Train Leaders for Ministry

The process of caring for those who have committed themselves
to full-time service.

Paul J. Bucknell

Train up! | Support God's Work | Leader's Responsibility
Confirmation of the Call | Training Process | General Plan | Specific Plan
Too Many People | Summary

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Summary on Developing Leaders in the Church

Purpose

Summary on Developing Leaders in the Church concludes the series on Train Up New Leaders for Ministry by identifying key poiints to keep in mind while training/mentoring others interested in full-time ministry.

Key Points to Remember

We have gone a long distance in this article. Here are some key points.

• When God calls someone from your church, then it is a special blessing to you all.

• God holds the church leaders responsible to train new leaders that God calls.

• God will help church leaders train up new godly leaders.

• The training process is not mysterious.

• Learn and teach the overall process of training for ministry (inward and outward).

• Identify obstacles to overcome and areas of training needed.

• Appoint specific mentors for training in different areas of need.

• Keep the trainee accountable for what he or she has learned.

Not everyone will go into full-time service, but those who are trained well will faithfully serve God wherever the Lord leads them. Different churches have varying resources, but now with online courses, good training can be found fairly easily. They are worth investing in so that those being trained will not lack any good thing.

Evaluating Seminary Training

Many of those going into full-time service will need formal training because many denominations and mission organizations require it at this point, but high financial costs and ineffective training will continue to put pressure on churches to first prepare their own.

Overseeing the Next Stepper's Development

As we keep track of the training process, the church and the trainee should be very encouraged. When the outward confirmation matches the inward, then one can be sure they are ready to enter the ministry.

For example, we do not demand a perfect marriage, but one in which the couple has shown a commitment to improve their marriage. This commitment is noticed by the issues they have already worked through.

As for those who do not show themselves faithful or gifted, the church does not need to feel awkward toward them. They have clearly explained to the individual the steps of needed growth and can wait. In the meantime, focus on those who are faithfully growing.

State that you are committed to them, but without serious progress in their assignment area, that mentoring is not being most effective. Once training resumes, the mentoring relationship can continue.

One day, you will send these men and women out to serve. Or maybe they will serve right in your own church! Wherever they serve, the most important thing is to know that they are equipped to serve God wherever He sends them. You have been faithful, and they will replicate your commitment to them onto others. They are people you can trust and would want in ministry besides you.

A Leader’s Project

• Write down the name of each person who recently dedicated themselves at the mission conference, and if possible, write down what God has called them to do.

• Pray for each one by name. You might pray for them weekly.

• That is a good start, but these people are the ones Satan also wants to discourage the most. Maybe we could put them on a special ‘hot’ prayer list and get others to pray for them at least several times a week.

This concludes the 'Train up New Leaders for Ministry,' but look below for many other quality resources.

Other Leadership Training Resources

• "Training Up Leaders for Full-time Ministry" - Purchase

• "Take Your Next Step into Ministry" is the cousin article to this one but from the perspective of the person who is going into ministry.

•  "The Timeline" provides both a sample and blank diagram for those going into full-time service to fill out.

• “The Flow Explained” describes the overall process God wants to use to train in your church to equip your people for service. When a ‘flow’ is developed, well-trained leaders naturally emerge. What a blessing to have such people in ministry with you!

• “The Flow” is a slideshow that approaches the same topic visually.

• “Overview of Discipleship Materials” provides both an understanding of the three different stages of discipleship as well as free practical resources that can be used for training.

• "A Model of Leadership" shows how God met up with the same problems that we often face: incompetency, laziness, and neglect. By examining God's response to such a people in Haggai, we can clearly see a most effective leadership model that enables us to lead at work, home, or in the church.