Steps You Need to Take to Become a Pastor
You are attracted to the idea of taking a leadership role in ministry. Maybe you’ve felt this tugging at your heart for some time. You can’t deny it anymore. You have a calling to become a pastor.
The pastoral career path, or vocation for those uniquely suited to it, is an attractive one for many reasons:
- The joy of opening the Word to others through teaching.
- The joy of bringing the Gospel of Christ to the world through church growth .
- Adventures in exploring different cultures through mission work.
- The satisfaction of helping others overcome spiritual and emotional pain through counseling.
- A sense of accomplishment in leading others in ministry and multiplying your impact.
Pastoral careers attract those who have a strong, God-given desire to not only participate in ministry but also be closely involved in church administration and ministry organizations demo spaceman. The decisions you make at this level can impact generations of students.
This is a lifestyle that may be right for you. This is also a decent life. The average salary for a full-time pastor is about $50,000 per year. Of course, this varies greatly depending on where you work and live. Pastors can earn more income, certainly enough to support their families.
But how to get there from here?
You may have experience in ministry. Maybe some college education. It may seem like you have a long way to go, but be patient. You don’t have to take a big leap to become a pastor. Just take it one step at a time.
1. Explore your calling in the Word.
Whether you’re new to the Bible or have been reading it your whole life, it’s a good idea to open it with fresh eyes to explore your calling.
How do the leadership stories in the Old Testament speak to you?
- Imagine Moses’ fear when God called him to deliver His people from the Egyptians (Exodus 3).
- Inspired by Deborah’s courage (Judge 4).
- Read the story of King David’s failure to lead with integrity (2 Samuel 11-12).
What do you see in the examples of Jesus’ disciples building the church in the New Testament?
Put yourself in the shoes of the men and women of the early church as they carried the Gospel throughout the world known in the Book of Acts.
Imagine the burden of the Apostle Paul as he provided leadership through his letters.
You read the Bible differently when you realize that the Bible’s leaders were just like you. They have weaknesses, but they are called. They make bold decisions to accept leadership challenges and make many mistakes in the process.
This is why Bible study is essential to any ministry or pastoral care program at CCCTS. It not only provides knowledge that you will share with others. The Bible also gives you a deeper understanding of yourself through God’s perspective.
2. Decide what kind of pastor you want to be.
While you may have a specific idea of what a pastor is based on your personal experience, there are many career options available to you when you become a pastor.
Here are some options:
Teacher
If you are specifically interested in teaching, you may or may not focus on teaching from the Word in a church setting. Many people become pastors to establish an authoritative voice on the Bible, then use that voice in more academic settings.
For example, it is very common for pastors to serve small churches or part-time ministries while teaching the Bible at community colleges or universities. Or you might choose to be a “teaching pastor,” whose church focus is small group study or training, rather than preaching.
Church Founder
You may want to become a pastor specifically because you want to expand the reach and influence of the church. As a church planter, you will become a pastor with the skills necessary to recruit leaders, attract people, and gather resources.
Church planters may become senior pastors of the churches they plant or train local leaders to take over. With new leadership in place, the church planter can then move on to the next project and continue expanding the church.
Counselor
As a counselor ordained minister, you can work in a variety of work settings. You may be placed in charge of the counseling program at your church as a member of the pastoral team. Or, you could work at a Christian counseling center or other ministry.
A chaplain is a specific type of pastoral counselor, often working for a secular institution where there is a need for pastoral care services. This includes the military, prisons, hospitals, government agencies, police and fire departments, and more.
Missionary
You may be called to utilize your pastoral training on the mission field. The context in which you work could be anything from a church-funded social service program to a relational ministry that brings Christ to the unchurched.
Although the term “missionary” often conjures up images of Christians going to other countries to preach the Word, this career path also includes urban missions in America. Missionaries are needed everywhere to bring the Gospel of Christ to a world that needs Him.
Administrator
All pastors tend to be administrators by virtue of their role, regardless of work environment. Once you become a pastor, you may be called to apply your training to an administrative position in a business or nonprofit organization.
At CCCTS, we call this market servicing. While the specific role may vary, the idea is that pastors by their calling can and should be present in the marketplace. They apply biblical values to the business world and seek to expand the church through ethical commerce.
Senior Pastor
You can also choose the path that many people think of when they hear the word “pastor.” As the senior pastor of a church, your role will touch on a little of all of the above. Additionally, you also have the responsibility to provide spiritual leadership from the pulpit.
Preaching is perhaps the most important and sacred part of a senior pastor’s duties in the church. The backbone of the church is the truth found in the Word, and those called to preach that truth have the responsibility to draw people to that truth, inspire them with that truth, and lead them to Christ through that truth.