Taking the Long View of Church Planting

Students at Camp Judson

I remember where I was sitting when I was first presented with the idea that pastoral ministry could be in my future. I was 17 years old and had just finished an aptitude survey in my social studies class. When I finished, my number-one career suggestion was “Clergy: Priest, Minister, or Rabbi.” I was surprised for two reasons. 1) There were no religious questions on the survey, and 2) I had never considered ministry before that moment. Although I knew I would never be a priest or rabbi, “minister” would not leave my mind.

I carried that thought for the next six years through college and into my first career in mental health. Then it happened. My wife and I received a call from her home church. They were looking for people to help with their youth ministry. They had been praying for leaders, and our names came to mind even though we lived 50 miles away. The church asked if we would consider making the drive. We said yes. We took the first step into full-time Christian service. We volunteered in a local church. Months later, they offered me the position of youth director. I have been in full-time ministry ever since.

I have noticed a pattern when I talk to other pastors and ministry leaders. God tugged their heart at a young age to consider giving their lives for Christian service. Of course, this is only some of the time. However, it happens enough to notice a trend. Scores of pastors and missionaries talk about being called at a Bible camp, conference, in the pews, or during a season of prayer. Some were in their teens. More were between the ages of 7–12. This is remarkable and worth noting. Churches, conferences, colleges, and camps were places of high challenge. “Give your life to serve the Lord!” was the message. God moved. People responded. Pastors were trained. Missionaries were sent. Churches were planted.

For reasons that are unclear, we lost the fire to challenge children and teenagers to consider vocational ministry. Maybe it was ignorance. Maybe it was laziness. Maybe we got too busy. I don't know the reasons. All I know is we stopped.

Today, we stand at a critical juncture in our history. We must reignite the passion for gospel service in the hearts of our youth. We need to present the high and holy calling of full-time vocational ministry. You might argue, “Isn’t everyone called?” In a sense, this is true. However, some will be specifically called to serve vocationally, even at the cost of other career choices. Some will dedicate their lives to this calling. And we won’t know who these individuals are until we extend the invitation to all.

Some of our best future church planters are in junior high school right now. They are probably pushing every button, testing every boundary, and driving their youth leaders up the wall! But these may be our future leaders.

My challenge to you, church leader, is this: throw out the invitation. Take time in your sermons. Take a young person out for coffee and share what you see in them. Take the long view. These conversations may not bear fruit now but may bear fruit in the future.

God may use your words to stir something up in the life of a younger person in your life, and God may use that young person to change the world.