted to be a pastor even when she was a child. Due to various reasons, she felt it wasn't right for her to do theology (one of the steps to becoming a pastor within our church) and followed the advice of those around her to do a certain course. That wasn't what God wanted and after the first semester within a couple of weeks she was enroled and started studying theology, now halfway through her course and couldn't be happier. Her desire has grown.

However having said all that, if there is anything else you could possibly do, then go for it.

 

[kingdomseek4]

Becoming a pastor within different denoms is different so the best idea would be to ask your church pastors or someone within your church who would know. THe other thing is to get involved within different ministry capacities within your church. The longer you stay between two decisions the harder and more stressed you become. Make a decision and stick with it, if that wasn't God's choice he will let you know. A friend of mine who is studying theology always wanted to be a pastor even when she was a child. Due to various reasons, she felt it wasn't right for her to do theology (one of the steps to becoming a pastor within our church) and followed the advice of those around her to do a certain course. That wasn't what God wanted and after the first semester within a couple of weeks she was enroled and started studying theology, now halfway through her course and couldn't be happier. Her desire has grown.

However having said all that, if there is anything else you could possibly do, then go for it.

Are you saying that her desire for being a pastor has grown?

 

[mystery4]

yes her desirefor being a pastor and to serve God's people has grown

 

[kingdomseek4]

yes her desirefor being a pastor and to serve God's people has grown

Scripture does not support a woman being a pastor.

 

[Strong in Him]

Scripture does not support a woman being a pastor.

That's debateable. I won't derail this thread, but if you really want to debate this, go to the Christian Philosophy and Ethics board in the Theology forum. A debate on this subject there has just been split into two threads, and so far has about 1200 replies.

I would say that it is God who put this desire into her heart, and wish her all the best in pursuing this calling.

 

[jmwatkins]

There is a great audio about how to find God's will for your life that you can download from livingwaters dot com. I did not put the website because I did not want it to be seen as me trying to market them. They are an incredible ministry, and there number one training, hell's best kept secret will really open your eyes.

 

[blessedbehisname1392]

i want to become a youth pastor
i feel it calling to me

i wanna help other teens find god and be saved like i was
but i need help idk how to start

i would ask my pastor
but many ppl say i will try and fail soo i shouldnt even bother when i no in my heart its what i want to do

idk if i should ask my pastor cuz im kinda of like a class clown i joke alot sooo i dont no if he would believe me


whats the first step to becoming a youth pastor

 

[InnocentOdion]

I, too, wish to become a pastor.

 

[kingdomseek4]

The scriptures that come to mind are one like: Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you. Hunger and thirst for righteousness and you shall be filled. He is rich to all who call on Him. If you hunger for the person of Christ, He will get you to the place He wants you to be. Don't hunger for a calling, hunger for the person of Christ. Like Paul wrote in Phillipians: That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings. Being conformed to His death, if by any means I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Paul was not talking about being born again. He was wanting to know the fullness of Christ. This christian walk is not about doing or having, it is about knowing the person of Christ.

 

[Strong in Him]

i want to become a youth pastor
i feel it calling to me

i wanna help other teens find god and be saved like i was
but i need help idk how to start

i would ask my pastor
but many ppl say i will try and fail soo i shouldnt even bother when i no in my heart its what i want to do

idk if i should ask my pastor cuz im kinda of like a class clown i joke alot sooo i dont no if he would believe me

whats the first step to becoming a youth pastor

I don't know anything about training to be a youth Pastor, sorry. But I would have thought the first step to any kind of ministry within the church would be to talk to your pastor. Just explain to him what you have told us - that you have a desire to help kids know Jesus.

Don't worry about what other people say. And with regards to failing; I know it's scary, but you'll only really fail if you never try. I've just been reading the book "if you want to walk on water, you have to get out of the boat", and the author says that Peter didn't fail when he started to sink. He succeeded, he walked on the water, if only for a few seconds. It was the other 11 disciples who failed because they were too scared to try.

If you think this is from God, you need to test it. Maybe you could start out in a small way by leading a Bible study/evening meeting? Are there any courses in youth work that you could take, or subjects at school that would fit in with this? Or maybe you could do some work experience, or be alongside another youth worker for a while?

All the best.

 

[Strong in Him]

I, too, wish to become a pastor.

Hi InnocentOdion,

I notice from your icon you are an anglican. Do you mean that you want to become a vicar, or that you want to be involved in Pastoral ministry? I would think the first step for either is to talk to your vicar and he or she will point you in the appropriate direction. Years ago I went on a week's course run by CPAS (Church Pastoral Aid Society). It wasn't exactly work experience, we did study about ministry and training. But basically I lived in a vicarage for a week and went to everything, or almost, that the vicar went to. I don't know if they still run these, but if they do, it might be worth trying. It was very good. If you are absolutely certain the Lord is calling you to ordained ministry, then your vicar can put you in touch with the appropriate person. When they've talked with you, they will then, if they're happy, give you details of the selection weekend you will go on. I think this is correct. I haven't been an anglican for some years (I'm a Methodist) and things may well have changed. I do know that you could train as a lay reader, which would involve preaching and some pastoral work. I know of people who've started out this way, and then become convinced that God is calling them to full time, ordained ministry.

If you want to be a Pastor as in doing pastoral work, you could train to be a Pastoral assistant. Again, your vicar will have details of this course.

I'm in the position myself of believing God has called me to something, not being quite sure what, and testing what I think the way ahead might be. It's a bit scary, but if God is calling, he will do it, and give you, and me, the strength to fulfill the task.

God bless

 

[InnocentOdion]

Yes, I'm Anglican.
I want to work in church ministry call it vicar, priest, clergy, rector, whatever you would like to. I'm not very good with terms, but I'm sure you know what I mean.

At the moment my church is interregnum. As soon as we get a new priest, then I am going to ask him. I will be sure to ask about the CPAS when we get the new rector... I think he's a rector. Too many titles! I'll try finding out more about working as a pastoral assistant. What made you stop being Anglican? I'm just curious. PM me this, so we don't derail the thread.

I pray that God will reveal to you in due time your called message. :cross: