Are you interested in becoming a pastor? Several questions are probably racing through your mind, including "How to become a pastor?" and "How do you know if you are ready to be a Pastor?" If so, this article is for you.
Since this author is a Baptist pastor, it is written primarily as advice for aspiring Baptist pastors. However, some of the content should be applicable to pastors of other Christian denominations.
How to Become a Pastor
The first step to take in becoming a pastor is to make sure your own heart is right with God. What is your relationship with God? You can't be a pastor and lead others to faith in Christ, if your faith isn't solid. What's more, you can't encourage others in their faith, if you are "double-minded" and "unstable" (see James 1). Make sure you are strong in your faith.
Then, ask yourself two very basic questions:
1) Do you love God?
2) Do you love people?
Jesus identified the two greatest commandments as loving God and loving your neighbor. Not only do all the commandments hang on those two central commands, but so do all the qualifications of being a pastor. Do you love God and do you love people?
Become an avid student of the Bible and a committed, loving servant of people. Participate in Bible studies. Get involved in your local church. Volunteer in the community. Help with or help start a nursing home ministry. Be a servant.
How to Be Ordained as a Pastor
Assuming your spiritual foundation is in place and you have thrown yourself into service (see above), you must now prayerfully consider the call. R. Albert Mohler, Jr., president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, writes: "Those called by God sense a growing compulsion to preach and teach the Word, and to minister to the people of God."
No one should become a pastor unless he feels God is calling him to that work. If you believe God is calling you to pastor, then you should seek training and ordination.
The amount and nature of training you receive will depend on a number of factors, including your age, where you live, your home church, etc. The first place to start is with your home church and pastor. Let your pastor guide you and mentor you.
In most Baptist churches, the ordination process begins at the local church. When the time is right, your pastor will walk you through the process of licensure and/or ordination.
How Do You Know if You Are Ready to be a Pastor
The first place to start in determining whether you're ready to become a pastor is on your knees. Ask God. If God called you, then God will be the one to tell you when you're ready to launch out.
The next place to go is in the Bible. Paul outlines the biblical qualifications for pastors in I Timothy 3 and Titus 1. Read those sections. In fact, read all of I and II Timothy and Titus. Read those books several times. Make sure your life is in keeping with the biblical criteria and that you are preparing yourself for pastoral ministry in a manner that is consistent with Paul's exhortation to Timothy and Titus.
And then keep in close touch with your pastor. Assuming his counsel is consistent with Scripture, follow your pastor's lead. He should help you every step of the way.
There's no job like being a pastor. It's challenging and, at times, frustrating and discouraging. And yet, it is (at least in the opinion of this author) the most fulfilling and rewarding vocation a person can pursue, assuming of course God has called them to that work.
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For more information on this topic, check out Albert Mohler's article on "Has God Called You? Discerning the Call to Preach"
