Training for Ministry

Today, during our 2009 Onnuri Spirituality and Leadership Conference, Richard Foster said something along these lines – “After coming to know the Lord, Paul spent three years in the desert being trained (Gal 1:17-18) – this wasn’t seminary…this was after seminary” (my paraphrase).

He went on to talk about how the Lord taught and trained Paul during those years and how as pastors, we must be ready to go through a time of “tucking away” or being trained so that God can teach us the prayer of relinquishment. Just as Paul went through that type of training, so did Jonah, David, Job, and Abraham. And who can forget Jesus (Matt 26:39), who had to learn the prayer of relinquishment in one of the most difficult ways – through facing death.

Often times, we think that going to bible college or seminary automatically grants us the God-given-privilege to pastor and lead others. What many of us don’t actually grasp is that pastoring isn’t a job, it’s pure honor and a serious, yet joyful calling. One can’t just learn in a classroom – ministry is best learned in the field, while doing it.

I’m currently in seminary (you can read about my journey by clicking on the link) and am concurrently serving at Onnuri Community Church in the Onnuri English Ministry. I never planned to come out here and pastor at this 60,000 member mega-church – I didn’t even seek it out. Neither did I even plan on pastoring in Montreal with River’s Edge Community Church before coming to Korea.

My ministry journey has definitely been a unique one where I was given the privilege to pastor even before receiving formal seminary education. My undergraduate degree was in Biology and Religious Studies – that’s secular religious studies and science, which are definitely not bible related.

So why and how did God open the doors for me to pastor at these churches? Was it because I sent out my ministry resume to every church I could find? Was it because of my networking and interpersonal skills? What about my intellect or preaching skills? In the end, I don’t really know if it was any of those things because I didn’t send my resume to anyone and I definitely fall short in the rest of those categories. So I don’t really know how it happened, other than to say that it was God’s providence and I was always faithful in what little or large responsibilities God gave me. Perhaps it was the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30) principle that when we are faithful in the little, God will entrust us with more. But then again, who knows what other factors went into it?

Reflecting on my past years in ministry, I’ve learned so much about ministry that just isn’t taught in the seminary classroom. I’ve learned through “catching” ministry by doing it and seeing others do it. Lorenzo DellaForesta (Lead pastor of River’s Edge Community Church) and Eddie Byun (Lead Pastor of Onnuri English Ministry) have both meant so much to me and have both taught me so much that words cannot even express my gratitude. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to learn and grow.

If you are considering ministry, let me give you some advice – don’t expect to automatically become a pastor and a leader once you graduate bible college or seminary. The educational training is important and very valuable, but if God is calling you to ministry, don’t wait until you’re finished your education – start now! As you are studying theology and your Greek and Hebrew, begin to lead. Don’t wait until you’re finished, but start leading where you are. Even if you extend your degree program another year or two – that’s okay!! What’s wrong with that? Kill your pride – it’s better to learn well and graduate later, than learn quickly and graduate sooner.

Lead a small group, disciple others, etc. because if you aren’t doing it now, you might just end up like Paul, who after finishing seminary (his Rabbinical training), discovered that he wasn’t actually finished his training…it had just begun.