FOUR THINGS EVERY GRAD SHOULD HEAR
An Open Letter to the Recent Grad who Desires to Be in Vocational Ministry,
Congrats on the accomplishment of your education! No matter if you majored in a ministry-specific program, or something else, you should feel great about getting that accomplished!
Helping grads interview and onboard in a church residency we believe these four things more than ever:
// YOU ARE NEEDED. Church leaders at advancing churches (those where the Gospel is being advanced - they’re not just getting bigger in size) They are looking for a version of you 6 years from now. Seems like every day I hear a version of, “We are looking for someone who is 29-32 with 6 or 7 years of experience having built a ministry and led some stuff…”
How do you get there from here?
// YOU NEED A VISION for what your contribution might be in the Kingdom in six or seven years. I’m not saying everyone needs to be a megachurch pastor, or have a record deal, but what could your maximum effectiveness look like deployed at a local church seven years from? Who are you in your 30s fully deployed for God’s purpose and His glory through your life? Start that journey today.
// YOUR BEST/NEXT STEP is a two-year experience on staff at a church that is advancing.
No matter the denomination, theological viewpoint, or area of the country, you need to be serving in and around the type of ministry that interests you. You need to be barely in over your head but within arms reach of a gifted leader who is willing to coach you and/or has a track record of developing leaders. And by that, I mean, vocational ministry leadership.
Run towards great churches. Run towards great leaders.
Go somewhere that wants more for you than from you the next couple of years. There’s a big difference between a job and being developed.
// AT THE END OF THOSE TWO YEARS you will be hirable and potentially will be employed by that same church. It’s vital to choose wisely where you’d want to do this two-year experience. More than likely, this church won’t let you walk if they can avoid it. You are one of them; they’ve already deeply invested in you.
You may begin this as an undergraduate, online college student, post-seminary graduate, or one with no education at all. I’m less and less confident that it matters. What does matter is that you submit to someone who can develop leaders, and who wants to see you become this for the Kingdom. And give it two years.
If this resonates with you, go here and complete the application, and let’s see where it takes us.