Finding Qualified Young Pastors

[Dr. Bob]

As a "boomer", I recall many young men of my era in Bible College/Seminary training to be pastors. Many of those freshly-scrubbed faces served 35-45-55 years for our Savior. But WE are "aging out" in great numbers (I retired from full-time pastoring in 2021 at age 73 after a stroke). At the same time, I see many of our fundamental Baptist schools closing and those that are still training our students have LOW numbers in the pastor, mission, youth pastor ministries majors.

All that Woodrow Kroll (of Back to the Bible fame) spoke of in "The Vanishing Ministry" is coming to fruition, in spades. In our state (Wisconsin where Baptists are small minority), we have been praying for 15+ Baptist churches right now that cannot get a pastor.

Am I in a bubble, or is this need for qualified/dedicated men a pandemic across America? If so, I might start some threads on how we might assist the calling, preparation, mentoring, and implementing more ministers to fill the gap as our older generation marches rapidly to heaven.

 

[JonC]

Just rambling here (it's almost 4am....I'm at work....and still no power at home):

We go to church and fellowship, worship, and hear our pastor preach a sermon.

But the church seems to function better nowadays outside of the building.

I see a lot going on during the week. Groups meet in groups to study during the week, the youth meet throughout the week with older Christians who give guidance, we meet to eat at one anothers home or a restaurant, the youth get together and plan outings, they are active in the community to share the gospel.

For the younger group church is very important. When the doors are opened they are there. But the most important part seems to be occurring outside of the building. These guys meet almost daily at a coffee shop. They bring friends and share the gospel. They get a group together to play sports and witness to them.

It seems that the younger generation wants a gospel that is lived more than is studied. They are less interested in the "isms" and more interested in Christ Himself and the gospel.


Maybe part of it is the degree to which the pastor has become a professional. I am not sure how many young men can afford to get a DMin (which most churches in my area require for a position as pastor). A youth minister requires a MDiv in many churches here just to be considered. Seminary is more costly than a public university. (And I do believe this education important).

 

[Scarlett O.]

As a "boomer", I recall many young men of my era in Bible College/Seminary training to be pastors. Many of those freshly-scrubbed faces served 35-45-55 years for our Savior. But WE are "aging out" in great numbers (I retired from full-time pastoring in 2021 at age 73 after a stroke). At the same time, I see many of our fundamental Baptist schools closing and those that are still training our students have LOW numbers in the pastor, mission, youth pastor ministries majors.

All that Woodrow Kroll (of Back to the Bible fame) spoke of in "The Vanishing Ministry" is coming to fruition, in spades. In our state (Wisconsin where Baptists are small minority), we have been praying for 15+ Baptist churches right now that cannot get a pastor.

Am I in a bubble, or is this need for qualified/dedicated men a pandemic across America? If so, I might start some threads on how we might assist the calling, preparation, mentoring, and implementing more ministers to fill the gap as our older generation marches rapidly to heaven.

Dr. Bob, I'm not derailing your post, but it's not just pastors.

There are shortages of SS teachers, choir members, church musicians [trust me, NNE plays the organ anymore], VBS teachers, and more.

It's like the story of the Little Red Hen we learned in early elementary school. Everyone wants the benefits, but no one wants to put in the work.

 

[kyredneck]

still no power at home

...on our third day without power, thank God for the Generac...

Finding Qualified Young Pastors

IMO, 'young' is the problem, experience and worldly wisdom surely helps,,,perhaps as much as academic knowledge (NOT Bible knowledge).

 

[kyredneck]

There are shortages of SS teachers, choir members, church musicians

Where to find these in scripture?

 

[Scarlett O.]

Where to find these in scripture?

Teachers = Ephesians 4:11-16

Musicians = How many Psalms are written to the Temple musicians" Psalms 150 teaches musicianship.

Choirs = Choirs are chronicled in.....well, 2 Chronicles. Ephesians 5 teaches to come together with all types of songs and singing.

I know you will come back and negate this. C'est la vie.

 

[JonC]

...on our third day without power, thank God for the Generac...



IMO, 'young' is the problem, experience and worldly wisdom surely helps,,,perhaps as much as academic knowledge (NOT Bible knowledge).

Me too. Got water back yesterday but no power. No generator either.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Where to find these in scripture?

Now your talking

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Me too. Got water back yesterday but no power. No generator either.

And you still want to live down there

 

[JonC]

And you still want to live down there

1st time this has happened since I've been here. Last time was about 10 years ago with an ice storm (I've been here 7 years).

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

1st time this has happened since I've been here. Last time was about 10 years ago with an ice storm (I've been here 7 years).

Kyredneck adapts by building a system of utilities i.e cistern for water and generator for alternative power source. If I committed to a move, I would have to adapt to the environment and since I’ve not heard from my son in Florida today, I will need to reach out to him this morning

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Where to find these in scripture?

