Acts20.com

I have been a licensed minister since 1986, in three different Pentecostal fellowships. I have never pastored and have received little encouragement and help towards that end. I'm 54. I intended on pastoring. Seemingly, i blinked and 33 flew by. No, I was never a problem for any pastor i served under. It's just that i didn't know how to go to that next step, and nobody seemed interested in helping me. Just be faithful where you are. If God wants you to pastor, it will happen, i was often told. No benchmarks, or steps were given to me to reach that goal. Is this a Pentecostal thing? I've served in churches anywhere from 70to 1000 members. In every case, there were a half a dozen licensed ministers like me attending the church. There never seemed to a focus on mentoring and helping us guys advance. In fact, in some cases it seemed the pastors were afraid of losing us. I'm 54 with a wife and 2 daughters (14 and 10). I'm youthful and energetic for my age. I have been a Spirit-filled Christian since 1980. I have advanced educational qualifications. I am bi-lingual. I am often told that I have unique insights in the word, seeing points that are often overlooked. I put others first. I do not toot my own horn. People that get to know me and see my skills are baffled that I am not pastoring. I literally am weeping as I type this. I cannot accept that it is too late. Jesus Christ is my everything. I want to reach the lost and minister to his precious sheep. But still, I do not know where to start. God help me. (Please forgive my over use of the word I)

If you are waiting for someone to walk up and tap you on the shoulder, chances are it won't come. If you really want to pastor, find a church that no one in their right mind wants, dig in, and pastor it.If you think you're weeping now, just wait.I'm not being funny. I'm dead serious. Start a Bible study and let it build into a group, a fellowship, and finally a church. It might not seem like much, but it's a start.To paraphrase a quotation, To do great things for God, learn to do small things well.Go git 'em, brother

Maybe, or maybe not. Not trying to be argumentative, but there's a reason some of these churches don't have any takers. They are pastor-killers. I wonder how many men have given up on the ministry because they came to some church with a demon-vexed church boss who crushed their desire to minister.

Call your State Overseer and ask him if he has a broken down church that needs a pastor. If you are currently licensed in the COG, he might have a place for you if you are willing to move to the back side of the desert. You might want to check with other State COG Overseers and ask the same question.

But one reason why some of our ministers never pastor is that they are never offered churches they want, those who are close by their families, or are not offered salaried churches.It stick by my original idea though. Make a place for ministry

Re: If you want to pastor...

Is my age a factor now? 5

If I remember correctly, you are not in the COG? I don’t know what “hoops” your current fellowship has, but I can see roughrider’s point. But I have been there and know the “pastor-killing” churches Da Shiek speaks of. Some folks have zero interest in growth, they just want to feel good till they go home to Heaven (that’s a whole ‘nother convo because they sure seem to lack the heart for the lost you’d expect a Spirit-filled believer to have, but I digress). The first place I was appointed was like that. I honestly felt more like a hospice chaplain than a pastor, sent to keep the aging, frozen chosen comfy till the church died.The idea of starting a bible study and seeing where it leads is a great one. But as Zechariah said, “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.” Zech. 4:10If you are open to the COG, there is currently an open opportunity in Robinson, IL. Check with Bishop Rick Whitter The World As I See Itworldjeffreysees.blogspot.com/Revuriah's Facebookwww.facebook.com/people/Jeff-Richard/1226257444Jeffrey David Richard's Myspace Musicwww.myspace.com/547856946

And I don’t believe you’re too old. I heard a preacher I enjoy, Dr. Dharius Daniels, say once the reason God put the story of Sarah having Isaac in the Bible wasn’t to encourage old ladies to get pregnant. It was to encourage us to conceive and birth something out of our spirit when others say “it’s too late”.I’m 44, and I’ve often wrestled with the thought that I’m too old. I’ve just encouraged myself to do this now The World As I See Itworldjeffreysees.blogspot.com/Revuriah's Facebookwww.facebook.com/people/Jeff-Richard/1226257444Jeffrey David Richard's Myspace Musicwww.myspace.com/547856946

You said you served with multiple pastors