Ministry - How Do I Get Started?

After nearly a quarter of a century in ministry I get asked a couple of questions more than others.  Probably the most common is, "How do I get started in full-time ministry?"  Let me attempt to answer that question by telling my story.

It was 1990, I was an incoming freshman at Kent Christian College in Dover, DE.  I was excited and young, and thought I was ready to take the world.  We were all being asked the area of ministry we felt called to.  After a lot of debate, and trying not do what I felt God calling me to do, I gave some vague answer, it would take me another year or so, and a few bumps in the road, to submit to God's call on my life to be a pastor.

Having then made it known that I was going to pursue full-time pastoral ministry, my pastor told me to do something that was a bit off-putting.  He handed me a vacuum cleaner and told me to vacuum the church hallway and clean the restrooms every day.  Then, as he walked away he said, "Welcome to ministry."  

At first I was angry, then humiliated at having to clean the restrooms every day - but I did it.  I showed up every day after classes, before going to work, and vacuumed the hallways and cleaned the restrooms of Kent Christian Center, Monday through Friday.  Unless I was out of town or sick, it was taken care of.

Looking back I had no appreciation for that task, I just did it out of respect for and obedience to my pastor.  But now, I understand and grasp the work ethic necessary for ministry, and the humility needed to do the work of serving God and His church.

When I had been pastoring for a few years I had a guy come to me and ask me how he could get into ministry.  At the time, we had a cappuccino machine in our kitchen that we used to serve attenders weekly before service.  I told him to stock and clean that machine every week.  You know what happened?  He did it!  He served, then he took on more and more responsibility, until he became my right hand in ministry.  He has long since moved away to take care of an ailing mother, but I still miss him to this day.  Because he was a "good and faithful servant."  And isn't that what we are all called to be?

So, I went from vacuuming the floors, to marrying my wife - who was a member of that church, to us volunteering on the youth staff, to becoming the youth pastors, still as a volunteer.  Deidre and I worked nearly as many hours in ministry as we did on our job as a property manager, without taking a dime from the church.  We were at the church most evenings, every weekend, and when we were not there, we were working and preparing for the next service or event.  We were there to serve, not to be served.  We then took over our first church in Florida, still basically volunteering, we were both working bi-vocational, (are you seeing a common theme?).  Then to serving on some amazing church staffs, to planting some great churches, and now getting to pastor Encounter Church.  But notice two repeating elements: volunteering and serving.

To this day we serve more than we get paid to do.  We clean closets, and mop floors, neither of which is in the Senior Pastor's Job Description.  We are willing to do the work of the ministry because we were taught that, and modeled it, by our pastor as eighteen year old kids.

So, back to the beginning, "How do I get started?"  The Bible says it like this, “Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people.” (Eph. 6:7) “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” (Col. 3:23) “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it will all your might…” (Ecc. 9:10) In other words, vacuum the hallways, clean the cappuccino machine.  In fact, here is a list for anyone wanting to start now, mop the hallways, clean the restrooms, straighten the chairs, clean the kitchen, make the coffee..., the list goes on and on.  But with every second given to serving, you are paving your road to, and building your foundation of an effective ministry.

So you get started by walking in the doors of the church, whatever church you attend.  Look around and see what needs to be done, then do it.  Not for money or recognition, because no one ever saw me cleaning the restrooms, except for God.  “…Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Mat. 6:4)*  And I can say this, His rewards are far better than I will ever deserve anyway.

If you want to be the greatest in the kingdom, be the best servant around.  

* There’s a whole separate message there.  If you are looking for man’s approval, do not pursue ministry.  In fact, read the entire chapter of Matthew 6.  Jesus is saying if you receive human recognition you will not receive his, because you have already received your reward.