“There are so many churches without pastors today! Why are there so few pastors?”
“What’s wrong with the colleges and seminaries? They are not turning out pastors like they used to!”
The first comment and question is valid.
The second question and comment is what I want to address.
First of all, the issue is not solely with the colleges and seminaries. Yes, there are institutions of higher learning that have drifted in their emphasis on pastoral ministry, but there is a greater need.
Where should future pastors and missionaries come from? Without question, they should come from our homes and local churches. May I offer the following?
1. Every born again parent must disciple their children.
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4). Note to whom this admonition is addressed as the primary one in discipleship.
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise (Deuteronomy 6:4-7).
2. Every born again parent should long for and desire that God will use their children in local church ministry for the glory of God.
Parents:
- Live a joy-filled, grace-enabled life before your children that says, “The greatest and only life worth living on this planet is the Christ-life!!”
- Be sure to faithfully serve in the local church using the spiritual gifts received at salvation. (Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians. 12:1; Ephesians 4:11-16)
- Never criticize the ministry or the minister/pastor in front of your children. If you have an issue, speak with the pastor about it. This will also enable you to help your children to biblically handle conflict/concerns. (Ephesians 4:29)
- Speak well of local church ministry because it is the body of Christ. (Romans 12:4-5; 1 Corinthians 12:27; Ephesians 4:16)
- Put your children in places where God can speak to their hearts about ministry, such as summer camps, youth groups, mission trips; spend time around other pastors. (Romans 12:1-2)
- Prepare your children to leave home. God’s plan is to “leave and cleave” (Genesis 2:24). They can’t “leave and cleave” to their mate and/or God’s calling if you are cleaving to them. Remember, your children do not belong to you, and if they are believers, you will live with them forever in Heaven! There is great joy in seeing your children serve the Lord through their days at home and when they depart! (3 John 4)
- Watch your sons to see if they have a passion for the Word, for speaking, for leading, and for serving. Perhaps they are being prepared by God to be a pastor or missionary. Get them around other pastors; have a pastor mentor your son. If God doesn’t call him into full-time vocational ministry, he will be a useful elder or deacon in the local church.
3. A disciple-making culture should be developed in every local church.
When this happens, pastors will be organically trained for ministry. The next pastor of your church could come right out of your own congregation. Pastors, train the young and older men. Use them in ministry. Give them opportunities to preach and serve in the church. Current pastor, are you preparing men so your church will not be left without a shepherd if something were to happen to you? Do you have an exit plan, a transition strategy? If you are not training men to take your place one day, the person who eventually replaces you may end up pastoring a church that has gone too long without a shepherd.
The answer to a lack of pastors is largely in part due to our homes and churches. Let’s pray and ask the Lord to raise up godly young and old men to be shepherds in the field of local church ministry as we obey the discipleship mandate of Matthew 28:18-20.
fromapastorsheart.com 
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