How to start in ministry

[prayer soulja]

Hi i am wondering how to start in ministry. Im still pretty young only a jr in high school but God wants me to go into ministry. I live in slc, utah and we do have a seminary school here. I was wondering how you ministers got started and if you guys could give me some advice on how to get started. Also are there any books on how to start in ministry?

 

[benedictine]

talk to your pastor. Ask him(or her) to tell you of any layministries that you can be involved in. Tell him you're interested, and see what he says.

 

[Highland Watchman]

Hey prayer soljah.

I agree with benedictine. The best way to start in ministry is to actually do ministry, but to learn from someone who can mentor you, like a pastor. Talk to your pastor and find out what lay ministry you can get involved in for now. Also find out if you can get a highschool Christian club going. Or, if there already is one, talk to the leaders of the group to see if you can also do some ministry through them. If not, then why not start one?

As for books, I do know of a few, but unfortunately, I am not at home, where my library is (even though it's all packed up in boxes right now, until I am fully moved...). However, there are numerous books that address the concern of discerning the call to pastoral ministry. As your pastor if he has any books like that, and if not, then try at a local Christian book store... or even the bookstore at the Seminary.

 

[ufigureitout]

I believe that one of the most important things that you can do in working towards yuor ministry goals is to be faithfull in another man's. Talk to your pastor and find an area or areas in your church that you can be involved in, volunteer your time and do not grow weary in the work, make no misake, full time ministry takes alot of it.

 

[little esther]

hi soljah,
i agree with all the other responses you got, but i believe that if God has called you into the ministry, then he will open the doors for you when you have graduated high school. talk with you pastor and tell him how you feel, being in the ministry is a full time job with long hours and sometimes the pay is not much, just trust God , he'' lead you down the right path if you keep your heart and ears and eyes open and listen to what God is saying. good luck in your decision and may God bless you and guide you

 

[ZiSunka]

There are all kinds of ministry, not just pastoring a church or preaching. I'm in full time ministry for an organization that redistributes Christian books from American Christians to world Christians in poor, remote and persecuted areas where they couldn't get Christian books themselves.

I believe that when God calls you to start ministry, he gives you little tasks and allows your little acts of obedience build you up to a full time ministry. I started obeying God by leaving tracts in public restrooms whenever I travelled. Then he allowed me to do some devotional writing that was published in a monthly publication for a year, then he allowed me to start giving away books at a food pantry, and here I am with an international ministry now.

Start with listening for His voice and looking for little ways to minister and if you are faithful to those no matter how insignificant they seem, he will lead you to the work he set out for you before the foundation of the earth. God doesn't need ministers who want to start at the top, he only needs people who are willing to be faithful in the little things and he will give them more.

 

[revbcannon]

No matter what field of minstry God is calling you into, (Pastoral, missionary, youth, music, etc) be true to your pastor and be as open with him as you can be. He's there to help you.

Also, get yourself a good 'reading' Bible and begin to saturate yourself with His Word. Later on, when your active in ministry, you'll be glad you did.

Cultivate a prayer life.

And, remember this one principle about ministry. It's just like farming. You plant now so that you can eat later.
Same thing with ministry. So seeds of fasting and prayer and devotion now so that one day when you're active in ministry, you'll have blessings and favor continually coming your way.

Good luck