10 Reasons Why Your Church Needs a Website

While about 96% of pastors use computers at church and many use technologies during their sermons, not that many actually have a church website. This can prove problematic since millions of church-goers and prospective church-goers search the Internet and their own place of worship’s website each day (Capterra).

If you haven’t already started building a website for your church, here’s why you’ll want to consider building one in 2022.

1. A Website Keeps Your Congregation Engaged and Active: According to research, over 60% of church-goers say that a church’s website is important in facilitating their participation at church (CRCNA.org). A website allows them to explore serving opportunities at church, connect with their congregation and community, forward helpful information to others, and more.

If you include valuable information such as community bulletins, event calendars, volunteer sign-up forms, blog posts, podcasts, recorded sermons, social media links, etc. on your church’s website, you provide great opportunities for members of your congregation to stay well-informed and active in what is happening at your church, as well as events and programs your church is sponsoring or organizing.

2. A Website Can Extend a Secure Way to Receive Digital Donations and Contributions: 49% of all church giving transactions are completed with a card nowadays and 60% of church-goers are willing to donate their tithings digitally (Nonprofit Source). With a church website, you can allow others to donate when it’s convenient for them online. You can include a secure portal that collects payments digitally on your website.

3. A Website Introduces the Public to Your Leadership and Programs

On your church’s website, you can create a page that includes bios of your pastors and co-pastors, youth pastors, staff, etc. This way, the public will know their backgrounds and what they’re passionate about before stepping foot in your church. They’ll also have access to detailed information about what types of services and programs you offer.

Having such information available online will make prospective congregation members feel much more comfortable visiting your church in person, as they will already have insight into what type of ministry they’ll experience and who will be leading.

4. A Website Can Welcome Outsiders to Your Congregation and Ministry: You can use your church’s website as a space to extend an open invitation to prospective members and those who are seeking spiritual guidance. Consider designing a home page that is positive and extends open arms and portrays a message of community and hope.

A lot of prospective worshipers may be timid or unsure about attending church simply because they haven’t been to one before and are afraid of being rejected or being perceived as an outcast. Use your website to put them at ease and express your desire to have them visit your establishment.

5. A Church Website Is Easily Promoted Through Location-Based SEO: Did you know that it’s easy to promote your church’s website online and across search engines through location-based SEO (Search Engine Optimization)? And that including location-based SEO on your website will help more people in your neighborhood or local community find your church online? It’s easy to do and doesn’t require much work to get your church’s website found online. Start by adding your church’s address, contact, and location information on your website, and then read 6 Church SEO Best Practices to Get Your Church Found in Search by Capterra to learn more about promoting your church online via location-based SEO.

6. A Website Showcases Your Church’s Community Involvement: Use your church’s website to display the reach and extent of your ministry and inspire others to get involved too, even if they aren’t current members of your congregation. Showcase programs your church oversees or supports within your community, such as afterschool programs, programs that feed the homeless, etc. You’ll especially want to highlight other non-profits and community organizations your church works with often, as well as special holiday events and programs you host each year. You’ll want to showcase that your ministry and community reach goes beyond services hosted on Sundays.

7. A Website Allocates a Central Location to Share Up-to-Date: Events Calendars, Service Programs, and Bulletins Instead of spending tons of money printing out calendars, information about programs, and bulletins, and then mailing them each month or every few weeks, you can simply upload them and share them on your website. Doing this is also better for the environment.

In addition to saving money and decreasing your paper trail, you’ll be able to easily update calendar and program information last-minute on your website in case anything changes. People will also be able to sign up for events and programs online at their own convenience, which will be much easier to organize and track.

8. A Website Can Increase Involvement in Bible Study, Reading, and Prayer Groups: When more church members know when a Bible study is being held, they’re more likely to sign up for it and show up for it. And, if your congregation can access a member directory via your website, you’ll likely see more active prayer groups and more support from the overall congregation.

Additionally, you can share handouts and information from different groups on your website, so that others can access it and become involved. Overall, with an online presence, you’ll see more engagement from your groups and be able to build an active platform where your community members can really get involved and support one another.

9. A Website Offers a Cost-Effective Platform to Reach Out to Prospective Members: Along with implementing low-cost location-based SEO tactics (mentioned above), you can also share links to your church’s website in emails and across social media outlets to reach prospective members. You can easily share blog posts and emails about new and popular programs, as well as include information about where interested parties can go on your website to sign up or learn more about your church and its programs.

