On the British streets of Manchester’s famed Moss Side area, in a converted betting shop that had become a church, I encountered what I can only describe as a Christian conversion. What followed December 4th 2002, the subsequent seven years of participatory discipleship, combined with nine years as a pioneer pastor (Preston, UK), shaped my understanding of pastoral ministry. Similarly, the fellowship and the movement my church came from (The Jesus People Movement)[1]formed in me an ecclesiological and ministerial pattern. The emphasis on evangelism, discipleship, preaching and church planting shaped my understanding of pastoral ministry. In this paper, I reflect upon my life journey looking at some experiences that occurred during the early stages of my salvation, together with lessons learned in the later years of my pastoral ministry. Connecting my experiences with academic literature, I have identified three responsibilities as key components to pastoral ministry.
Evangelism
The pastor as a soul winner was a concept I discovered during the embryonic stages of my salvation. Through observation and friendship with the local church pastor I developed an “image of the pastor as a missionary”.[2] I recall long discipleship walks interrupted by impulsive evangelism, bold street preaching that occurred at bus stops and the relentless home visits made to those new in the Christian faith. Frequently my pastor would end our bible discussion and coerce with a complete stranger, sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ and the need for them to attend church.
This demonstrative evangelistic drive developed in me a view of the pastor as a soul winner and became a rough pattern I later carried into my nine years as a pioneer pastor. Personal witnessing, creative outreaches and evangelistic services produced much fruit, with many of the current church leaders and married couples being converted in those early formative years. The results from this evangelistic effort, combined with the salvific need in England, provoked us to plant a satellite church in the city of Sunderland. An endeavour C. Peter Wagner suggests is “the single most effective evangelistic methodology under heaven.”[3]
This emphasis on the soul winning pastor arises as a theme among popular classic authors. Charles Spurgeon asserts that “soul winning is the chief business of the Christian minister”.[4] Similarly, more recent literature suggests shepherds are to “lead from the front by striving to set an example in personal evangelism”.[5] Jesus Christ who previously stated “the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost”[6] set this example. However, this role of ‘conversionist’ must extend to become a ‘sanctificationist’,[7] suggesting the evangelistic pastor must also become a disciple maker. Willimon remarks “the pastor not only orchestrates the gradual formation of Christians but also witnesses the dramatic transformation of ordinary folk into disciples of Christ”.[8]
Discipleship
My Christian conversion was followed by seven years of discipleship progressing through the various stages of Christian maturity – namely, convert, disciple and worker.[9] As a new convert, I recall the frosty six am prayer meetings, which became my discipleship school for prayer and intercession. I remember the one-to-one discipleship breakfasts that occurred six months after my conversion, where I learnt how to read the Bible, evangelise and live like Christ. I was counselled, mentored, trained and given responsibility, while being encouraged to continually “strive after mature Christian character and conduct”.[10] When I was subsequently launched out to start a new church (Preston, UK) the discipleship model went with me; teaching, training and equipping “his people for works of service”.[11] I walked alongside men and women; counselling, guiding, mentoring and acting as a mimetic reference point, encouraging people to “imitate me, as I also imitate Christ”.[12] Witnessing the personal growth that arose from this type of mentorship, further convinced me about the importance of promoting practical Christian maturity through the process of discipleship.
Jesus also promoted this disciple-making concept commanding his disciples to “go and make disciples of all nations”.[13]Evidently, the early apostles were commanded to teach Christological conformity and practice, “a method that will fulfill God’s plan to rescue the world”.[14] This discipleship notion is further emphasised by Kathleen Cahalan who asserts “ministry is the vocation of leading disciples in the life of discipleship for the sake of God’s mission in the world”.[15] To help with this Robert Coleman proposes eight guiding discipleship principles – namely, selection, association, consecration, impartation, demonstration, supervision and reproduction. I have witnessed the effect of this model in producing fruitful kingdom disciples.
