A college ministry friend recently posted a job opening. It was for a one or two year Assistant Campus Minister/Intern. In the past such postings had gotten 20 to 30 resumes very quickly. This time it got none, zero, squelch, nada! Not even one person responded asking for more information. I was sharing that with a friend who works for a state wide Baptist Convention. He said that was true in youth ministry and that churches were continually calling him desperate to find a Youth Minister for their church.
The county seat First Baptist Church I grew up in and was a huge blessing in my life and calling to the ministry almost never had a Sunday with attendance under 300. That was a bad Sunday! Recently, their Sunday morning attendance was 50. They have been without a pastor for several months and have not been able to find a full time pastor. They have an excellent facility and a reasonable budget. Will it survive?
Some believe that in our emphasizing the need to plant churches and talking to those called to the ministry of the need for church planters that we have blocked all other options out. I believe that is a factor, but not all of the cause of this "shortage".
Are we in the beginning of a crisis of Vocational Ministers? If so, WHAT can we do about it?
College Ministers are a BIG part of the answer. 2 Things We Must Do:
1. We must speak often and clearly about God calling some to a life of Vocational Ministry.
For a long time I believe we have not spoken of the calling to ministry nearly as much as we formerly did. As a youth going to camp every summer, I heard the speakers speak of the call to salvation and the call to ministry. I made my commitment to ministry at a summer camp. In our emphasis in sharing the call to salvation to this generation, I fear we have stopped talking about the call to ministry. When I was a youth in church, we only had a preacher and a part time song leader. I did not know of all the other full time ministry roles. It was clear from the reaction when I sang that God was not calling me to be a Worship Leader. Was being a Pastor/Preacher the only option? It was not until college that I learned there were other options.
Some Questions we can help clarify:
How does God Call someone? How do we know, if God might be calling us? What if I am not perfect and may not be the best speaker? Does God call women to full time ministry roles? What are some of the full time ministry positions?
2. We must work with those who have responded to the call to Vocational Ministry or are willing to explore it?
One College Minister I know meets every Friday for lunch with those students that feel called or are exploring it. He answers their questions. He encourages them. He brings guests who minister in different areas to meet with them. Some meet occasionally on an individual basis with those exploring God's call.
Two Resources I highly Recommend:
1. SBCcalled.com. is a fairly new resource that has job descriptions for all sorts of different ministry roles, information about seminary and much, much more. You don't have to be Baptist to look at it. We won't tell. Check it out.
2. Is God Calling Me? is a great little book by Dr. Jeff Iorg. Every College Minister ought to have one or two on their desk or in their backpack. It is a quick read and super practical. Give it to those who are exploring the call or even that you think should consider it.
I believe that College Ministers are a key part of dealing with this developing crisis. Speak about God's calling and work with those who are exploring it. You may be surprised whose heart God will touch or is already working in about his hand on their life.
Arliss Dickerson's book, Tips for College Freshmen: 124 Tips for Fun, Faith & Good Grades, is available at amazon.com/dp/B09QFB9DJ9.