Your website can serve as the central information hub for everything prospective members will need to know when considering your church.

10. A Website Provides Links to Social Media Outlets, Podcasts, Recordings, and Blog Posts—Spiritual Content People are Searching for Already: According to research, people are beginning to search for online church options in staggering numbers. Millions of people want to listen to sermons via podcast or through video. And, millions of people read blog posts too. In addition, about a quarter of the world’s population has access and regularly uses social media. (Reach Right).

You can include the type of content that people are searching for already on your church’s website. Consider hosting a weekly podcast, recording some of your sermons, or regularly sharing blog posts, or even short inspirational thoughts on your website—it’s a great way to build your online and in-person congregation, while spreading your ministry.

After considering all the benefits that building a website can bring to your congregation, church, and community listed above, you won’t want to delay building the ideal website any longer or renewing the one already built professionally.

BAPEP Int’l Network has partnered with African digital skill professionals – PlusAfri Global Network through Digital Initiative for African Ministries (DIFAM). With DIFAM you can build a professional website at a very minimal amount of money with easy payment plan. Contact the Registrar, BAPEP today via +234 913 026 7878. Let the world enjoy the grace of God over your life and ministry.

BAPEP Fellowship and Need for Christian Gathering

The purpose of the BAPEP Fellowship is to encourage fellowship among church leaders worldwide. This in itself will be a blessing. Scripture tells us that the church is similar to our bodies, “…we, being many are one body in Christ, and every one member one of another” (Romans 12:5). From this, we can conclude that our Lord does not intend that any member of the body of Christ should dwell alone. Bishops, Apostles, Pastors, Evangelists and Prophets (BAPEP) need to fellowship with others to encourage one another. Church leaders can be a comfort to one another; for the comfort that God’s grace affords us is also intended to help comfort others who share similar experiences (2 Cor. 1:3-5).

Discouragement seems to be an epidemic among BAPEP today. This stems from many factors, one of the most common of which is loneliness. BAPEP is notorious for isolating themselves in their churches and ministries. As a result, they are continually tempted to think they are the only ones who face the pressures and demands of the ministry.

The antidote to much of this discouragement can be found in deliberate and purposeful fellowship with other BAPEP. Not just any BAPEP, but likeminded ministers.

WHO WE INTEND TO BRING TOGETHER

The following seven criteria constitute the features we are looking in the lives of ministers to make up BAPEP Fellowship. These four main features determine those who would be invited:

A commitment to the biblical gospel of Jesus Christ.
A commitment to expositional preaching as the steady diet of a congregation.
A commitment to the centrality of the local church.
A commitment to the call of the ministers to shepherd the souls of his people as one who will give an account.
A commitment to global evangelism and foreign mission.
A commitment to lifetime improvement through training and retraining.
A commitment to having a good and lovely home with highly disciplined children

Although members of our group may hold various positions regarding polity, baptism, and reformed theology, we decided that disagreements over these issues could coexist with enough likemindedness to make the fellowship meaningful.

WHAT WE HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH

Our main purpose is wrapped up in our name: the BAPEP Fellowship. Our goal is to gather a group of likeminded BAPEP together for the sake of fellowship and encouragement by means of teaching and discussing matters to practical christianity.

In other words, we want to wrestle together through the messy trench work that marks every faithful BAPEP’s ministry. BAPEP needs to know they are not alone as they try to care for difficult people, counsel deeply hurt people, struggle through preaching every week, resolve conflicts with leaders, battle personal sins, and attempt to love a wife and shepherd children through these pressures.

WHAT OUR MEETINGS CONSIST OF

What do we do in our times together? Here’s what a typical meeting looks like.

We will be meeting bi-monthly (once every two months), taking off December and January. Each meeting lasts from 12pm to 3pm. Each chapter is independent to choose any day of the week that best suits them. Our meeting consists of teaching, discussion, prayer and dining together.

BAPEP NEEDS EACH OTHER

Through our group, all of us have been reminded of something very important: BAPEP are discouraged and they need each other. We may head individual churches or ministries, but we are all called to the same under-shepherding task and we will answer to the same Chief Shepherd (1 Pet. 5:4). The more we can lock arms and spur one another on to be steadfast until the Chief Shepherd appears, the better off every pastor will be on that day.

What is Christian Fellowship?

