How old were you?

31 years old, and obligated to serve in the US Navy. I had to complete my obligation first! I have been preaching for a while now, but I will become the pastor of a church for the first time late this July.

I, too, am interested in advice for the newly ordained!

 

First, advice for the newly ordained, especially in small churches. Read "Seven Churches Not in Revelation," the name of the author escapes me, but it is a recent Lifeway publication. It helps you understand a lot of practicalities about pastoring churches, and how to avoid the pitfalls. Also read, "The Wounded Minister" by Guy Greenfield, Baker Books.

I was a retired officer in the middle of a very succe$$ful second career in industrial management (and 45 years old) when the Lord called me to the ministry. I had taught the Bible for many years, and worked in churches for many years, but after becoming a pastor, I discovered I was very naive about the way things really worked in the ministry.

In my only pastorate so far, we had mixed results. On the one hand, we had over 40 baptisms in three years in a fairly small church, we went through a successful building program (multi purpose center), and our congregation became involved in a multi-church spontaneous move of God that saw 900 professions of faith in 16 weeks. On the other hand, we had constant conflict and two church splits in three years.

Some of the people from that church have made it impossible for me to be a pastor in this area because of false accusations. The last time they undermined a candidacy of mine, a state convention official told me I had a good case for defamation of character, but even though I doubt the guilty parties are saved, I still believe 1 Cor 6 applies, and I haven't sued.

Having said all of that, I am glad God called me to this awesome responsibility, and would pastor again in a heartbeat if the doors were opened. (Because of my wife's health, moving from this area is out of the question.)
b

 

I too, am recently ordained and started my first pastorate in late March.

I'd like to add a few more books regarding being a pastor that I have come across and are excellent:
The Christian Pastor by Wayne Oates
Pastoral Leadership by Robert Dale
The Wounded Healer by Henri Nouwen

And to answer a couple of Gina's original questions: 35 and still pastoring (obviously).

Like Gina and USN2Pulpit, I would like to see the other responses here.

 

Greenfield quotes from the Wounded Healer a lot. He starts where that author left off and develops the ideas even more.

 

Excellent! I'll have to check it out!

 

I have that book. Don't quote me on it, but I think Gene Mims authored it.

 

I was ordained and began pastoring at the age of 20. Pastoral ministry has taken its toll. But would I do it again? Absolutely. I can do nothing else.

Let me recommend The Christian Ministry by Charles Bridges, Charles Spurgeon's Lectures to My Students, and Preaching and Preachers by Martyn Lloyd-Jones. These are must reading for any pastor or prospective pastor. Actually, I have a longer list than this, but this will get you started

One piece of advice? Keep your head full of God and your heart hot for God.

 

I started in 1988 when I was 25.

I am still pastoring.

Yes.

yes.

 

Called out of the business world into ministry - Attended New Orleans Baptist Seminary - Graduated 1979.

I started as a Bivocational Pastor in Adams, Wisconsin in 1980. I was 35.

Full time pastorates since then three in Missouri and one in Montana.

Still at it.

Would do one thing differently. After obtaining my Master of Divinity Degree I would have continued and studied for a Phd. in Baptist History and Theology. Then would have gone to law school to prepare for Business Meetings in local church.

 

Oh, I forgot the advice to young preachers.

Don't take yourself so seriously. When God wants to He can get his point across with a donkey. Numbers 22.

 

I began ministering at 24 and became a Fully fledged Pastor at 28.

 

Advice?

Hang in there during the tough times.

Put coins in your pocket, because you will have to spend them.