PRAY FOR THE FUTURE LEADERS OF THE CHURCH

Everywhere I travel, churches and ministries are facing the same challenge: not enough young leaders to guide the church into the future. To be clear, God is moving powerfully among this generation 🔥 There's a growing number of fired-up, bold, faithful young adults fully committed to Jesus. And yet, there simply aren’t enough who aspire to pastor churches and lead ministries. At Texas BSM, I work with many incredible young leaders. But the trend is hard to miss—many young Christians love serving in churches and ministries, while only a precious few imagine themselves leading those organizations someday.

Consider the data. Thirty years ago, the average pastor was 44 years old. Today, the average age is 56. And nearly 40% of SBC pastors are past the typical retirement age of 65. Almost half leave the ministry before reaching retirement. Here in Texas, I receive calls almost every week from churches struggling to find a pastor, music minister, or youth pastor. Occasionally, I can help. Usually, I cannot.

This is a problem we must address. The future health of any Christian movement is directly tied to the number of capable young leaders it develops today. I’m far more optimistic about small churches and movements that intentionally call out and develop young leaders than I am about large movements with thousands of people but no meaningful leadership pipeline. If the American church is going to thrive in the decades ahead, we need thousands more young men and women in that pipeline.

Talk to almost any seminary like Southwestern, where I teach, and you’ll hear the same concern. Many students say they want to work for a church, but few want to lead one. Many hope to become Christian counselors; some want to serve as missionaries. Meanwhile, enrollment in top-level M.Div. programs continues to decline year after year.

Why is this happening? Several factors are at play. Gen Z tends to be more risk-averse and financially conservative than previous generations. And many view vocational ministry as an uncertain financial future. (In reality, many future church leaders will be bivocational, earning income beyond the church budget.) Moreover, many young adults fear the burden of being “in charge.” Add to that the broader culture’s negative view of Christian leadership, and hesitation is understandable. The good news is that these fears can be addressed through intentional discipleship. When current leaders mentor future leaders, they help them navigate doubts and build confidence.

But there’s an even bigger issue: churches aren’t asking.

There was a time when churches regularly invited people to consider ministry leadership. Over time, that practice faded. When I was young, churches often included a decision time—or “invitation”—after every sermon. Most weeks, three clear invitations were given: to follow Jesus, to recommit one’s life to Christ, or to step into ministry leadership. Churches intentionally sought to “call out the called,” and many responded.

In earlier generations, pastors also took personal responsibility for developing young preachers. If a high school student expressed interest in ministry, a pastor might take him under his wing and give him opportunities to preach. It was common for pastors to preach multiple times each week—Sunday morning, Sunday evening, and Wednesday evening—creating space for aspiring teachers to gain experience, receive feedback, and grow. Today, most pastors preach only on Sunday mornings, and congregations expect a higher level of polish. As a result, opportunities for young preachers to gain meaningful experience have nearly disappeared. Even the college students I work with who want to preach rarely get the chance.

And yet, there are real reasons for hope.

I’m grateful for leaders like Shane Pruitt and Scott Pace. In their book, Calling Out the Called, they offer practical guidance for churches seeking to raise up young ministry leaders. Shane regularly preaches at student events and boldly invites young adults to consider ministry leadership—and God has led hundreds to respond. Students need a clear, faith-filled invitation, followed by coaching and mentoring to help them take the next steps.

Are you a church or ministry leader? As you meet young men and women considering ministry leadership, offer to bring them with you on tasks. Let them watch you prepare for meetings and talks, go to meetings, and serve in various ways. Give them opportunities to serve and help them prepare. Will it be time-consuming? Yes. But it will also be one of the most valuable uses of your time.

I’m so thankful for Texas BSM’s proactive approach. We’ve created a clear leadership pathway that begins with evangelism, moves through discipleship and leadership development, and includes intentional invitations into vocational ministry. I personally invest in about sixty young campus missionaries during their first and second years of service, many of whom go on to serve in leadership roles in churches and BSM ministries across the country. It's the best job in the world!

So would you pray with me that God would continue—and accelerate—this work of “calling out the called”? The future can be bright, but we need our Father’s help to get there!

-Gary Stidham

Director of Training, Texas BSM

linktr.ee/garystidham