The Bible speaks of fellowship often and the term used essentially means: participation, sharing, contributing. Thus, Christian fellowship means that believers are participating in something together, sharing with one another regularly, and contributing to the process overall.

Christian fellowship means that we are in partnership regarding our common salvation. Because believers are Christians due to our faith alone in the atoning work of Jesus Christ on the cross, our fellowship with one another is directly due to our fellowship with God. Therefore, Christians are never truly out of fellowship with one another. The issue, however, is how frequently (or infrequently) we choose to exercise the Christian fellowship we have been blessed with by faith in God.

One of the greatest passages of Scripture that has to do with Christian fellowship is found in Hebrews chapter ten. Many pastors and preachers have used this text to explain why Christians should not skip the Sunday morning worship services. I have referenced it in that particular application as well myself. However, as I believe you will see, the text has more to do with our mutual contribution to one another than it does with our “corporate” worship services.

“And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:24-25)

I have underlined a few key phrases in the above quote to highlight the fact that what the writer of Hebrews is telling us is that our Christian fellowship is not to be forsaken (“as is the manner of some”), but that we’re to “consider one another,” to “stir up love and good works,” and to be continuously “exhorting one another.” That is what Christian fellowship is, does, and should be! It’s not to be forsaken but to be a large portion of what we do on a regular basis.

Christian Fellowship – Christian Companionship
Christian fellowship occurs when two or more Christians are in one another’s company. The dictionary defines fellowship as “friendly association with others; companionship.” Christian fellowship, then, involves friendly association with other Christians. It means you choose Christians to be your companions.

Christian Fellowship – What Does it Mean for Me?
Christian fellowship begins through a process of adoption. Are you a Christian today? If you are, you have been adopted by God. You may have heard it said that we are all God’s children, but the truth is, we don’t become God’s children until we are adopted, through faith in Christ.

He predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will. (Ephesians 1:5)

If we were all God’s children by virtue of being His creation, then adoption wouldn’t be necessary. Ask any parents of adopted children and they’ll tell you the process is long, hard and painful! Why would God choose adoption if we were already His children? Because God longs to have you as His child, He sacrificed Himself, in the person of Jesus Christ, on the cross in order to purchase your salvation.

So if you’ve received Christ as your personal Savior and Lord, congratulations! You are now a member of God’s family.

Christian Fellowship – Like-minded Communion
After adoption, Christian fellowship grows naturally. Because it’s natural for us to want to be around people like ourselves, in time you’ll find yourself desiring the companionship of people who think like you do. As a Christian, depending on where you live on this planet, your beliefs may now be in stark contrast to the society around you. That desire for fellowship with “like-thinkers” is God-given.

If you ignore it, or think that by hanging around with “Christians” your non-believing friends will think you’re not “cool,” you deny yourself the companionship of your new family members, stunt your Christian growth – and worse, you open yourself to risk.

One phenomena common to all believers is the recognition that without Christ, our spiritual understanding was dark. Some even say, “It’s as if I stumbled in the darkness, and then God threw on the light switch.” Unbelievers are still living in spiritual darkness. While God desires that we live among them and share what we have learned with them, we are called to be separate in our choice of close companions, and for a very good reason! Paul tells us why:

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? And what fellowship can light have with darkness? 2 Cor. 6:14

If you seek out fellowship with other believers, you will find yourself surrounded by new friends who’ll think you’re very “cool” – because God thinks so, too! And through that new friendship, you’ll discover that the light only gets brighter.

Christian Fellowship – Where Do I Find It?
Christian fellowship is critical! Being in the company of people who think like you do is very important to your growth and survival as a Christian. If you live in a church-wealthy community, you are likely to find that companionship. Most churches offer some kind of small group experience that you can become a part of. If you can’t find satisfying fellowship at your church, it’s possible God wants to move you somewhere else. Consider that option and pray! God will direct your heart.

