Have you ever wondered if God might be calling some of your students to ministry? When I was in high school, I was heavily involved in the youth ministry programs of my church and I loved every minute of it! My youth pastor watched me grow and develop, and eventually he challenged me to consider whether God might be calling me to full-time ministry. Largely because he took the time to talk and pray with me about this, I sensed God’s call on my life and ended up serving the Lord in ministry. How would you know if God is calling students in your ministry to vocational ministry? Let me suggest five signs you should watch for:
Sign #1: A Tug on Their Heart
“Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart” (
Most Christian leaders report that their call to ministry began with a tug on their hearts. Many recall having experienced an intense desire to serve the Lord that was long-lasting and hard to escape. I remember when I was in university and asked my mom how I would know if the girl I was dating was the one I should marry. She said what most married people do: “You’ll just know.” She explained to me that even though someone can and should consider carefully the qualities and attributes of a potential spouse, careful analysis is not enough. Marriage is also a decision of the heart. A call to ministry often begins with the heart, too. Your students may not be able to describe the tugs on their hearts fully to you, but most who truly are called to ministry should have a sense deep in their hearts that God is speaking to them and asking them to do something very special with their lives. In your conversations with students, listen to them to see if they may be feeling a tug on their hearts from the Lord.
Sign #2: Circumstances
“I have been with you wherever you have gone…and I will provide a place for my people” (
Many who have entered full-time ministry say that while they felt a tug on their hearts urging them to serve the Lord full-time, they wanted to be sure they weren’t basing a life direction only on their feelings. Many wisely decided to step out in faith and test the Lord’s provision, believing that where God guides God provides. The way God uses circumstances to confirm His call is different for each person, but it often revolves around God’s provision of resources for ministry training. In my life, God provided part-time and summer work, scholarships and even a small inheritance from a grandparent to pay my tuition. I worked hard and did my part, but God’s provision made the difference between the resources I could come up with and what was needed. Challenge your students who think they may be called to step out and see if God confirms His call by providing for their needs. If He does, this may be one more sign of His direction for their lives.
Sign #3: Qualifications
“…blameless, not overbearing, not quick tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined…” (
Someone heading toward vocational ministry must possess the necessary qualifications to fulfil that ministry. There are three main areas to examine. First, examine his or her life closely. Is he or she living a life that matches what the Bible requires of a Christian leader? If he or she shows evidence of wanting to live a life that includes drunkenness, pornography, lying, cheating or other sinful activities mentioned in Scripture, then he or she will not have the required qualifications of Christian leaders mentioned in 1 Timothy, Titus and elsewhere in the New Testament.
Second, in addition to moral and ethical qualifications, he or she should also possess the physical qualities that provide strength for the demands of full-time ministry. Many Christian leaders report that one of their chief struggles is fatigue. Ministry, whether in the local church or in other settings, can require long hours. Do you see in him or her the stamina required for full-time ministry?
Third, he or she will need intellectual ability, as well. Completion of one or more academic degrees is required for most ministry positions. While it is not true that he or she has to be at the top of his or her class in order to be a good Christian leader, it is true that he or she will need to complete the required educational steps. Do you see in him or her the necessary intellectual ability?
Sign #4: Approval from Other Christians
“While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ So after they fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off” (
At some point in the discernment process, you will need to encourage your students to expand their circles. They should move beyond their conversations with you and their own prayerful consideration of what God may be saying to them and consult with others. Because the Christian life is meant to be lived in community, it is wise for them to involve others in discerning their call.
First, you should encourage your students to consult with people informally. Other Christian believers they know, particularly those with experience in Christian leadership, should be able to confirm their call. Encourage them to be careful to ask for the views of those who will speak truth to them, not just those who will tell your students what they think your students want to hear.
Second, if they are heading toward ordained ministry and are in college, you should encourage your students to seek formal affirmation from their church and/or denomination. Each denomination handles this process differently so you may need to give them counsel on this subject. When I was younger I viewed my denomination’s board as a group that sat in judgment of me and guarded the doors to my possible vocational future. As I became older and served on that board, I realized these leaders are helping local churches by ensuring that those heading toward ministry are Christian believers who are called by God and who possess the gifts and abilities necessary to pastor and lead congregations. I’ve also seen that the process of a formal application and interview can help those heading toward ministry learn a lot of helpful things about themselves. You may have to help some students see value in this process.
Sign #5: Ministry Results
“With many other words he (Peter) warned them; and he pleaded with them ‘Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.’ Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day” (
Finally, ministry results should confirm their call. At some point during their preparation process you should observe God’s blessing on the ministry of your students. Results are hard to define but usually are measured by seeing new converts to Christ and Christian believers who deepen their faith in Christ as a result of their ministry. Encourage your students to take advantage of opportunities to serve that come their way. Serving on church staff in the summer, going on a short-term mission experience or spending the summer working at a Christian camp are all excellent learning opportunities. These kinds of experiences can give your students the opportunity to see if God uses them to bring about results in ministry.
Conclusion
We’ve explored five signs you should watch for to help you discern if God might be calling one or more of your students to full-time ministry: a tug on the heart, circumstances, qualifications, affirmation from other Christians and ministry results. If you sense that a few of these may be present in someone’s life, pray with him or her and walk with the person as he or she looks for more signs. Very few things in your ministry will be more rewarding than watching one of your students hear and respond to God’s call to full-time ministry. May God give you the wisdom and insight to discover those from your youth ministry whom He may be calling to serve Him in ministry to others.
