HOW TO GET INTO FULL TIME MINISTRY

When I entered the ministry over 30 years ago, it did not occur to me that I was doing something that thousands of others would attempt to do and fail. Yet more and more I am hearing the questions put to me, "How do I get into the ministry?" Could it be that this is a universal question asked by hundreds and even thousands of would be "laborers in the harvest" who never get started because they just do not know how? Are we challenging people to hear the voice of God and accept their calling in life, only to fail to tell them how to pursue that calling with success? How come so many begin with high hopes only to quit along the way, frustrated and heart-sick over a ministry that was still-born?

If only there was a step by step manual that could be followed to guide someone who is serious about entering the Christian Ministry. If only someone could give some useful advise that if followed, would help people begin, continue and last in ministry.

This is the purpose of this book. Not to be so specific as to be useful to only a few, but to be broad enough in scope and principle so as to be useful to people world over who are answering the call of God to full time ministry. This book is not intended to make getting into the ministry seem even more difficult and unattainable, but to encourage and edify those who are sincerely answering "yes" to God’s call and to simplify their approach to a long and fruitful life of service to God and Man. Read and take to heart this work of love.

......Ronny D. Thomason

Before we begin to speak of how to get into the ministry, we must define what "ministry" we are talking about and define the term from a purely biblical point of view.

Jesus Christ is our ultimate and perfect example of a true minister. Let us look at the subject of ministry through His words and actions. Here we will learn what ministry is and then we will find out how to get "into it".

Jesus Christ came to this world because His Heavenly Father "sent" Him.

John 3:16-17 (KJV) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

This One who was sent from God came to minister (serve) and took upon Himself the form of a servant:

Philippians 2:5-11 (KJV) Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

In the example of Jesus Christ, we see that being in the ministry means to sacrifice one’s self and become the servant of others. The word "minister" comes from the Greek word: diakoneo (dee-ak-on-eh'-o); to be an attendant, i.e. wait upon (menially or as a host, friend, or [figuratively] teacher); techn. to act as a Christian deacon:

KJV - (ad-) minister (unto), serve, use the office of a deacon.

(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright (c) 1994, Biblesoft and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Jesus held emphatically to the position that He was in the world,  not to be served, but to be the servant of all. He further stated that to be great in His Kingdom, we must follow His example of service to all:

Mark 10:42-45 (KJV) But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Any one who is called of God to be "in the ministry" must understand that they have been called into a life of serving others. First we serve God who called us. Secondly, we serve people (of whom the ministry is all about). Any self serving is prohibited and not true ministry. Our ministry service is not to be for self gratification or for worldly gain, but rather for love of God and love for souls. Many have not been able to enter the ministry because of an unwillingness to lay down their lives. Jesus said clearly that if we attempt to save our life, we will lose it. Only the life invested in His will is truly saved.

At the age of 16 I finally understood that God was calling me into full time ministry. Once I surrendered fully to do God’s will, I was filled with a great joy and excitement concerning my life’s purpose.

I could not wait to break the news to my Pastor. When I finally got his attention long enough to tell him, "Pastor, I have been called to preach!" he looked calmly at me and nodded like he understood fully what I meant. He then motioned to me to follow him down the hall that led to his study. How thrilled I was to be following this great man of God to his book-filled study. But much to my dismay, he stopped short of his study at a closet in the hall. He opened the door to the closet and handed me a mop and mop bucket. Pointing to the long tile floor in the hall way, he said, "Welcome to the ministry, son". Thankfully, his years of Bible preaching and teaching had made a mark on my life. I knew that if I turned him down here, I would never get to preach. So, I swallowed hard and began to mop. Later I mowed grass, painted fence, washed cars, and did all that he asked of me as willingly as I could. Soon, I was preaching before my home church and later because He was a leader in our denomination, I was sent to fill pulpits across the whole region because my Pastor trusted me. By the time I was 18 years old, I was preaching before large crowds of people. It began that very moment in front of the hall closet, when he tested my willingness to serve. Many have missed their calling in God because they did not understand that all ministry begins with the heart of a servant. Those who seek only to have titles and positions of rank within the church will never fulfill their true calling in life. The way into the ministry is through the servant’s door.

The great missionary and founder of The Navigators, Dawson Trotman led a group of young missionary evangelist to an island in the South Pacific. After trudging through mud all day they finally came to a small village where they were offered shelter from the rains with a place to sleep. Everyone was exhausted from the difficult day’s walk through the mud so they turned in early. The next morning, the awoke to find their muddy shoes cleaned and shined without a trace of the previous day’s abuse. After much investigation they discovered it was the old missionary  who had stayed up after they all went to bed the night before and cleaned their shoes. This great man who had the respect and admiration of millions of people, was still a servant at heart.