What Christian Fellowship is NOT

Fellowship is not something done alone or by yourself. It requires other Christians. At least two. It requires relationships and the pursuit of more and deeper relationships with God’s people.
Fellowship is not to be “clique-ish.” That is, you cannot have Christian fellowship if there are factions, dissentions, or animosity among believers. There can never be the mentality of “I am of Paul” or “I am of Cephas” or “I am of Apollos.”
Fellowship is more that familial relationships. Certainly, Christian fellowship can occur and does occur between two family members who both happen to be believers. But biblical fellowship is a participation, sharing, and contributing relationship with all of God’s children, which is more than just a Christian’s immediate family.
Fellowship has nothing to do with non-believers (non-Christians). There is no fellowship between light and darkness, good and evil, or God and the devil. Therefore, Christians do not have fellowship with people who reject Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. Non-Christians are our mission field, not our table of fellowship!
Fellowship is not merely “attendance” at a church function or even a Sunday worship service. This is especially true in larger churches where there are more people than can usually be counted. In many churches today, a person can show up to church, sit down in a pew, sing songs, pray, and leave without having any meaningful conversation with other people in the building. No, Christian fellowship is much more than mere church attendance.
Christian fellowship does not allow sin to go unchecked in a believer’s life. Both 1 Corinthians 5:1-12 and 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15 are commands given to the local church as a whole to withdraw from fellowship, altogether, from people in the church living in unrepented sin. Again, there is no fellowship between sin and holiness. Christian fellowship is hindered by sin between brothers, in a similar way as an individual Christian’s walk with the Lord is hindered by unrepented sin.
Christian fellowship is more than, for example, a group of Christian men watching football. Biblical fellowship is more than being in the same room or same facility. Christian fellowship must possess the factors I outline below.

What Christian Fellowship is:

Fellowship is the common enjoyment that Christians have and experience in our common worship of God the Father, through in Jesus Christ, and in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Christian fellowship is a constant process of encouraging one another in our walks with the Lord and exhorting each other to holy living.
Christian fellowship involves the exposing of sin, not the hiding of it. I do believe that this truth about Christian fellowship is my favorite one on this list. Prior to becoming a pastor, I used to be involved in a small accountability group with three other men from the church I attended. We met every Wednesday morning at a Starbucks for about an hour or so. We then went to another brother’s home for a Bible study before we all went to work at 8:00 am. For that first hour we asked each other questions, such as: A) How did you treat your wife this past week?, B) Have you viewed on pornography on the internet?, C) How was your prayer life this past week?, D) What sins did you struggle with this past week? For us, it was a challenging time to expose any sin in ourselves and in one another, to confess it publicly to one another, and repent of it altogether. Those were blessed times!
Fellowship involves bearing up one another’s burdens. Christians are to help each other and meet each other’s needs. This is not only encouraging and helpful to one another, but it is a great testimony to the world around us. Jesus said this: “Let you light shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).
Christian fellowship is ministry to one another. This is similar to the point immediately above, but there is a sense in which “just being there with us” is a tremendous answer to prayer, and a fellow Christian who makes the decision to be present in fellowship is a wonderful ministry to God’s people. In fact, I love it when other Christians minister to my life, heart and soul as they encourage me to live for the glory of God alone when we are fellowshipping with one another. Ministry takes place in fellowship!
Christian fellowship is found in the “one another” passages of Scripture. Still wondering what Christian fellowship is or looks like. Then do a Bible study on the many passages in the New Testament that have “one another” linked together. Such passages tell us to love one another, teach one another, encourage one another, admonish one another, etc.

In summary, Christian fellowship is all about being concerned for one another’s spiritual well-being. If you are one of God’s children but have been neglecting fellowship with other Christians, I encourage you to do the following right away:

Consider your sin (Yes, it is sin!)
Confess that sin to God
Repent of that sin once and for all
ATTEND the very next Bible study, LIFE group, or small group study that is being held by or at your local church.

You’ll be blessed by going, and you’ll be a blessing to many others when you show up. May God richly bless you, my beloved!

UNITY IN DIVERSITY

Unity in diversity is a phrase that signifies the unity among God’s people with diverse religious beliefs. This phrase has its origins, since ancient times, it is used by various Christian leaders to demonstrate unity among individual Christians or church denominations. Unity in diversity is used as an expression of harmony and unity between dissimilar church denominations e.g. white garments verses evangelicals. It is a concept of “unity without uniformity and diversity without fragmentation” that shifts focus from unity based on a mere tolerance of physical, cultural, linguistic, social, religious, political, ideological and/or psychological differences towards a more complex unity based on an understanding that difference enriches human interactions. The idea and related phrase is very old and dates back to ancient times in both Western and Eastern Old World cultures. It has applications in many fields, including ecology, cosmology, philosophy, religion and politics. Unity in diversity increases the morale of Christians in the church settings and the society at large. It helps to increase coordination, relationships, teamwork among Christian leaders, thus improving teamwork most especially in the area where there is need for the Church of Christ to speak with one voice. This makes spreading of the Gospel more effective most especially among the so called protestant churches.

