Drew Boswell

a place for us to share ideas, talk about life, and learn together.

Mentoring Those Who Feel Called to Ministry

In the course of serving as “pastor” in various capacities I have been approached over the years by several men who feel they are called into ministry.  Since there is no fill-in-the-blank or multiple choice test one can take, it becomes more of a “feeling” or specifically a “knowing” that God has called one to ministry.

We know the Bible commands all to ministry, but there are some he calls to leadership of the flock as a position of authority. Some are attracted to this position because they desire “to lord over” people.[1] These individuals want others to call them “pastor” and crave power over people. Others want to lead and have control.  But are not ready for this responsibility, and in their “ignorance on fire” they are reckless and destroy people’s lives without even knowing it.

As an established leader you should have a heart to mentor and guide someone else into serving the Lord and His church, but where do you start? You may even feel like you “don’t have it all together” yet, and you say to yourself, “who am I to lead anyone else in ministry?” I often times feel this way, but I also recognize that the Lord has taught me many things over the years, often times because of my ignorance and pride I ran into situations and obstacles that often times were creations I built myself. I do not want another brother in Christ to do the same things.

So the following are some suggestions from someone who “doesn’t have it all together” yet and is still in a lifelong process of learning.

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Suggestions on How to Mentor 

First, just because a person tells you they are called to ministry and has approached you, doesn’t mean they are actually called. I would suggest at least a year long mentoring relationship where you introduce them like “this is ________________ and he is seeking the Lord’s will for his life.” Not, “This is __________ and he is called to ministry.” It’s hard to gracefully back out of the second one. It may be that they just want to go deeper in their relationship with the Lord, or that up to this point have not really been discipled in their faith.  What they perceive as a call may actually be a desire for a closer walk with the Lord.

I have mentored two men who because they held a position of leadership too soon and I moved them too fast went on to destroy churches and people’s lives. Be extremely careful who you give a title and position to. Watch out for your own pride in wanting “to show them off” as a person you are mentoring — watch your heart.

Don’t immediately begin with topics of study like leadership, political maneuvering, preaching, etc. – these are advanced topics. Instead, begin with determining where they are with the Lord – it has been my experience that few are very well equipped to accurately handle the Word of God.[2] So for the first six months you could focus on topics like Bible study, being a godly husband, time management, being a godly friend and father, prayer, etc.

These topics of discussion should be considered basic Christian life topics but you will be amazed at how few Christians actually are living a godly life and displaying maturity in spiritual matters among those who desire to lead others in the church.

But do immediately give them a service in the church. It should be a non-visible task that will require them to truly serve the church. If a guy Is not willing to regularlly set up chairs for a service, clean toilets, clean up after a fellowship dinner, etc. then they are not going to be worth much in ministry in the long run. If they are only happy if they are up in front of people, receiving others praise, then this will give you an early indicator of their heart.  This will also more than likely give some much needed relief for a ministry leader somewhere in the church.

But do have a plan in your mentoring. Don’t sit too many times over coffee in idle discussion. This will not help them in the long run. If they are called they are going to want to get started as soon as possible.

Now after six months of basic Christian living topics you are now going to move into other topics. After meeting regularly (even weekly) you should have a pretty good idea of the call upon their life. Even if you help them determine that they are not truly called, they will have a greater discipleship life, they will be stronger men of God in their homes and community, and their walk will be stronger with the Lord because of your mentoring. If they are not called, just tell them how you feel, and let your sessions end.

But if you feel you should continue, it is at this point that I would give them a “ministry. “ Again it should not be too visible, and how they handle the ministry will give direction as to how you should mentor them. [3]  If they are not faithful in doing minor ministry tasks, they should never be allowed to have responsibility for greater tasks that will affect people’s lives.[4]

I would suggest meeting weekly at this point and give the mentored a homework assignment in between meetings. If they are not willing to read a chapter or two of a book and be prepared to talk about it, put a lesson together, or make a visit in the hospital (or something like these things) then this will tell you where they are in the searching process.

I once had a man come and tell me he wanted to have a deeper Bible study and that he wanted to meet regularly with me. So I told him to read the first few chapters of John and that we would meet to discuss them.  I told him to let me know when he was finished with these few chapters, but weeks dragged on to months – which showed me that he really did not want to have a deeper walk with the Lord – he wanted me to do all the work and unload information on him. If someone is truly called to ministry they will do the work.

The mentoring process takes a great amount of time, so just be aware of this when you commit yourself to a man who says they feel called to ministry.  But it is a much needed responsibility that pastors bear.

It is at the one year mark (or other designated point) that the relationship changes from mentor to coach. You stop meeting regularly, and you become available for occasional questions, discussion, and moral support.  The apprentice needs to find godly friends, other than you,  who they can have regular support to make the transition to a place of leadership.

It is not an understatement to be extremely careful with who you place into leadership positions, and whom you attach your name and reputation to. It is better to be without a leader than to have the wrong leader or to put someone in a place of leadership before they are ready.

[1] Matthew 20:20-28

[2] 2 Timothy 2:15

[3] 1 Timothy 3:6

[4] Matthew 25:21

Valdosta Kids Getting Muddy

Valdosta Kids on Mission is in their second week of doing pottery down stairs at FBCV in the “pottery room.” The children’s master pieces are really coming together nicely, and each pot has it’s own personality (just like the kid making it). If you have missed it so far fear not, because this coming week we are beginning to make our second pot. This would be a great time to join it, bring a friend, or just come and see what we are up to. We are looking at the verse that says, “I am the Potter, and your are the clay . . .” and from Jeremiah where God tells him to go to the potter’s house.

