Celebrating Ordination
Chuck Sackett reflects on ordination and the call to ministry, urging churches to pair careful evaluation with long-term encouragement and accountability for those they ordain.
Ministry Training & Education
Ministry Training & Education equips current and future church leaders with practical, Bible-based preparation for lifelong service. Explore resources on theological training, ministry skills, mentoring, leadership development, and building healthy learning pathways for pastors, elders, staff, and volunteers. You’ll find guidance on discipleship models, teaching and communication, ministry internships, and developing teams—so training is both spiritually formative and mission-focused. Whether you’re pursuing formal education, leading an in-house training program, or coaching emerging leaders, these articles help you grow in competence, character, and faithful ministry.
December 2, 2007
Training Second-Career Ministers: An Introduction
Six graduate-level schools share how they support nontraditional students who feel called to leave a chosen career and enter full-time church service, offering guidance for leaders considering a ministry transition.
December 2, 2007
How Hope International University Is Training Second-Career Ministers
Hope International University’s SALT program partners with local churches to create flexible, accredited five-week online courses. Churches request training topics, Hope designs the course, and an on-site mentor helps apply learning locally.
Emerging Ministry for Emerging Churches
As larger churches add specialized ministry roles, many are hiring proven volunteers from within their own congregations. Paul Boatman explores the benefits, risks, and the need for strong partnerships between local churches and theological education.
Why Scholarship Matters in the Church
Why does scholarship matter to the church? Robert F. Hull Jr. argues that faithful scholarship supports Bible translation, global mission, congregational health, and training future leaders—showing why “Athens and Jerusalem” need each other.
November 5, 2006
ORDINATION (Part 3): Lifetime Ordination
Ordination is a key event in a church’s life. Tom Lawson proposes “lifetime ordination,” a mutual relationship of accountability, oversight, and crisis intervention between a congregation and the minister it sets apart.
ORDINATION (Part 2): Assessing Candidates
This article is no longer available online, but the entire three-part series is available for purchase as a downloadable resource/pdf. Ordination Item 02971 “¢Â $2.99 Ordination needn”t be a mystery, but it should not be undertaken thoughtlessly. This six-page resource, originally a three-part series in CHRISTIAN STANDARD, explores ordination with an eye toward helping individuals, churches, and God”s kingdom. “¢ J. Michael Shannon makes a case for why ordination is practical and sensible for individuals desiring a lifetime of service in the Lord”˜s church. “¢ Paige Mathews considers a process for assessing the person who wants to be ordained. “¢
October 22, 2006
ORDINATION (Part 1): Is It Biblical? Is It Practical?
A downloadable PDF resource explores ordination and includes a sample from J. Michael Shannon’s first article. The piece asks whether ordination is biblical, practical, or necessary, and begins with a look at New Testament patterns for ministry leadership.
September 3, 2006
The Mark Project
Mark Butrum once spent Sunday mornings bass fishing, but a series of “yes” answers to serving leads him to preaching. Northside Christian Church launches “The Mark Project” to support his family as he trains for ministry.
Christian Colleges, 2005-06 (chart)
Click here to access a pdf of the 2006 Christian College Chart.
Listening and Learning
Phil LeMaster reflects on early ministry missteps and the lasting value of learning from seasoned preachers. He shares five practical lessons—from discipline and servanthood to prayer, availability, and embracing interruptions as God’s opportunities.
How You Can Help the Preacher Shortage
With a looming shortage of young ministers, churches must intentionally encourage teens to consider God’s call. Phyllis Fox offers practical ways to support calling, partner with parents, build relationships, teach Scripture, and give teens real responsibility and service opportunities.
Disney’s Disaster
Mark A. Taylor warns against delaying ministry until everything feels certain. Disneyland’s chaotic opening day becomes a reminder that creativity can be messy, hard work can cover mistakes, and determination can still carry a worthy vision forward.
Equipping Leaders from Within: We Need Each Other
As churches grow and plant new congregations, the need for trained leaders rises. Tom Jones argues for deeper church–seminary partnership to develop both more workers and better-prepared workers for ministry.
Equipping Leaders from Within: Safeguards
Hiring church staff from within can bring big benefits, but it also raises concerns about experience and theological grounding. Chuck Sackett outlines practical safeguards to equip internal hires for faithful, biblically informed ministry.
Equipping Leaders from Within: Partnerships
David Faust reflects on how Bible college and seminary shaped his Scripture understanding, ministry skills, and lifelong learning—and why churches and schools still need to partner to equip leaders well.
