Dear Young Minister,
Grace and peace be unto you from God our Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Not long after a young believer becomes persuaded that God has called him into ministry, another question often arises and it is that:
IF GOD HAS CALLED ME, DO I REALLY NEED TRAINING?
I have personally met some young ministers who believe that the Holy Spirit is all the preparation they need, while others fear that theological education will actually quench the Spirit or replace their dependence on God with intellectual pride. While these concerns are understandable and sometimes valid, they are not supported by the whole counsel of the Scripture.
You see, you must understand that divine call and diligent preparation are not enemies, but companions. The same God Who calls His servants is the same God Who prepares them for the assignment He is giving to them.
Try to consider the lives of those whom the LORD used mightily.
Moses did not begin leading Israel immediately he sensed God’s purpose for Him. Rather, he spent many years in Midian, where God had to break his self-confidence and taught him dependence.
David was anointed king while he was still a shepherd, yet he waited for years before he ascended the throne. During that period, God had to train his heart through obscurity, hardship, and responsibility.
Joseph received dreams from God in his youth, but those dreams were followed by slavery, false accusation, and imprisonment before he governed Egypt. The call came early, but the preparation took time.
Even our Lord Jesus Christ, though perfect and without sin, did not rush into public ministry. He lived in quiet submission for many years before His earthly ministry began. Luke tells us that He “increased in WISDOM and STATURE, and in FAVOUR with God and man” (Luke 2:52). If the Son of God embraced a season of preparation, then, we cannot run away from it.
The apostles also understood this principle. Before sending the disciples into the world, Jesus spent years teaching them. They learnt, not only by listening to His sermons but by watching His life. They observed how He prayed, how He responded to opposition, how He loved people, and how He handled success.
Please, understand that MINISTRY IS NOT LEARNT ONLY FROM BOOKS, BUT ALSO CAUGHT THROUGH CLOSE DISCIPLESHIP.
The Apostle Paul instructed Timothy:
“Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).
Notice that Timothy was already a minister, yet he was still commanded to study. The calling does not eliminate the need for learning. Rather, it gives learning a holy purpose.
Training is not merely about acquiring information, but about formation. A minister must learn how to interpret Scripture faithfully, how to guard sound doctrine, how to shepherd God’s people, how to pray, how to handle conflict, how to lead with humility, and how to endure suffering.
These lessons are never mastered overnight; they require time, correction, observation, and practice.
Kindly permit me to give a gentle warning.
One of the greatest dangers facing young ministers is the assumption that gifting is enough. A man may preach with passion and still lack wisdom, possess unusual spiritual gifts and yet be unable to lead people well, attract crowds while quietly neglecting his own soul. But when it comes to training, it helps to close the gap between GIFTEDNESS and GODLINESS, teaching us not only what to do, but who we ought to become.
Don’t think that training is confined to a classroom. God has many classrooms. Your local Church is one. A faithful pastor who corrects and mentors you is another. The prayer closet is a classroom. Evangelism on dusty streets is a classroom. Serving in unnoticed places is a classroom. Reading the Scriptures daily is a classroom. Walking through trials with Christ is one of God’s greatest classrooms of all.
IF GOD HAS TRULY CALLED YOU, DON’T BE IMPATIENT WITH HIS PROCESS.
The temptation to begin before one is even prepared has injured many promising ministries and ministers but as a young minister, reading this, please remember that public usefulness is sustained by private preparation. The deeper the foundation, the stronger the building.
Don’t pursue shortcuts, but spend time with God before you pursue preaching to God’s people.
Learn before you lead.
Serve before you supervise.
Follow before you expect others to follow you.
Those who embrace God’s training rarely regret the years they spent preparing. Those who despise preparation often spend the rest of their ministry repairing avoidable mistakes.
My prayer for you is that you will never confuse urgency with readiness.
May the Lord give you a teachable spirit, a humble heart, and a lifelong love for learning.
May He shape you into a workman who rightly handles God’s Word and faithfully shepherds His people skillfully.
Remember, God is not only interested in calling ministers, He is committed to making them.
Grace to you!
Your Brother,
Peter Jerry
