Prepare Faithfully
How Do I Prepare?
Following Christ into ministry is an incredible life to live. You’ll be a part of seeing Christ change people’s lives and bring redemption to the most broken people in our world. You will find this calling to be deeply meaningful and fulfilling. But you will also face challenges and struggles that are difficult to imagine from where you sit today. As such, you’ll need Christ to be near, and you will need to be prepared in all areas of your life.
Serve
Prepare by
Serving Now
Serving in a ministry now will help you discover and sharpen the gifts God has given you and deepen your passion for those he is calling you to serve. God can use you right now!
Serve Now
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Education
Prepare your personal life
Ministry is not only about what you do. It is also about who you are becoming. As you prepare for ministry, give careful attention to your walk with Christ, your character, your relationships, your reputation, and your stewardship.
A theological education in a Biblically based college or seminary continues to be one of the best ways to receive a well-rounded biblical and theological education. Students that seek a theological education can study with, and be mentored by, scholars with tremendous knowledge and wisdom, and who have also served Jesus for decades.
1. Be a disciple and make disciples
You must maintain a close walk with Christ in all you do. Unfortunately, for many people going into ministry, they unintentionally allow the work of ministry to replace communion with Christ, and they begin to rely on their own power and giftedness. You would never intend to let this happen, but if you aren’t vigilant, it will happen.
You must labor to maintain and further cultivate the spiritual disciplines that brought you this far. You need Christ now more than you have ever needed Him. Remember that your power, wisdom and effectiveness come from God, not you (Acts 1:8, John 15:5).
As you walk with Christ, teach others to do the same. You may not think of yourself as someone capable of discipling others, but you have a sphere of influence with people that God can use too. Each of us must be faithful stewards of these relationships by encouraging others to walk with Jesus and showing them how to do that. Your voice matters. Your influence matters. And you can make disciples of others right now.
2. Protect your purity and reputation
The devil studies and crafts traps for each of us that are perfectly designed for our weakest spots. He is patient and will wait years to ensnare you. He will entice you with small temptations and lure you into patterns of sin that may seem “harmless” in the moment but will develop into patterns that will ultimately destroy you and hurt others in due time. Sexual temptation is a common trap, especially for men. NOW is the time to do whatever is necessary to purge these debilitating habits from your life. If this is true for you, get some help. Find someone who can walk with you into victory. Find more helps here for pursing purity. God can also confirm his call through other people. Sometimes this can be a direct message. Most of the time, however, this confirmation takes other forms. Sometimes it’s informal confirmation. For example, a fellow believer might compliment your effectiveness in ministry and ask whether you have ever considered God might be calling you to ministry leadership. Or, perhaps you go on a mission trip and do an exceptional job relating to people of a different culture. As a result, the host missionary challenges you to consider a call to missions. These informal comments are often the way God first gets our attention or confirms prior impressions about considering his call.
3. Build Godly Relationships
Your relationships with others will shape the person you become and the ministry you will have. Find Godly mentors who can help you become the person you want to be. Click here for helps on mentoring relationships.
4. Pursue a Godly Marriage
God will call some of you to be single and go places you could not go with a spouse. But for most of you, you will be married, and ministry will be a part of your life and marriage. As you date, get engaged, and get married, do so with great wisdom. Address red flags, listen to the counsel of close friends and family members, and make sure that the person you marry shares a calling into ministry and is growing in that calling just as you are.
Unfortunately, too many young believers ignore the advice given above and rush into marriage with people that will ultimately limit or destroy any chance of long-term service. Sometimes young godly women marry men that do not lead well or have major hidden moral problems. And sometimes godly young men do the same. Who you marry matters and is one of the most important decisions you will make, not just for life in general, but specifically for ministry. Read more about preparing for marriage here: https://calledtoministry.org/marriage-preparation/
5. Make a Financial Plan
Consider the long-term impact of your financial decisions. Often student loans and credit card debt keep people from buying houses, a car, or even paying for everyday necessities. Student loans can have an impact on your ability to participate in various ministry opportunities. Sending organizations will consider the amount of debt you have as a part of the application process. A debt amount that is too high may delay the opportunity to serve in different capacities. Many churches in the United States are served by ministers who work in a secular position as well as the ministry job. The amount of debt you have from school or other sources will require you to find work that pays well enough to cover your debt costs and that might prevent you from serving your family and your church well.
Live on a budget! Spend only what you have in the bank and try not to spend all of it!
Save! Even if it is just a small amount each month. If you do that, you will be ahead of so many of your peers.
Apply for every scholarship possible. Don’t be afraid to ask the financial aid office for information on scholarships.
Be willing to talk with your mentor, a financial advisor, or another person in your life that can help you make wise choices.
Be a wise steward of what God has called you to do. Work hard to be equipped for what God has prepared for you. Read more here (pdf of https://calledtoministry.org/financial-planning/)
Education
Prepare your heart & mind through education
The Christian faith is both simple and complex. It is simple enough that children can understand and come to Christ. It is complex enough that the greatest minds for the past 2,000 years have given everything to understanding it. To properly represent Christ in your service to Him, you must be a student of His Word, and of the Christian faith itself. Our faith is challenged by all sorts of skeptics, and it is counterfeited by all sorts of heretics. You must be diligent to know the faith as best as you possible can (I Tim. 2:15).
A theological education in a Biblically based college or seminary continues to be one of the best ways to receive a well-rounded biblical and theological education. Students that seek a theological education can study with, and be mentored by, scholars with tremendous knowledge and wisdom, and who have also served Jesus for decades.
Our Mission
Explore Ministry Vocations
God’s creativity is evident in the different ways he gifts people for leadership and the wide-variety of leadership roles available in his kingdom. You want to find the role that, as one person told me, “makes your heart sing.” Finding that kind of life match means your service will be more a joy than a job.