It has been my observation in over 30 years of full time ministry, that those who are willing to serve others have no difficulty entering the ministry.

Stop here and ask yourself two very revealing questions:

1. Do I understand that ministry equals serving others?

2. Will I be happy giving my life as a servant?

If you can answer "yes" to these questions, then you are on your way to being in the ministry. If you answer "no" then you must rethink this whole ministry idea and return to the Lord for a change of heart.

The Difference Between Being "Called" and Being "Sent"

No one wants to wait. The moment the call comes from God to full time ministry, every one wants to begin right then to be full time in the ministry. The desire to please God through obedience, while good, sometimes overshadows logic and common sense. People do not often understand that there is a vast difference between being called of God and being ready to be sent out or appointed to a ministry. Consider these facts:

(1) Abraham was an mature adult before God told him to leave his home town and follow God into the unknown.

(2) Joseph, though as a young boy having a vision concerning God’s purpose for his life, was thirty when Pharaoh made him Prime Minister of Egypt.

(3) Moses, though called at birth, was eighty years old when God spoke to him from the burning bush to go tell Pharaoh, "Let my people go".

(4) Jesus, though called to His ministry before the foundations of the world, was thirty before He began His earthly ministry.

(5) The Twelve were called, but had to be trained by Jesus Himself for forty two months before they were ready to carry on the ministry of Jesus.

(6) Paul, though called to be an apostle on the Damascus highway, spent over fourteen years in isolation before beginning his ministry. It was after these years of preparation that the Word came by the Holy Spirit for Paul to be "sent" out:

Acts 13:2-3 (KJV) As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

I bring this up because it goes to the very heart of why many people never enter the ministry. We must seek God for the grace necessary to wait on our calling to be developed in us to the point that we can be sent out ready and mature. The Word of God has much to say about those who refuse to prepare themselves for effective ministry. Ephesians Chapter Four speaks to the need for growth, maturity, and equipping of the Saints of God for the work of the ministry. This is done by submitting to the Christ given ministries of the Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers that have been set into the Church for the specific purpose of equipping and training. This process of equipping and training takes time. It is during this time that our true motives and heart attitudes are dealt with. It is an important time in our preparation for ministry. Without this time of waiting on our calling, we will not receive those qualities that are necessary for effective and lasting ministry. We ourselves will not last in full time ministry because of the lack of preparation in our lives for the ministry hardships that we all must face.

Lest we think this is too much to ask,  let us remember that even in the world, a Doctor or Lawyer, or Teacher etc. has to prepare for years studying and more years as an apprentice before they are ready to be given the responsibilities of a full practice of their own. How is it that we think those who are responsible for the eternal souls of men and women should have less training? To short circuit our preparation time is to make ourselves less effective for God. One who is "studying" for the ministry IS in the ministry. The student may not be in the spot-light yet, but what is happening at this stage in his life is crucial to the rest of his ministry years.

Read 2 Samuel Chapter 18 about the man who ran without a message. Do not let your ministry be run in such a fashion, wait for your message! See also Romans 12:7.

Part Three
Practical Advice For Entering The Ministry

    In keeping with my promise to offer simple advice for entering the ministry, let me give guidelines which any one any where can follow to enter into full time ministry.  Please understand that the "full-time" part may take a while, but it will come when you are ready.  Make up your mind now that you are in this for the long haul and will not give up, ever!

Guideline #1:  Join yourself to a true Apostolic ministry.  Since the word "apostle" means "sent one", then it is reasonable to think that an apostolic ministry is one that "sends" people into the ministry.  They are following the scriptural mandates to 1) evangelize the world with the Gospel and 2) make disciples of all nations as seen in the Great Commission of Matthew 28.  This cannot happen if we do not raise up, train, and send forth laborers into God's harvest fields.  This effort requires two essential elements:  1) A local ministry that believes in developing and sending out ministers, and 2) People who are called of God and willing to be developed and sent out by such a ministry.
    If you truly believe you are called of God to the ministry, then you must find a group of people who see their calling as one that trains, equips, and sends.  Do not be fooled by churches calling themselves "apostolic" but never actually send anyone.  Nor should you misinterpret a church that supports other ministries financially to be apostolic.  Often times the support they give is to only ease their conscience of the guilt of not doing what God has called them to do.  Though financial support is necessary and appreciated, it is not what we are talking about here.  A sending church is like the church in Antioch in Acts 13, who had the vision for training, preparing, and equipping people who were called in view of that hour when the Holy Spirit would say, "Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them." (Acts 13:2).