Sunday, 6pm upstairs in the Children’s Building, at 6:10pm we walk over to the “pottery room.”

 

Storytelling and Teaching

Today I had lunch with a good friend and we exchanged “preacher” war stories. Sometimes the conversation was serious and at other times it was a disruptive time of laughter, snorting, and giggling. At the heart of our time together was an understanding that church work is not always easy, encouraging, or enterprising (sorry for the alliteration but I am talking about preachers).

But my friend was able to share several life lessons, one “young” preacher learning from one “not-so-young” preacher, through his stories.  It was through the use of storytelling that a lunch turned into an extended lunch, and knowledge and wisdom was passed from one generation to the next.  Before I realized it, I was learning while I was laughing.

Those that tell stories well will always have an audience.  People as a whole, (young and old) love to hear a well-told story.  Even if your topic may not be all that exciting, if you can tell a story, people want to know how it will end. If you can get them caught up in moments that can’t be easily predicted, twists and turns, and an unexpected outcome, or even if they can predict what’s coming to keep them in suspense of the conclusion, then they will listen for long periods of time (and may even learn something).

It’s been said that “there is nothing new under the sun,” but storytelling is making a comeback. There are church conferences that teach missionaries how to use it as a way of sharing the gospel.  But, as a people, we crave to sit around a fire, to feel the night air, to see the embers float into the black velvet sky, to listen, and to allow our minds to race along to a storyteller’s cadence.  It just seems to be apart of our DNA makeup.

So as a professional communicator, I find those that do it well fascinating. Even if their subject does not hold my attention, their story telling will.  So here are a few tips for those that have to stand up in front of others and speak.

1. Tell the story with passion.  The difference between a good storyteller and a bad storyteller is the good storyteller person isn’t concerned about what people will say when they speak in different voices, jump up and down, talk’n loud, or when they talk about their coon dog.

2.  Tell the story with detail.  Good storytellers fill their stories with a detailed description of smells, sounds, how things look, and are able to transport people to a moment in time and the people forget where they are for a moment.  Those details will lead to some kind of emotion.

3.  Tell a story from your life. Lewis Grizzard, Andy Grifford, Jerry Clower, Justin Wilson, etc. tell stories from their lives. When you try to tell stories about somebody else’s life that’s called a “sermon illustration” and can be found on the internet by the hundreds. When you tell a story from your life people want to know how it will end.  Just make sure when you tell the story from you life, that you give lots of details, and tell it with passion.

4. Listen to Other Storytellers. The most successful leaders are those that are lifelong learners. Listen to others and try to learn from them. Laugh, crack-up, giggle, or shed a tear, but listen and learn.

Click here for an example of a master storyteller.

Click here for an article about storytelling.

 

Staff Members and the Support of Their Church

First Baptist Church Valdosta has an interesting and wonderful tradition. When the church goes through the calling process of hiring a new staff person the candidate goes through a series of meetings where he meets with various committees and groups of people.

Eventually, on the night of the church vote there is an option for discussion by the congregation and the candidate is then asked to leave the room. The church votes, typically unanimously, and the candidate is then asked to return.

Here’s where the tradition becomes interesting and wonderful. When the candidate enters the room there is thunderous applause, smiles, and cheers. The candidate enters with thoughts of uncertainty, apprehension, and unknowing only to be met with great encouragement and support.  Then the congregation lines up to shake his hand and give him words of encouragement. What a wonderful way to begin a ministry; to begin with unanimous support and a great show of love.

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Why Staff Members Need the Support of Their Church

1.  It is a symbiotic relationship. The Lord gives churches to pastors and the Lord gives pastors to churches. If both love each other, then there is peace, mutual growth, and the church accomplishes it’s God given purpose. (Matthew 22:36-40, Matthew 28, Revelation 2, etc.) When there is disharmony, distrust, a lack of submission, or when the relationship breaks down, there is only trouble.

2.  It is a trusting relationship. Often times when a church hires a new staff member they travel great distances with their families to serve the Lord and the congregation. The new pastor must trust that the church will take care of him and his needs, and the church trusts that the pastor will do his job and do it well.

3.  It is a growing relationship. Just as congregations go through stages of growth, maturity, and changes so do their pastors. Men of God are constantly changing. While their essential theology may not change, their philosophies of ministry, ability to handle difficult situations, abilities to minister to other people, and countless other life lessons that God teaches all of His servants does change. A pastor and church change over time (sometimes for the good, sometimes for the bad).

4.  It is a relationship. As with all relationships both sides have to put forth effort for it to work. Most pastors that I know work countless hours, do tasks few want to do, and truly love their jobs. Most churches have a desire to do something great for the Lord and are looking for someone to lead them. When both work together, “even the gates of hell can not stop them.” This a special blessing from the Lord.

Your church staff needs to know that you are behind them. For one young man, his family,  and a church in South Georgia it all began with thunderous applause.

Pottery Nights in March at Valdosta Kids on Mission

 Sunday nights at 6pm Valdosta Kids on Mission will be learning about pottery from a pottery professional. They will discover how God is the Master Potterer and we are but clay in His hands (for the book of Jeremiah).

Please dress your children in old play clothes because they will be getting dirty. Our goal is for the children to make one vessel to keep at home, one to decorate our children’s building, and one to give away as an act of love.

Please note that we will walk over to the pottery room at 6:10 pm.

Don’t miss a single week in March.

"For by grace you have been saved through faith." Ephesians 2:8

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