Just as Apostle Paul wrote in first Corinthians chapter twelve verse twelve – “For as the body is one, and has many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.” The diversity in unity here affirmed by the apostle of the gifts communicated to the early Church, pertains to the Church in its entire structure. It is, in fact, the law of its composition — an identity of character and experience, combined with an endless diversity in the details. The most palpable exemplification of this law is that which is offered by the diverse outward forms in which the Church exists. It is not the visible Church which the apostle affirms to be one; but the true Church — the Church made up of the regenerated and saved, who are confined to no one communion, and are known to God alone. In this view we may refer to the visible Church as illustrating the principle of diversity in unity.

The principle, however, finds its legitimate sphere within the brotherhood of real believers. This phrase, in fact, defines the sense in which they are affirmed to be one; they are “real believers”: this makes them one. So the apostle teaches in the passage before us: The body of Christ (the Church) is one: “for (ver. 13) by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free.” It is through the anointing of the Spirit men are born again, and so engrafted into Christ as to become members of His body. This is the communicating of a new nature which makes them one, as really as the natural birth, the possession of a common humanity, makes them one. External diversities are of no consequence in either case.

The following three points could summary the need for church leaders to come together regardless of denominational beliefs:

One is a lesson of instruction and encouragement in respect to religious experience. We have seen that this is of no uniform type. Certain elements are essential, but beyond these it partakes of a very great variety. We are not, then, to set up this or that instance of conversion, nor this or that form of the Christian life, as the standard by which all others are to be tested. God has His own methods for bringing men into His kingdom. The only safe or authorized mode of trying our state is to come to the law and the testimony.
As unity in diversity is the law of the Church, it is the duty of all its members to cherish and promote the spirit of unity. The apostle points out the effect of a schism among the members of the body, as illustrative of a divisive spirit among the members of the Church. The divisions among Christians have always been the opprobrium of religion.
As diversity in unity is the law of the Church, let us try to learn what our own gifts are, and to fill each his own place. To learn what? that is, we must ask His teaching in prayer. We must consider our situation and circumstances. We must endeavour to find out what gifts and callings we have, and how they can be used to the best purpose.

In conclusion while the church is busy with so called “dogma” – a denominational set of beliefs which highlight “dos” and “donts” for individual denominational membership, the kingdom of hell is diversifying many ways to win as many as possible to her kingdom. There is no spheres of life where Satan has not penetrated. Yet his ultimate goal is to win as many as possible and draw them to hell. Satanic major strategy in the 21st Century Church is operation “divide and rule”. This strategy has worked negatively in the church and yet the church leaders are yet to realize that the common maxim which says “united we stand; divided we fall” is really working against the Church of Christ. Until the eyes of church leaders are opened, the kingdom of hell will continue to make waves in the global church. The church elders and leaders need to wake up from sleep and put aside their differences and jointly raise up their voices in one accord. I will like to conclude with Psalmist saying in Psalms 133

How good and pleasant it is
when God’s people live together in unity!

²It is like precious oil poured on the head,
    running down on the beard,
running down on Aaron’s beard,
    down on the collar of his robe.
³It is as if the dew of Hermon
    were falling on Mount Zion.
For there the Lord bestows his blessing,
    even life forevermore.

The church has not yet experience prosperity as ordained by our heavenly Father until she comes together in unity. The covenant of blessings for the church is rooted in unity in diversity. When the church sheds her pride and focus on things that bind her together which is Jesus Christ, then God of heaven would bring forth blessings like never before in the history of the church. The church will experience prosperity that would amaze the world before the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ but only on one condition – unity in diversity!

BAPEP ORDINATION -RIGHT WAY TO BE ORDAINED

The BAPEP offers a convenient process for getting ordained that is nondiscriminatory and open to everyone. Our Network allows you to become ordained both offline and online for real. Anybody who desires to become a minister is welcome! Your ordination is good for life, and does not require renewal.

As a minister, you’ll be able to officiate in churches, weddings, baptisms, funerals, and many other ceremonies. If you feel a calling to lead others, with God’s divine will and direction, you can even start your own ministry with our team of ministers. Getting ordained is a simple process. Just navigate to the ordination form to get started!

Ministerial Ordination – What does that mean exactly?