    Find a local church (size is not an indication of worthiness) where it is evident that the leadership has a vision for helping people prepare themselves for ministry and has actually sent people out from the local congregation with their support.  Look for a missions bulletin board and see if any "local" people are being supported by the church.  See if they include ministries within their own city limits and ministries that reach out to people in their own country as well as foreign ministries.  Often local churches "snub" ministries right in their own locale because of a lack of understanding concerning the need for supporting these local outreaches. If they will not support anyone locally, chances are you will not be supported either unless you leave the country.  Then it is risky to count on such a church for any lasting support.  Local churches who send out their own people and follow up with financial support are a good place to start the process of "getting into the ministry".  It is a waste of time to try to attend a church that, regardless of how big it is, is only interested in what is going on right under its nose.  These vision-less churches will not be interested in you fulfilling your God given call.  Run to a church that keeps sending out people into all kinds of ministries.  This may require you to move to another city or state, but it is better than staying in a stagnant atmosphere.  It has often been said that going to the wrong church can kill you.  I believe that going to the wrong church can kill your chances of being in the ministry also.  Pray for the Lord to guide you to a church or a man who has a vision and burden for an Ephesians 4:11-12 type of ministry.
    I was brought up in a church that had a long history of supporting missionaries.  I thank God for being taught that the Great Commission was to me personally.  It seemed like every time a missionary came to our church, I felt called to go to his particular country.   Then the next missionary would come and I felt called to his country too.  As I grew I understood that there is more to the ministry of the Lord than being a Pastor, or an Evangelist, or a Missionary.  Ministry can take many shapes and many different and unique expressions.  The big key is to find a place where your unique call will not be laughed at or despised, but rather cultivated, matured, and honored by the rest of the church family.

Guideline #2: Be an "addictive" servant.  Once you have joined yourself to a true Apostolic ministry, serve the leadership of that ministry so well that they become "addicted" to you.  Make yourself "F.A.T.":
    1) Faithful 2) Available 3) Teachable
Example of Faithful: : Elisha the servant of Elijah who was so faithful that when it came time for Elijah to go up into Heaven in a whirlwind, Elisha had earned the rights to Elijah's mantle (ministry).  People do not realize that when Elisha was called to follow Elijah, he spent many years as Elijah's servant; washing, cooking, cleaning, etc.  Because he was faithful to serve, he became the great Prophet of God. (2 Kings Chapter 2). 
Example of Available: Isaiah  who was praying and seeking the Lord when he heard God say, "who will I send" and Isaiah said, "Here am I send me".  If he had not been available he would not have been there when the opportunity was presented. (Isaiah Chapter 6);  likewise,  Nehemiah: While he was faithfully serving the King as Cup Bearer, he was in a position to ask to be sent to rebuild Jerusalem. (Nehemiah Chapter 2).

 In the words of Jesus: Luke 16:10-12 (KJV) "He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.  If therefore you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?"

Being teachable is a requirement for any student if he expect to learn anything.  No leader will spend much time and energy trying to develop a "know-it-all" who will not listen to instruction.
Example of Teachable: Esther allowed her mentor, Mordecai, to instruct her in how she should pursue her destiny in God.

Look at these Scriptures regarding the relationship between instruction and promotion:

Proverbs 8:33 "Hear instruction, and be wise and refuse it not."

Proverbs 13:18 "Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth  reproof shall be honored."

Proverbs 15:32-33  "He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.  The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility."

Hosea 4:6  "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children."

Faithful, Available, and Teachable (F.A.T.) people will always become so valuable to church leadership that when faced with the prospect of having to do without them, often they are offered a salary to stay.  If it comes to the place where the Lord says, "separate him unto the work whereunto I have called him" then the Leadership will agonize over how they are going to replace you.  This is far better that you leaving with their footprints on your back for trying to get rid of you.

Several years ago, after having served a church for almost six years in a supporting role to the Senior Pastor, the call came to go to a church and become the Senior Pastor there.  As we were leaving the church we had been working in, people wept and would cling to our necks refusing to let go.  Others would stuff our pockets with money and give us gifts.  We never realized they loved us so much as when we were leaving.  How much more honorable that is to the Lord than to be run out of town in disgrace!  We should seek such a degree at every station in life.

1 Timothy 3:13 (KJV) "For they that have used the office of a deacon (servant) well,  purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus".

   Our Mission is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.....
Pastor Ron Thomason

Send mail to Pastor@talkbible.com with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2003 CORNERSTONE CHURCH, INC.
Last modified November 18, 2008