We need shepherds. More specifically, we need men answering the call to be Free Will Baptist pastors. This is an across-the-board (and across all denominations) problem, part of an overall cultural shift away from the ministry. As I said a few years ago, it is “everyone’s problem.” We have a shortage of pastors.
What happens when we have too few pastors? Without pastors, churches close or become inactive. Fewer churches means fewer places for people to worship and grow. As churches close and struggle, people quietly drift away to another church or out of church entirely. Spiritual growth declines, and membership gradually falls.
We need more pastors, but how do we get them?
One: Pray and Search for Pastors
The truth is the shortage of workers is NOT a new problem. When Jesus looked at the scarcity of laborers, He commanded His followers to pray for more laborers (Matthew 9:37-38; Luke 10:2). Let us devote serious prayer to asking for more laborers.
This year, we are challenging every Free Will Baptist to pray for new pastors every day at 9:38 a.m. or p.m. (preferably both).
As noted above, this mandate comes from Jesus Himself (Matthew 9:38). We ask every Free Will Baptist to pray daily for God to raise up workers for His harvest. And while we desperately need missionaries, teachers, and deacons, no need is more essential, more pressing to the future of our movement than seeing God call more pastors.
What should we do while we wait for God to answer our prayers? Let us familiarize ourselves with the job description and qualifications of pastors (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Peter 5:1-4) and ask God to help us identify men He is calling. Then, encourage them, train them, and provide them opportunities to exercise their calling.
We began addressing this problem more than five years ago through a series of articles. I encourage you to read or review those articles to acquaint yourself with the complexities of this issue: nafwb.org/938.
Two: Support Our Existing Pastors
Refresh Counseling. A recent article from Axios noted the high number of pastors who have considered quitting the ministry. The same is true in our own ranks. The National Association began offering the Refresh Counseling Program in 2022, and to date, we have conducted more than 3,500 counseling sessions. This fulfills our belief that a laborer is worthy of his hire. Several participants indicate the program helped them through burnout and enabled them to continue, even excel, in ministry: nafwb.org/refresh.
Rekindle Coaching. Pastors, especially those in rural areas, often feel isolated. The Rekindle Coaching Program allows pastors to work with a mentor on strategy and planning. This fulfills our belief we are not meant to minister alone. It is truly an example of how iron sharpens iron: nafwb.org/rekindle.
The Shepherding Initiative. Many churches stagnate or close when they go without a pastor. The top reason we lose churches is they cannot find a pastor. Through The Shepherding Initiative, Dr. Tim York works with church members to help them stay focused on the church’s ministry. He trains them to conduct devotions or make hospital visits and keep ministry moving until the next pastor is in place: nafwb.org/shepherding.
Three: Help Shoulder the Load of Ministry
When we first shared the reality and challenges of the pastoral shortage in the March 2021 article “Everyone’s Problem,” we also shared simple guidelines for how to pray for and search for pastors and deacons. In the meantime, we must do our best to serve the local church effectively.
In short, it appears God is pushing all of us back to the principle expressed in Ephesians 4:11-12. Paul made it clear the ministry of the church was never meant to fall upon one person or even a small handful of people. Instead, we all are called to work together to edify the Body, working, training, encouraging, and modeling. As congregations, we are called to help shoulder the load of ministry, working together with our pastors to meet the needs of the communities around us through the hope of the gospel.
If we stay busy fulfilling the unique roles for which God designed us (1 Corinthians 12; Romans 12) while also discipling and training others to follow in our footsteps, Free Will Baptists will not only survive the pastor shortage, but we will also thrive!
Let’s stop treating church growth and ministry as the pastor’s job and start viewing it as our shared calling. We are, and always will be, Better Together.
About the Writer: Eddie Moody is the executive director of the National Association of Free Will Baptists.
