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10 Good Things That Aren’t Good Enough Reasons to Become a Pastor

4. You like introducing non-Christians to Jesus.

Connecting unbelievers to Jesus is one of the greatest thrills a Christian can know, and those who are fruitful in personal evangelism are a gift to a church.

But a pastor has a responsibility to both evangelize and equip the church to share their faith with those who don’t yet know Jesus. It’s the role of equipping that makes the role of a pastor more like a player/coach than just a player.

Be sure you want to coach before you retire from playing.

5. You want to be more devoted to Jesus.

Maybe the most ironic aspect of pastoral ministry is how challenging it can be to prioritize your time with Jesus.

I am not alone in feeling that my devotional life became far more challenging the day I began full-time vocational ministry. It is the number-one struggle for most pastors I know and have known.

I think it has much to do with the constant demands and distractions intrinsic to ministry. That leads me to bad reason number six.

6. You want to spend fewer hours working.

Pastoral ministry isn’t so much a job as it is a lifestyle. The pastor is on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year.

This doesn’t mean you can’t or shouldn’t have some set hours, a day off or vacation. It just means you’re likely to be interrupted by emergencies on a regular basis.

The hours are long. The work may not be physical, but it is emotional and spiritual, and it is all-encompassing and exhausting.

7. You are looking for a more stable career.

I wish I had better news for you here. I am a strong believer that longevity is important for pastoral influence.

But the sad reality is that pastors change churches and churches change pastors. One trusted researcher found that the average tenure of a pastor in America is three and a half years.

Add to that factor the harsh reality that in many churches, financial uncertainties may result in interrupted pay cycles, salary reductions and layoffs. Instability is the norm for most pastors.