The Two-Fold Challenge of Raising Up Ministers

This probably isn’t a news flash, but in case you haven’t heard, we have a minister shortage. This has been an ongoing challenge for a number of years at this point, as Christian colleges have been unable to keep up with the minister demand in churches. Combine that with early indications that we have an aging population of ministers, and you realize that this problem isn’t going away anytime soon. This challenge is multi-faceted and worth serious reflection. There are two important factors that I would like us to explore.

First, as I have worked with people considering ministry, I have become convinced that families impact whether or not a child will pursue ministry. I should also add that I have known a number of people who have gone against their families’ wishes for their future careers to instead pursue ministry and risked a lot in the process. However, when a family encourages exploration of faith, involvement in church activities, and the freedom to dream about how one might serve in the church, the impact is noticeable.

You may have known families with a long history in ministry. By observation, these children have typically been involved in ministry alongside their parents and possibly grandparents. They have been encouraged to consider how God has equipped them for ministry and to invest time in spiritual and outreach activities. Their families have prioritized church, emphasizing it more than other interests and activities. Ministry is spoken of positively. When a child from one of these families does choose ministry, their families are affirming of their choice and often have an internal support system in place to help coach them as challenges arise. Words like “supportive” and “encouraging” come to my mind in describing a family like this.

However, a family does not need a long history in ministry or missions to raise children who love ministry. Parents can choose to create an environment that encourages their children to become involved in church in a deeper and more active way. Now is the time to do this, as our churches desperately need both ministers and active members. In an article published by Mosaic on August 13, 2018, I wrote, “The greatest gift a parent can give a child is permission to become the person God created him or her to be.” I believe this more strongly than ever. We need to affirm our children’s ability to hear and follow God’s leading, and we need to support them in that process. We should not put our children in the position of having to choose between pleasing us and following God’s lead.

Second, we need to remember that, alongside families, it is the church’s role to disciple and raise up Kingdom workers. There are several places in Scripture where we can see this.  In the Gospels, we notice in Jesus’s life how He surrounded Himself with disciples. Right before his ascension, Jesus gave the Great Commission: “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20, NIV). Of course, the process of making disciples is not simple. Combine that with the explicit statement to teach them “everything” that He commanded, and it’s obvious this is a long-term project. The church is called to help mature and prepare disciples for service. 

When we turn to the early church, the Antioch church in Acts 13:2-3 gives us a good example of a sending church. It was led by God to set aside two leaders: Barnabas and Saul. This was a Spirit-filled congregation that God used to become a sending church, which led to what we call Paul’s first missionary journey. Then, in Paul’s letters, he tells Timothy to “entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others” (2 Timothy 2:2). Part of Timothy’s role is to help raise up and disciple the next generation of teachers to lead the church. Since Paul helped Timothy in his development, this would be the third generation of leaders. The church's role in discipling and raising up the next generation of leaders can clearly be seen in Scripture.

When an issue is not clearly assigned, it often goes unaddressed. As our churches face minister shortages, we need to do some serious reflection about whose responsibility it is to raise up the next generation. We cannot assume that programs, or even Christian universities, are solely responsible for identifying ministers. When possible, this process needs to begin long before—both in the home and in our congregations. Once prospective ministers are identified, our Christian institutions are equipped to help train and refine them, but the responsibility does not lie solely with them. We need to consider prayerfully our roles, both as individuals and as churches, in helping the next generation become interested in serving the church.