Interview 105: Called in Community: The Local Church and the Shaping of Pastoral Ministry

We continue our interviews with authors from our January/February edition of FrontLine on the theme: “It Takes a Church to Grow a Pastor.”Today’s episode is a discussion with Nathan Mestler, president of International Baptist College and Seminary in Chandler, AZ. Nathan offers us the article, “Called in Community: The Local Church and the Shaping of Pastoral Ministry.” It gives us the practical theological basis behind many of the articles in this issue.We are well aware of the growing need for more men in the ministry. Many current pastors are nearing the ends of their careers and churches everywhere are looking for new leaders for the coming years. Often, we look to the colleges for this, but Nathan reminds us that the colleges aren’t simply pastor processing machines that manufacture new pastors out of thin air. Instead, they come alongside churches to help them train the men rising within the ranks of the local churches.That is as it should be. Paul appointed elders in the churches from among the people already in the churches. All our churches should be encouraging the young men in their midst who have pastoral gifts and callings to step out in faith to enter the ministry. As Nathan says at the end, perhaps your churches next pastor isn’t even saved yet - be evangelistic, be disciple making, be active in giving men opportunities to serve, and see what God can do from our local churches.Our conversation this time was very interesting to me, I hope it provides some direction and inspiration to you as well.Before we get to the interview with Nathan, let me remind you that his article is available on our substack right away for paying subscribers. We have previews for everyone else. I hope you will join with us and support the ministry of the FBFI by becoming a paying subscriber.The Contents & Editorial for the January/February FrontLine:It Takes a Church to Grow a Pastor [FrontLine]The Article:Called in Community: The Local Church and the Shaping of Pastoral Ministry Get full access to the Proclaim & Defend Podcast at proclaimdefend.substack.com/subscribe