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01. What does it mean to have "a call"?

Everybody has a call, to serve God day by day and where they are. Some people receive a special call from God that tells them they should be in a certain kind of ministry. If you receive one of those calls, you will know that you have. God will make certain of that. Jim Holm, President, MB Biblical Seminary.

Good question…I’ve always just tried to listen to God, care about the people and agendas He cares about, and looked for help in knowing what I’m good at. I care a lot about people, I think God wants me to live for others more than myself. I’m not the kind of person that can point to a dramatic “call” moment, I just am totally convinced that people need Jesus. David Balzer, Radio Producer, Family Life Network.

A “calling” is that inner confirmation from the Holy Spirit that compels you in a specific direction. It could be said that when a person does not embrace their calling they are “sinning” by refusing God’s leading in their life. Willy Reimer, pastor, Sunwest Community Church, Calgary Alberta.

This is a sense that God has given you gifts/abilities to lead a church group, and that the church community has affirmed this in you. It is important to have both the “God” factor and the “Community” factor in this. You need to take time, sometimes years to develop the sense of calling within you. But this must be affirmed broadly from your church, not just your family, but also those who don’t know you as well. David Wiebe, Executive Director, Canadian Conference of MB churches.
I understand ‘calling’ to be the affirmation of the covenant community in which you serve and worship. Allow the congregation to practice discernment for they have the gift of objectivity that is out of your reach. Let the church know your dreams and aspirations and let them give you feedback. Too many pastors have wrestled through school and training and placement. They have become miserable because they themselves discerned their calling without the collective wisdom of the community. Let God speak and call through those who you respect and have a knowledge of your strengths and weaknesses. Ken Peters, Pastor, Killarney Park church, Vancouver BC.

02. How can I find out more about whether ministry is for me?

Talk to your pastor. Talk to a Bible College professor or recruiting officer. Talk to others in your youth ministry. Try out leading a Bible study or other ministry action. Test the idea before making a commitment. Pray lots about this and see where God leads you. David Wiebe, Executive Director, Canadian Conference of MB churches.

The calling into ministry is a tricky and mysterious thing and is definitely not the same for all people. The best means of discerning if you have a passion for ministry is to get involved, volunteer, and try to volunteer where your passions lie. Most churches will be able to provide you a spiritual gifts assessment questionnaire that will help you identify certain aptitudes for the work of ministry. Ken Peters, Pastor, Killarney Park church, Vancouver BC.

A call to ministry happens when a few things collide, in a good way. Firstly, God has wired you with spiritual gifts, aptitudes and ability that equip you for ministry. Secondly, as you use your gifts, seek out the feedback, especially the very candid loving type, so that you keep growing. When other believers observe what God is doing through you they become partners in the decision to pursue a call to ministry. Thirdly there is the inward desire, your passion for the ministry God has placed before you is compelling and attractive. Finally the Holy Spirit confirms your calling. This may be dramatic, but often it is the inner confidence and peace that God give us so we can move forward without anxiety and in joy. So seek this kind of collision in you life whatever vocation you pursue. John Neufeld, Coach for Emerging Leaders, Canadian MB conference.

03. What would I do to become a minister?

Talk to your pastor. Indicate that you have an interest in ministry and ask your pastor to help you decide what gifts you have. Also ask your pastor to give you some opportunities for ministry and to evaluate how you do. Jim Holm, President, MB Biblical Seminary.

I’d get to know one for starters. I’d get connected to people around me who could help me sort what my strengths, weaknesses and abilities. When I look back to how I got involved in ministry, it was the decisions I made to get as close as possible to “the action” that I see where most helpful in sorting out future direction. David Balzer, Radio Producer, Family Life Network.

Ask yourself one foundational question, “Do you love the church as it is, with all its shortcomings and failures and bumps and bruises?” If the answer is yes, move forward, but if the answer is not yes, I recommend another vocation regardless of how skilled or gifted you think you are. If the answer is yes, talk to your pastor and get to know him/her. Express your interest in ministry. Look for opportunities to provide leadership and take responsibility like your youth group, or camp counselling. Get close to “the action” in your church. Surround yourself with people who will help you identify gifts, strengths, weaknesses and abilities. Do an internship with your church. Get an education that includes theological studies. Consider other career options as a way to round out your life. Serving in the church should bring you joy and fulfillment. Always keep listening to God. Collected wisdom of our contributors.

