When I was finishing high school I was heavily involved in the youth ministry programs of my church and I loved every minute of it! I began to wonder if I was enjoying ministry involvement so much, whether God might be leading me toward full-time ministry. I wondered how I would know if that is what He wanted for me. If you are wondering whether you are called to full-time ministry.

Let me suggest five signs you should watch for:

#1: Tug on your heart

Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.

– Psalm 37:4

Most Christian leaders report that their call to ministry began with a tug on their heart. Many report that they had an intense desire to serve that was both long lasting and hard to escape. I remember when I was in university and I asked my mom how I would know if the girl I was dating was the one I should marry. She answered what most married people do, “You'll just know.” There is a sense that even though you can, and should, carefully consider the qualities and attributes of a potential spouse, careful analysis is not enough.  Marriage is also a decision of the heart. There is a sense in which a call to ministry is much the same. You may not be able to fully describe the tug on your heart to your friends, but most who are called to ministry know deep down that God is speaking to them and asking them to do something very special with their life.

Sign #2: Circumstances

I have been with you wherever you have gone and I will provide a place for my people.

– 2 Samuel 7:9-10

Many who have entered full-time ministry say that while they felt a tug on their heart urging them to serve the Lord full-time, they want to be sure that they weren't misreading their feelings. Many wisely decided to step out in faith and test the Lord's provision, believing that where God guides, God provides. The way God uses circumstances to confirm his call are different for each person, but it often revolves around God’s provision of means and opportunity for ministry training. In my life, God provided part-time and summer work, scholarships and even an inheritance from a loved one. I worked hard and did my part, but God’s provision made the difference between the resources I could come up with and what was needed. God can confirm his call on your life by doing the same for you.

Sign #3: Qualifications

. . . blameless, not overbearing, not quick tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self- controlled, upright, holy and disciplined.

– Titus 1:6-9

Someone heading toward vocational ministry must possess the necessary qualifications to fulfil that ministry. There are three main areas to examine in your life.  First, are you willing to live a life that matches what the Bible requires of Christian leaders? If you want to live a life that includes drunkenness, Internet pornography, lying, cheating or other sinful activities mentioned in the scriptures, then you will not have the required qualifications of Christian leaders mentioned in Timothy, Titus and elsewhere in the New Testament.

Second, in addition to moral and ethical qualifications, you should also possess the physical qualities that provide strength for the demands of full-time ministry. Many Christian leaders report that one of their chief struggles is fatigue. Ministry, whether in the local church or in other settings, can require long hours.  

Third, you will need intellectual ability as well. Completion of one or more academic degrees is required for most ministry positions. In most denominations, for instance, ordination requires seven years of  study after high school. While it is not true that you have to be top of your class in order to be a good Christian leader, it is true that you will need to complete the required educational steps.

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Sign #4: Approval from other Christians

While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” So after they fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

     – Acts 13:2-3

At some point in your discernment process you will need to move beyond your own prayerful consideration of what God may be saying to you and consult with others. Since the Christian life is meant to be lived in community, it is wise to involve others in discerning your call.

First, you should consult with people informally. Other Christian believers you know, particularly those with experience in Christian leadership, should be able to confirm your call. Be careful to ask for the views of those who will speak truth to you, and not just those who will tell you what they think you want to hear.

Second, if you are heading toward ordained ministry you should seek formal approval from your church and denomination. Each denomination handles this process differently so you should ask your pastor for advice on what the appropriate steps may be. When I was younger I viewed my denomination’s board as a group that sat in judgment of me and guarded the doors to a possible vocational future. As I have become older and have served on our board, I’ve come to realize that these folks are helping local churches by ensuring that those heading toward ministry are Christian believers, who are called by God and who possess the gifts and abilities necessary to pastor and lead congregations.

I’ve also seen that the process of a formal application and interview can help those heading toward ministry learn a lot of helpful things about themselves.

Sign #5: Ministry results

With many other words [Peter] warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about 3,000 were added to their number that day.

     – Acts 2:40-41

Ministry results should confirm your call. At some point during your preparation process you should observe God’s blessing on your ministry. Results are hard to define, but are usually measured by seeing new converts to Christ and Christian believers who deepen their faith in Christ as a result of your ministry. Try to take advantage of as many opportunities to serve that come your way.  Serve on church staff in the summer. Go on a short-term mission experience. Spend the summer working at a Christian camp. These are all excellent experiences and will give you the opportunity to see if God uses you to bring about results in ministry.

Conclusion:

We’ve explored five signs to help you know if God might be calling you to full-time ministry: a tug on your heart, circumstances, qualifications, approval from other Christians, and ministry results. If you sense that a few of these may be present in your life, pray and take steps to look for the signs. If God is calling you to serve him full-time, I pray that you will have the courage to respond to his call and I pray that you will have as much fun serving him as I have! May God bless you in your discernment process.

Options Winter 2009