Ask a Minister

~ A place to find answers to gnawing spiritual questions ~

Question: I have a strong burning desire to work in the ministry full time. Where do I begin?

Answer: You asked help in the area of getting into the full time ministry, and I will endeavor to answer you.

I have never met you, so I would have to ask you, "Why do you want to do this?" Many are in the full time ministry for the wrong reasons, and I am sure you do not want to be one of them!

The positions that you have held in your church, whether one at a time, or several at the same time, are not usually regarded as "full time" jobs. Only the largest churches would be able to afford to pay workers who did those things.

Actually, two years experience in ministry is not a whole lot of experience in Christian service.

When you say that you resigned, I gather that you resigned both from the position(s) and the church. Why did you resign? Did you discuss your problem with your pastor before resigning? You need a human shepherd, someone you can be accountable to. We all do.

In most cases, Bible School training is a very desirable thing. Since you do not feel it to be practical to leave your wife for a prolonged period, why not take Bible School by correspondence? Several groups have correspondence courses that can lead up to ministerial credentials. The Assemblies of God, for example, have their Berean course, and I am sure there are other groups who also have such a program.

Do seek the Lord earnestly for guidance, and be patient. God can and will open doors for you, but in His time, and in His way. Do not let the fire in your heart go out, but seek God diligently.

I will pray for you, that God will direct you.

Additional Resources

Finding and Doing God's Will by Joe Barraclough
Heart of a Great Pastor by H. B. London
Free Gospel Bible Institute - Export, Pennsylvania
Global University of the Assemblies of God - even Internet courses
How to Prepare Sermons by William Evans
Ozark Bible Institute & College - Neosho, Missouri
Power in the Pulpit: How to Prepare and Deliver Expository Sermons by Jerry Vines
Preaching and Teaching with Imagination: The Quest for Biblical Ministry by Warren W. Wiersbe
The Dynamics of Preaching by Warren W. Wiersbe
The Effective Pastor: A Practical Guide to the Ministry by Robert C. Anderson
The Pastor's Guide to Effective Preaching by Billy Graham
The Power of the Call by Henry T. Blackaby
Inspired By The Bible Experience (Complete 8 MP3)
Bible Study Tools (online)
Bible Study Tools (to purchase)
4000 Questions & Answers On The Bible by Dana Adams

Home of David Wilkerson's Times Square Church Pulpit Series Multilingual Web Site
http://www.tscpulpitseries.org

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This page was last updated Febrnuary 25, 2014.

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