“We have all heard stories of ambitious young men eager to serve in established congregations, only to become discouraged when they are met with suspicion or doubt. … this has not been my experience, nor do I believe it is the norm” - Baptist Press
“I asked several friends of The Gospel Coalition who currently serve, or have served, as lead pastors, What’s the best piece of advice or word of exhortation you’d give to a new elder?” - TGC
“No matter what he faces in years to come, your early loving care for him will help keep his heart soft. If his first experience is a negative one, on the other hand, he may always be wondering when the proverbial ‘other shoe will drop.’” - Chuck Lawless
“How many young men never hear the call of the Holy Ghost and desire the work of the ministry because their life is stained with this sin? How many never consider entering the gospel ministry because they think themselves unfit?” - P&D
“Theodore Cuyler took on this question in his book How To Be a Pastor…. His answer is straightforward, his reasoning compelling. It is worth considering today. ‘I answer unhesitatingly, the small church.’ …He offers a three-pronged defense of his position.” - Challies
Dear Young Seminarian,
Have you thought about your future? Of course you have, you think. You are in seminary, or headed to seminary, or just finished seminary. You are hoping for a pastoral position, or looking for one, or maybe even in one.
But what do you want to be?
Do you want to be a pastor? Or do you want to pastor?
At first, glance that may seem like a strange question. But it actually flows from an old, perhaps cheesy, thing that was making its way around college back in the day. It was a little statement about relationships and dating, and people who were “in love” with being “in love” rather than being “in love” with a person.
Now, dear seminarian who has learned to exegete Greek and Hebrew (at least you better have learned to if you have a seminary degree), don’t over exegete the words “in love.” I am not really sure what they mean myself, and I am pretty sure that these words are the cause of a lot of broken marriages and broken hearts.
