Training men for ministry: learning from mistakes

Dear Editor,

We've been concerned by the recent correspondence from John Brand and David J. Randall, lamenting the lack of young ministers willing to preach three times every week.

While we believe that both writers desire the flourishing of Christ’s church, we are nevertheless concerned by the dismissive attitude towards the serious issue of burnout. We do not think the 'go-easy-on-myself attitude' David Randall mentions is common amongst the young(ish) evangelical ministers of our generation, but rather there is a recognition, often gained through painful experience, of our own limitations. Many of us have also heard from older ministers regretting the sacrifice of their own families on the altar of ministry. Surely we should learn from these mistakes, rather than repeat them?

We are also very aware of the changes in our context over the last 50 years, many of which place additional pressures on vocational ministers. Policies and practical tasks have proliferated, and with church members working longer hours and unable to volunteer as much, ministers often need to be experts in safeguarding, health and safety, and audio-visual technology as well as theology. More importantly, with a culture that has moved so far from the gospel, much more time needs to be given to connecting with and communicating to unbelievers. Good preaching doesn’t just require time in the Word, but time with the people listening.

We need to ask how we might best steward our time, energy and gifts to serve Jesus, his people, and his mission, in the time and place he has put us. For many of us that looks like focusing on making Sunday’s sermon as excellent as it can be, alongside days filled with people in and out of the church as we seek to bring the gospel to bear on their lives throughout the week. The pattern of three formal meetings with sermons each week is a tradition that has blessed (and continues to bless) many people, including some of us, but does not always meet the needs of the church trying to reach out to a secular culture.

Yours sincerely,

Adam Thomas – Pastor, Litchard Mission Church, Bridgend

Matthew Weston – Pastor, Grove Hill Evangelical Church, East London

Richard Baxter – Pastor for Outreach, Carey Baptist Church, Reading

Phil Butcher – Pastor, Grace Church Kidlington, Oxfordshire

Alistair Chalmers – Pastor, Ferniehill Evangelical Church, Edinburgh

Stui Chaplin – Pastor, Bush Hill Park Community Church, Enfield

Tim Diaper – Pastor, King's Church Flitwick, Bedfordshire

Dan James – Pastor, Eyres Monsell Community Church, Leicester

Barry Strudwick – Pastor, Moorside Church, Drighlington, West Yorkshire

John Tindall – Retired pastor