Preaching
My Christian journey began after I responded to a sermon entitled ‘The Disciplined Life’. This communication of biblical truth played a significant role in my salvation experience and has continued to be the catalyst for personal transformation. I recall my pastors weekly preaching on subjects such as the heart, forgiveness, and destiny, helping lead me into Christian maturity. Similarly, a conference sermon entitled ‘who will go?’, on the subject of world missions, and my subsequent response to answer the call of becoming a pioneer pastor. I concur with John Stott that biblical preaching seems to be an indispensable necessity.[16] Also, having preached weekly for the past nine years, I have experienced the power and effect of preaching on a congregation. On one occasion, following a message I preached called ‘The God Transformation’, a visitor who had been a Heroin addict for twenty years, and having visited rehab four times (but to no avail), was phenomenologically touched by Jesus Christ. Simultaneously, she experienced baptism in the Holy Spirit and subsequently, the following week, completed a home detox.
Experiences like this cause me to concur that “it is the preaching of the Word, that brings faith to people and people to faith”[17] or as Michael J. Quicke remarks “preaching is God’s primary way of transforming individuals”.[18] This evangelical emphasis is further echoed in Romans 10:14 “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?”.[19] Biblical passages like these, combined with the experience I have gathered along my life journey, give merit to Lee Roy Martin’s observation that “preaching remains a dominant gene in the Pentecostal DNA”.[20]
Conclusion
Referencing my personal experiences and life journey, in particular, seven years of participatory discipleship combined with nine years as a pioneer pastor, I have attempted to highlight three important areas of pastoral ministry – namely, evangelism, discipleship, and preaching. Using academic literature and quotations from the biblical narrative, I have given evidence to support the importance of these key components. As evidenced in the biblical narrative and current academic literature, evangelism lies at the heart of pastoral ministry. Complementary to this evangelistic foundation, must be a commitment to the process of biblical discipleship and the development of mature Christians – the ‘conversionist’ must extend to become a ‘sanctificationist’. Preaching and teaching prove to be a great vehicle to help accomplish this awesome task and seem to be God’s primary way of transforming individuals. Although my assertions are defined as key components to pastoral ministry, they are by no means exhaustive. I could not explore an exhaustive list of pastoral responsibilities due to word count limitations.
[1] Larry Eskridge, God’s Forever Family: The Jesus People Movement in America, 1 edition. (New York: Oxford University Press, 2013).
[2] William H. Willimon, Pastor: The Theology and Practice of Ordained Ministry, Revised Edition. (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2016), 71.
[3] C. Peter Wagner, Church Planting for a Greater Harvest: A Comprehensive Guide. (Eugene: Wipf & Stock Publishers, 2010), 11.
[4] Charles Spurgeon, The Soul Winner (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1989), 15.
[5] Derek Prime and Alistair Begg, On Being A Pastor: Understanding Our Calling and Work (Moody Publishers, 2006), 229.
[6] Luke 19:10 (ESV)
[7] Willimon, Pastor.
[8] Ibid., 219.
[9] Leroy Eims and Robert E. Coleman, The Lost Art of Disciple Making (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan [u.a.], 1980).
[10] Prime and Begg, On Being A Pastor, 55.
[11] Ephesians 4:12 (NIV)
[12] 1 Corinthians 11:1 (CSB)
[13] Matthew 28:19 (NIV)
[14] Bill Hull, The Complete Book of Discipleship: On Being and Making Followers of Christ (Tyndale House, 2014), 25.
[15] Kathleen A. Cahalan, Introducing the Practice of Ministry (Liturgical Press, 2010), 50.
[16] John R. W Stott, I Believe in Preaching (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1998).
[17] Roger Van Harn and Roger Van Harn, Preacher, Can You Hear Us Listening? (Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans Pub. Co, 2005), 10.
[18] Michael J. Quicke, 360-Degree Leadership: Preaching to Transform Congregations (Baker Books, 2006), 17.
[19] