When are we ministering?

 In a church home group the wife and I are becoming involved with has taken on reading Jesus + Nothing = Everything. As I reflect on what I have been reading and what this pastor has written I have to also consider an opinion I developed years ago regarding the ministry, particularly the role of pastor.

In another denomination I have known many to include my own father going to the bible college and taken on a church based on what was considered “the call”.  I will assume “the call” was genuine as each felt in their hearts God had called them to preach.  Some were very successful in their ministry while others “failed” at what they thought God required of them.  Some battled through the issues of conflict and using the Gospel and Christ leadership was able to overcome the dragons and people became more godly and responsive to God’s call.  Others battled inner demons and could never come to peace within. And then there were those that never understood to true role of the pastor feeling like complete failures and leaving the ministry with the leadership of the denomination stepping back and not coming to aid or counsel them.

I had the opportunity to study for and attain a masters in ministry and with that an idea that I was called to preach.  I had a license in the denomination to minister and felt I was quite successful via God as a preacher and teacher of the Word and would pursue that career when my military obligation was complete.  As we were settling down in a new place that did not know us or me,  we wanted to seek a church that had sound preaching and leadership so as we could grow and establish ourselves in the community.

The problem was every church we visited and tried to be a part of was in the process of changing out pastors or was involved in some activity that did not allow one to see the true environment of the body, the inner workings.  And as I would visit with those that were members and in leadership I was not getting very clear answers. Seemed like God was not making things clear, at least the way I thought it should be.

So I decided to make an appointment with the district superintendent and seek some guidance, spiritual and mentoring.  I asked a question that I considered important, who would be the best person to sit under and grow? Which church has a strong ministry? The answer was, any and all of the churches would suffice.  As we discussed the issues of ministry I was told that God was calling me to take on a small congregation.  For some reason I was not quite linked in because I was not getting the same message.

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I came to this conclusion, God calls all of us to “preach” the Gospel, but has not called all to be pastors.  There needs to be mentors and leaders that will come up beside ministers that are struggling with their “mission.”