04. What is theological education?

Theological education teaches a person how to think, how to interpret the Bible. Good theological education doesn’t so much tell you what to believe, as it does how to arrive at what you believe. You will learn a lot of information about a lot of other people’s doctrine and beliefs, and you will learn what two thousand years of Christians believe in common. But most of all you will learn to figure out and communicate your beliefs. Mark Johnson, Conference Minister, Ontario Provincial Conference.

Spending specific and focused time getting to know God, our world and how the two relate to each other. Technically the word “theo” means God. Theology is thinking about God. David Balzer, Radio Producer, Family Life Network.

Theological education teaches a person how to think, how to interpret the Bible. Good theological education doesn’t so much tell you what to believe, as it does how to arrive at what you believe. You will learn a lot of information about a lot of other people’s doctrine and beliefs, and you will learn what two thousand years of Christians believe in common. But most of all you will learn to figure out and communicate your beliefs. It is education that primarily asks, “What on earth God is doing?” Where, when, how, why and with whom. Collected wisdom of our contributors.

05. Where do ministers work and what do they do?

Well, for starters, every Christian is a minister of Christ. I think you are asking about those who pursue ministry as a vocation or career. I will identify three ministry vocations pastors, para church workers, and missionaries/evangelists.
Pastors serve congregations. A large part of their work is equipping others to be effective ministers in the world. They need to be good communicators and leaders. Much of their energy goes to preaching, teaching and guiding the church. Care giving, counselling and dealing with critical issues and crisis also take a lot of their time and energy.
Para church workers are pastors to the world, not the church, and they do many of the same things, especially a lot of care giving, social ministry and evangelism and many of them have an entrepreneurial spirit. Para church workers usually connect the people they work with to existing churches.
Missionaries and evangelists are pastors in the world and have the particular intent of starting new churches. John Neufeld Coach for Emerging Leaders, Canadian MB conference.

Every person who serves Jesus in a way that helps others is a minister. Some people get paid for this and others do it as volunteers. Either way, a person who serves others because they love Jesus is a minister. Some ministers are paid so that they can give full time to helping others understand who Jesus is. They are paid to free them from the responsibility of having to do other work. Jim Holm, President, MB Biblical Seminary.

Most ministers are resident in congregational ministry, but there is a wide array of options which would include denominational work, para church organizations, faith mission agencies, counselling centres, drop-in’s, street ministries, shelters, food banks, soup kitchens, chaplaincy appointments for police, fire, victim services, hospitals, airports, etc. Ken Peters, Pastor, Killarney Park church, Vancouver BC.

06. What is the difference between a minister, pastor and a preacher?

A lot of people use these terms interchangeably and that’s okay. A preacher is someone who preaches regardless of whether or not they are a pastor by vocation. In our church, I have seven different people who are retired, salesmen, students, etc who share the preaching ministry with me. A pastor, technically, is a shepherd of a flock whose main function is spiritual, physical, relational and social watchcare or soulcare. A minister, technically, is someone who administers time and settings, form and function on behalf of someone for someone else. In the church the minister works on behalf of God for the congregation and on behalf of the congregation for God. Ken Peters, Pastor, Killarney Park church, Vancouver BC.

All these words could be used to describe the same person. They are interchangeable. If we had to decide the difference between them, we might say that a minister is anyone who serves Jesus, a pastor is a
person to leads a church, and a preacher proclaims the message of God. Jim Holm, President, MB Biblical Seminary.

07. What if I don't agree with my church on some things?

Most people, even pastors, don’t agree with their church on some things. The important thing is to figure out whether what you disagree with is a major or relatively minor issue. For instance, disagreeing that Jesus is God the Son would be considered VERY major. Disagreeing with the leadership structure or decision making process in your church is relatively minor. In either case, you should talk to your pastor or someone you trust from your church leadership about your disagreement. You might need to hear what they have to say, or they might need to hear what you have to say! Mark Johnson, Conference Minister, Ontario Provincial Conference.

