Meaty Forum | Aspiring to the Gospel Ministry

Panelists: Simon Patilo: Elder at Dodoma Reformed Baptist Church, Dodoma, Tanzania               Osagie Azeta: Elder at Sovereign Grace Bible Church, Lagos, Nigeria               David Woollin: Elder at Grace Immanuel Reformed Baptist Church, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA               Nico Van Zyl: Elder at Birchleigh Baptist Church, Kempton Park, South Africa               Murungi Igweta: Elder at Trinity Baptist Church, Nairobi, Kenya               Eric Abwao: Elder at Trinity Baptist Church, Nairobi, Kenya               Osinachi Nwoko: Elder at Sovereign Grace Bible Church, Lagos, Nigeria Moderator: Dominic Kabaria: Elder at Trinity Baptist Church, Nairobi, Kenya We have witnessed a phenomena around us where many have taken positions in church services , often with mystical-sounding testimonies of “God told me to preach” or “God called me into the ministry.” Some claiming divine call can no longer be found attending church or even living as Christians. What went wrong on their path to ministry? Could it be their understanding of calling?   The calls of Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Paul seem to be go-to texts when thinking about a call to ministry. But who has witnessed a burning bush or a heavenly vision or a blinding light preluding ministry? And who would think our call to ministry on par with these biblical figures?   Yet entering pastoral ministry must be more than a career decision among a list of prospective jobs.   "The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task." 1 Timothy 3:1   Credit: PHIL A. NEWTON