In becoming a minister, it is vital to understand the legal basis of your ordination. By completing the ordination process, you will become an official member of the clergy. Ordination can result to either good or bad performance in ministry. The very reasons why you need to select the right man of God before you allow anyone to lay hands on you. As a rule, every born again Christian ought to have a local assembly where he or she fellowships. When feel called into the ministry, your local assembly pastor or minister is in best position to do so for you. But in world where many mentor envies their mentees, the crisis of ordination continue to generate more problems. At BAPEP we have conflict resolutions committee who wave into such situation and try as much as possible in bridging the gap between mentor and mentee together. But if you feel called as an independent minister and looking for spiritual mentor, we can connect you with our senior members who can be of help and lead you into the right ordination.

What is ordination? What does the Bible say about ordination?

Ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart and elevated from the laity class to the clergy, who are thus then authorized (usually by the denominational hierarchy composed of other clergy) to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. The process and ceremonies of ordination vary by religion and denomination. One who is in preparation for, or who is undergoing the process of ordination is sometimes called an ordinand.

In today’s churches, ordination generally involves leaders or an institution who grant authority to a church leader. This can include the ordination of a Bishop, Apostle, Pastor, Evangelist and Prophet or other church leader who is given authority to lead others in various church duties. But what does the Bible say about ordination?

In the Old Testament, many leaders were ordained. Ordination had two main understandings. First, some were ordained in the sense of being set apart by God. We can see an example of this type of ordination in the life of Joseph. Acts 7:10 states Joseph was ordained or set apart as a ruler in Egypt.

The second way ordination was used in the Old Testament involved the appointment of leaders. God commanded Samuel to ordain Saul as the king of Israel, as well as later ordaining David as king.

In the New Testament, ordination began being used to appoint leaders in local churches or ministry. In Acts 13:1–5, Paul and Barnabas were set apart for special ministry. The term ordination was not used, but the same idea was involved.

In Acts 14:23, Paul and Barnabas appointed leaders who were set apart or ordained as elders of the churches. Titus was later also commanded to appoint elders in every town on the island of Crete (Titus 1:5). Titus himself was ordained as well (2 Corinthians 8:19).

First Timothy 5:22 notes that Timothy should “not be hasty in the laying on of hands.” Ordaining a church leader was an important decision that was not to be made without careful consideration. Timothy’s ordination was specifically mentioned in 2 Timothy 1:6 where Paul wrote, “For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.” Timothy was set apart as a church leader and was to continue living out his calling in the church at Ephesus.

How can I discern a call to ministry? How can I tell if I’ve been called to vocational ministry?

All Christians are called to serve the Lord and show His love to others. The Great Commandment (Matthew 22:37-40) and Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) are commands for all Christians. However, when people ask about a “call to ministry,” they usually mean a calling to serve in vocational ministry as a job, serving as a pastor, missionary, Bible teacher, or other Christian minister.

First Timothy 3:1 teaches, “If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.” It is a good thing to desire to serve in vocational ministry. The first way to discover whether you have a call to ministry is to determine if there is a compelling desire or motivation to serve Christ in this way.

A second way to help answer this question is to consider your abilities and spiritual gifts. God usually connects us with opportunities that match our abilities to serve Him and others. A person who teaches well would likely fit a teaching ministry; a musician would likely serve better in a role of leading music; a person with medical skills will likely best serve in a medical role.

A third way is to pray. God tells us to pray for wisdom when we need it (James 1:5). As we pray, God will respond through various ways to help guide us.

A fourth way to determine a call to ministry is to consider current opportunities. Are people already asking you to help in ministry roles? Do you happen to live in a place where a minister with your abilities is clearly needed? Sometimes God opens clear opportunities to show us where and how He desires for us to serve.

A fifth way is to consider the wise counsel of other believers. A pastor, church leader, or trusted friend can help you discuss ministry questions and issues to better think through the process. Proverbs 11:14 notes, “Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.”

A sixth consideration is to recognize there is high cost to serving in ministry. For example, James 3:1 says, “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.” Vocational ministers are called to closer scrutiny and a higher standard than others.

A call to ministry also involves the affirmation of others at some point. Whether your local church or another Christian organization, acceptance with a group of believers offers strong confirmation that God has called you to serve in a vocational role to use your gifts to serve Him in a particular way.

Each person’s calling is unique, yet Scripture offers several principles to assist. We need not rush, but rather patiently and carefully consider God’s calling when we consider serving Him in vocational ministry.