I invite you to identify what things you are in disagreement about and talk it over with a trusted Christian friend, your pastor or another leader in the church. As long as the church is on this side of heaven there will always be room for disagreement and conflict. This in itself is not bad for it is out of conflict that we move forward and grow. Loving those you disagree with is essential for all believers, and is crucial for pastors. Ken Peters, Pastor, Killarney Park church, Vancouver BC.

08. What types of interests do I need to be a minister?

Most good pastors have an interest in staying current which means forever declaring yourself a student of the Word, a student of human behaviour, a student of leadership and management dynamics. Of course it helps to be a people person, but don’t be fooled, some of the very best pastors are introverts. Ken Peters, Pastor, Killarney Park church, Vancouver BC.

You have to love God and his people. You need to be self motivated. You need to love the local church and have a passion to facilitate a passionate Jesus encounter for people. Beyond that God will show how He has specifically wired you for the ministry He has called you to. Willy Reimer, pastor, Sunwest Community Church, Calgary Alberta.

09. Do I have to have a particular college major?

These days it seems that many effective ministers have a college major other than strictly Biblical or religious studies. That gives you some perspective about the larger world before you focus on going deeper in your vocational choice. I’m assuming if you are pursuing lifelong service you will also go to seminary or take some formal biblical studies in preparation. David Balzer, Radio Producer, Family Life Network.

The short answer is NO. College should teach you how to think, not what to think. That said, some biblical studies is very valuable. People in ministry must be effective communicators both verbally and in writing. Any major that strengthens your communications skills is very helpful. You have to have a college or university degree to go to seminary, but it can be in any discipline. John Neufeld, Coach for Emerging Leaders, Canadian MB conference.

A well rounded education is important. Frequently effective ministers have a college major other than strictly biblical or religious studies. Most also have some biblical and theological training. A seminary degree is useful before pursuing lifelong service as it helps you go deeper into the Word and ministry skills. Some churches will give preference to those who have demonstrated proficiency in religious studies including Bible classes, Christian spiritual formation classes, leadership studies and/or specific target area training; e.g. music degrees for worship, youth ministry degree for student ministries, etc.

10. What is ordination?

This is a special commissioning of a minister where the community of faith recognizes the call of God on this person to be engaged in ministry. The ministry might be vocational/full time or volunteer. However, it is very important that the church community is involved in the ordaining process, because one does not become ordained alone. David Wiebe, Executive Director, Canadian Conference of MB churches.

Ordination is when the church recognizes that a person has been gifted by God for church leadership and the church publicly affirms those gifts and invites the person to lead the church in an official capacity. Jim Holm, President, MB Biblical Seminary.

The idea and practice of ordination varies. In the Mennonite Brethren church ordination is usually the initiative of the local church, not the pastor. It involves two distinct elements. First there is a process where a lot of care and attention is given to a person’s understanding of scripture and love for the church. The second element is that of celebration, where the local congregation blessing the pastor by praying and laying hands upon the pastor as a way of expressing their trust and faith in God’s calling of the individual and that person’s obedience to follow the call. Ultimately two features mark ordination, discernment and blessing. It is not essential in Mennonite Brethren churches to be ordained in order to be a pastor. John Neufeld, Coach for Emerging Leaders, Canadian MB conference.

11. How much money do ministers make?

Generally, ministers make about as much money annually as school teachers in the same area where the minister lives and works. Jim Holm, President, MB Biblical Seminary.

They don’t “make” any…people rally together to provide them a salary so that they can be free to serve their community. In terms of what those salaries are…it really depends where you are. Check out Jim Holm’s answer. David Balzer, Radio Producer, Family Life Network.

There is no set salary for ministers. They tend to make enough to get by and not so much that they can afford to waste money. Willy Reimer, pastor, Sunwest Community Church, Calgary Alberta.