If you do not subscribe to Table Talk, from Ligonier Ministries, then you are missing some great reading.  Apart from the daily devotions, they also have some great articles.  One such article is titled, “Training Pastors in Church,” by Dr. Albert Mohler.  In this article he discusses a brief history of theological institutions, universities, and seminaries.  Then explains how though seminaries are fine institutions, the greater training field is the local church!  He writes,

“The role of theological seminaries remains crucial for the education and training of Christian ministers.  At its best, the seminary is an international gathering of Christian scholars who are dedicated to the preparation of ministers, committed to Biblical truth, gifted in modeling and teaching the tasks of ministry, and passionate about the Gospel.  No other educational institution exists to serve the needs of the churches in this way.  In that sense, a theological seminary is as crucial to the training of minsters as the medical school is essential to the preparation of physicians. 

Nevertheless, count me as one seminary president who believes that the local church is even more important to the education of the pastor.  The local church should see theological education as its own responsibility…

…[seminaries] can not replace the local church as the context where ministry is learned most directly.” -Table Talk, Feb. 08, pg.69.

This a pretty good article but I love the fact that it does not come from a pastor, but a seminary president!  And this makes good sense.  I can envision that Dr. Mohler sees many folks who are well equipped for the ministry before they even attend seminary.  While others begin with no understanding of theology and no concept of the gravity of ministry.  The common denominator - churches who equip their future ministers and churches who do not. 

It is true that many churches are small and under staffed, but is there a more necessary or higher task than teaching future minsters to be ministers?  One would say that the highest calling is to rightly divide the Word Truth.  I say that if you are going to “rightly divide/teach” (2 Tim.2:15) you are going to train/equip your people how to do the same… i.e. if your not training your flock, or young ministers, to feed themselves then your not rightly dividing anything except maybe a good sermon.  We need men who will pass truth on to those who follow us.  We need 2Tim. 2:2 ministers!

We can not simply pass this responsibility off on our seminaries.  There has never been a greater need for those in our pulpits, and behind the scenes, to latch on to these very impressionable folks and teach them, love them, and show them… the ministry.  Again this is not just for pastors, but all of us have influence.  We need to be great stewards of this influence for His glory and His Kingdom.

Well what are some practical ways we can minister to our future ministers?  Here are a few things…

  1. Take them out to eat.  Eat together!  Many of you may or may not be able to do this.  The idea is that you are talking one on one over a meal and sharing your hearts.  I would intentionally ask some very pointed questions about their understanding of life, God, relationships, etc… and just talk!
  2. Bring them home.  Open yourselves to these young folks.  They need to see how you are in your home and how one should conduct themselves with family, (i.e. how you react to aggravation, in-laws, manage your home, etc…)! 
  3. Introduce them to good books, and read some together.  Typically younger folks just read what they hear others reading (best sellers), and those are usually bad reads.  Pick out a good book and then after a chapter or two meet together and discuss it.
  4. Lastly, have them shadow you.  If you can take them with you as you make hospital visits, as you teach Sunday School, or make home visits.  If you guest preach or travel to a conference then take them along.  These things are priceless in equipping a young minister for the Gospel ministry!

I am willing to guess that many of you have excelled in ministry due to those who took time to teach you theology and show you pratically how to live it!

-Yogi Taylor