How to find a church that needs a Pastor

[ByTheSpirit]

Anyone here know of any resources to find a church seeking a minister?

I have posted ministry resumes on churchjobs.net and a couple others, but there isn't much activity there... Any ideas? I live in Kansas, USA

 

[phydaux]

Well, one of the ways you go about that is by being involved in a denomination. By having a network of churches, the larger churches can help out and provide for the needs of the smaller ones.

For example, I was very active in the Calvary Chapel network back in the day. My pastor got forwarded a request from the parent church in Costa Mesa that the Calvary Chapel in Winslow, Arizona wanted a pastor. My pastor actually asked me if I was interested.

"Standing on a corner in Winslow, Arizona," the song says. And you don't have to ask which corner, because the town only has one. Calvary Chapel Winslow had seven people in it, meeting in someone's home, and they wanted a pastor to tend to their spiritual needs.

I had just gotten married less than three months before this happened. If I had been single, then I would have jumped at the opportunity, and lived out of my car, eating mustard sandwiches three meals a day if necessary. As it was, I said "No." I didn't feel right bringing a new wife to such a small town that neither of us knew.

I still feel that was the right decision for me to make at the time, although I notice I was never again asked if I wanted to be a pastor somewhere....

 

[phydaux]

Also, about 17 posts down in this sub-forum I have a thread I made with links to resources for young men seeking to enter into pastoral ministry.

Those resources aren't free, but they aren't expensive, either. You could have the lot for around $125 including shipping.

Also, Pastor Chuck wrote several books. Three of them are important enough that he made them available in PDF format for free download to whoever wanted them. They're called:

Calvary Chapel Distinctives

Philosophy of Ministry of Calvary Chapel

Charisma vs Charismania

You can find these with just a little goggling. They are short and easy to read, and provide a wealth of insight.

 

[phydaux]

Also, two quick thoughts:

One is that a pastor isn't something you do, it's something you are.

Another is to grow where you're planted.

Is there anything you can do in Kansas to serve God's people?

Check out those books. Calvary Chapel started with 25 people.

 

[phydaux]

http://calvaryfrederick.com/resources/books/calvarychapeldistinctives.pdf

http://calvaryfrederick.com/resources/books/philosophyofministryofcalvarychapel.pdf

http://geekychristian.com/books/chuck-smith/Charisma Versus Charismania.pdf

 

[phydaux]

My pastor got forwarded a request from the parent church in Costa Mesa that the Calvary Chapel in Winslow, Arizona wanted a pastor. My pastor actually asked me if I was interested.

I have also always wondered just how many people my pastor asked before he was desperate enough that he worked his way down to asking me. LOL.

 

[David4223]

I have also always wondered just how many people my pastor asked before he was desperate enough that he worked his way down to asking me. LOL.

I'm sure he asked you because he knew you could handle it!

 

[ByTheSpirit]

Those are very good points and I take them. I ask because I had a dream last night that I was the pastor of a Baptist church. I kept saying in my dream, "But I'm not a Baptist," but the people wouldn't accept that and still took me in. Got me thinking about it is all. I wonder if this is God's way of directing me. I do know of one Baptist church that has a listing for a Pastoral opening.

 

[phydaux]

Denominational churches like the various flavors of Baptist all tend to have their own requirement that they expect young men to fulfill prior to them assuming a pastoral role. For most, that means Seminary.

I look back and kick myself because as a young man I never went to Seminary, even though I totally could if I had wanted to. But I was in the Calvary Chapel network at the time, and the Calvary Chapel network had their own track for aspiring pastors to follow.

So I went to a one year (non-accredited) bible school, then took a year off because I got married. Usually after bible school you apply to be an intern pastor and work as an intern for a year, but I never went back because what business did I have thinking I was called of God in any way, and why didn't I go ahead and give up on this childish day dream that I had, and shouldn't I go find a real job anyway? (All quotes from my wife, who I actually met in bible school.)

Anyway, God bless you, bro. Study to show yourself approved. Take what God has given you and give it back to Him, and He will multiply it.