Our Studied Elders teaching the Word to the congregation via an integrated congregation; our entire church singing hymns acapella and; where 2 or 3 gather in my name….It is a blessing to be simple

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

...on our third day without power, thank God for the Generac...



IMO, 'young' is the problem, experience and worldly wisdom surely helps,,,perhaps as much as academic knowledge (NOT Bible knowledge).

No Sonny Piles, no Mike G, no brother’s Montgomery , no Chris Crouse (who BTW offered to help out a failing Baptist church in NW NJ by coming up to preach the word). At times like this, trust in the Providence of God to fill in the blanks. He is always planting seeds.

 

[Deacon]

As a "boomer", I recall many young men of my era in Bible College/Seminary training to be pastors. Many of those freshly-scrubbed faces served 35-45-55 years for our Savior. But WE are "aging out" in great numbers (I retired from full-time pastoring in 2021 at age 73 after a stroke). At the same time, I see many of our fundamental Baptist schools closing and those that are still training our students have LOW numbers in the pastor, mission, youth pastor ministries majors.

All that Woodrow Kroll (of Back to the Bible fame) spoke of in "The Vanishing Ministry" is coming to fruition, in spades. In our state (Wisconsin where Baptists are small minority), we have been praying for 15+ Baptist churches right now that cannot get a pastor.

Am I in a bubble, or is this need for qualified/dedicated men a pandemic across America? If so, I might start some threads on how we might assist the calling, preparation, mentoring, and implementing more ministers to fill the gap as our older generation marches rapidly to heaven.

A common problem found in churches today is churches evangelizing other Christians - the number of attendees indicating the best church.

I moved away recently, but my former church was surrounded by excellent churches - many of them were quite large in number.
The pastor let it be known that we were not in the business of evangelizing Christians.
We didn't ignore the needs of our church fellowship but we were not specifically trying to be excellent in everything we did.
Our congregation didn't grow much... ~150-200... but we were healthy.
Our goal was reaching out to those needing to hear the Good News.

The church would integrate a bible student into the church as a song leader and/or youth minister.
They'd be with us sometimes for many years.
Not infrequently they would be given the opportunity to preach a message.
Of course there would be a learning curve...
The congregation was very accepting of the needs of others.

Part of the problem today is that we expect so much from our church leaders, excellence from the very start, that many of the young learners are weeded out very early.

Rob

 

[kyredneck]

I know you will come back and negate this. C'est la vie.

Actually, no, I won't Scarlett. IMO, each Church is autonomous and can decide their practice as they wish. If they so desire to have hard rock bands for their accompaniment, fine. Just don't judge those that prefer acaplla, and so on.....

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Actually, no, I won't Scarlett. IMO, each Church is autonomous and can decide their practice as they wish. If they so desire to have hard rock bands for their accompaniment, fine. Just don't judge those that prefer acaplla, and so on.....

And so on …. Like attacking fellow Christians with claims like, “you don’t follow scripture” and “you are a Calvinist… so you are pagan” stuff like that stuff.

So the bottom line then becomes the statement, “You go to your church and I will go to mine.”

 

[Dr. Bob]

So the bottom line then becomes the statement, “You go to your church and I will go to mine.”

That's the Baptist norm. Where 2 or 3 are gathered together, we will have at least 4 churches before long.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

That's the Baptist norm. Where 2 or 3 are gathered together, we will have at least 4 churches before long.

Maybe not in New Jersey

 

[Dr. Bob]

Maybe not in New Jersey

So we'd pray. I often wondered if ANY Christians were still in New Jersey (the state is portrayed in very negative light in media, movies, et al). Thought maybe believers had all fled.

One of my pastoral majors at Pillsbury College where I taught pastored in Newark/Bayonne area. I had an overnight (don't get me started on Newark Airport) and amazed that instead of the "Garden State" look I had enjoyed on many previous runs thru the state, this was a very depressed/depressing area. THAT is often the part people think of when you say New Jersey not downstate or west on I-80 (very lovely regions)

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

So we'd pray. I often wondered if ANY Christians were still in New Jersey (the state is portrayed in very negative light in media, movies, et al). Thought maybe believers had all fled.

One of my pastoral majors at Pillsbury College where I taught pastored in Newark/Bayonne area. I had an overnight (don't get me started on Newark Airport) and amazed that instead of the "Garden State" look I had enjoyed on many previous runs thru the state, this was a very depressed/depressing area. THAT is often the part people think of when you say New Jersey not downstate or west on I-80 (very lovely regions)

I live West on I80… several years ago now most of the Baptist churches began to change their names in an effort to entice the RC’s to join. Pathetic. The Methodists, Presbyterians & Episcopals all went liberal, then Woke, then closed their doors. There are still some Lutherans but not many. There is an OPC and they still attract very Orthodox Presbys but that’s slow now. We still have plenty of RC’s of different varieties if you happen to be Polish. Greek, Irish, Italian or blended. There is one big woke Methodist church here who has even started a Saturday mass like service to draw in Catholics (can you imagine)!