In my “Christian Ministry” class we put together a “Call the the Ministry Checklist.” Basically we went through the Bible, and a number of pastoral theologies, pastoral biographies, and blog posts on the subject and noted the most common recurring marks that were given by various authors. In no particular order (apart from the first one):

  • Salvation: You must be born again
  • Christ-like character: Your life is clearly evidencing the fruits of the Spirit.
  • Deep sense of unworthiness: “Unto me who am less than the least of all saints is this grace given that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.”
  • Deep sense of insufficiency: You are asking, “Who is sufficient for these things?”
  • Holy desire: You passionately want to be a pastor with holy motives firing the passion.
  • Overwhelming constraint: It’s not an option but a compulsion: “Necessity is laid upon me. Woe is me if I preach not the Gospel.”
  • Unofficial affirmation: Supportive and confirming feedback from those who know you best.
  • Official confirmation: Your congregational leadership supports and affirms your call.
  • A burden for souls: You love the souls of sinners and long to do them good.
  • Energy: You have an enthusiasim for the task. If you lack this, get out of the way and let someone else take your place.
  • Spiritual maturity: “Not a novice.” You have a proven track record of Christian service.
  • Gifts: Ability to study, communicate, listen, organize.
  • Friendliness: You like people and can initiate and sustain conversations.
  • Providence: God is opening doors of service.
  • Patient: Willingness to wait for the doors to open.
  • Sacrifice: Willingness to suffer loss in pursuit of the call.
  • Training: A desire and willingness to receive training for the ministry.
  • Assurance: A sufficient degree of certainty about personal salvation and personal call.

What others would you add?

  • Harley Jake Schwartz

    Dr. Murray could I ask for you to expand on Overwhelming Compulsion?

    • David Murray

      What I mean is referred to in 1 Cor. 9:16. It’s not optional. It feels compulsory.

  • http://www.fsmandfsmwo.org Michael Poirier (directorfsm)

    Very good list which I will be utilizing in future prison ministry work. I cannot remember the number of encounters I have had where folks have said they have been “called” to the ministry by the “spirit”. Of course they have no training, show little or no fruit of the Spirit, their real burden is inward not outward, etc.

    I like the overwhelming compulsion one, I have never stated it like that before but makes perfect sense. Two quotes from missionaries help me drive home the point: “I have but one candle of life to burn, and I would rather burn it out in a land filled with darkness than in a land flooded with light” — Keith Falconer and “If I had 1,000 lives, I’d give them all for China” — Hudson Taylor

  • Mike John

    Dr. Murray,

    Great list. Pertaining to the fruit of the Spirit, what would you say to a young man who has struggled in the past with porn/purity even as a married man, but has a long and sustained track record of purity? Is this man disbarred from ministry or able to move forward by grace?

    • David Murray

      Hmm. Tough one. I’d find it difficult to be dogmatic on this and would probably take each case individually and try to make an overall character assessment. So, it wouldn’t necessarily rule him out, but I’d want to take a much closer look at his life and character since then.

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  • http://thoughtfortheweek.jimdo.com/ David Timothy Holdsworth

    An excellent list. One of the ones that I struggle with is perhaps the “friendless” point. It is not that I’m unfriendly, but simply an introvert by nature. I love people. I can hold conversations better than when I was younger, but mostly with people I have got to know. Is their room in the ministry for an introvert?