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God's peace can help us live above anxieties as we learn to trust in Him!

The Lord Your Healer: 

Discover Him and Find His Healing Touch by Paul J. Bucknell

Newest! The Lord Your Healer

Discover Him and Find His Healing Touch

First step of discipleship
revive devotions
Advanced Discipleship

The Bible Teaching Commentary on Genesis: The Book of Foundations

Commentaries that specialize on training the teacher!

Overcoming Anxiety: Finding Peace, Discovering God

 

Take Your Next Step Into Ministry

Take Your Next Step Into Ministry

Understanding God’s Training Program
for those in Ministry

Rev. Paul J. Bucknell


The Next Step | God's Goals | Starting Point | Learning from others
Pursuit of Christ | Experience | Evaluation | Spiritual | Training | Relationships

The Pursuit of Christ:

Evaluating our Experiences and Training

Purpose

Evaluating our Experiences and Training is part of the Take Your Next Step into Ministry series that helps a person evaluate one's experience, knowledge and skills that are needed for an effective full-time or tentmaking ministry by going through a number of questions.

Evaluating the needs of a potential ministry

Get a piece of paper and write down at the top what ministry you think the Lord might be leading you to. Be as specific as you can but don’t be concerned if it is general like “cross-cultural missions.” As you go through this exercise, you will begin to discern areas that you need more information.

On that paper write down all the skills, knowledge, attitudes and spiritual disciplines one needs to be effective in carrying on that ministry. This is a great exercise for those who are in seminary. Many students take expensive courses without ever thinking what special training they need. The list might be long. Don’t let that stop you.


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Some of the suggestions might have to do with the area of one’s personal character. That is fine. This is fine. Just jot them down in that category.

The list will continually be updated and adjusted. We should read and talk to others to increase our understanding of what a certain position might require. For example, we might request an hour with a cross-cultural missionary to learn more about what things he or she feels is important for effective overseas ministry. Do not just accept general answers.

Ask how well prepared they were for a certain task and how they could have been better prepared. Carefully interweave that knowledge into your own list. We will discover that we are fairly well prepared in some areas but needing much more training in other areas.

This list will help you focus on and prioritize what training you need. It will also be your list of prayer requests. “God if you want me to serve those people, I need You to help me replace my anger with your kindness and patience.” Think of this list as God’s training list for you. Below are a number of categories each with their own questions. They can help you better discern what areas in which we need further training. Add other questions to suit your situation.

Ministry Skills

Bible Knowledge

Business Skills (for those in tentmaking)

Next => Evaluate your character and spiritual disciplines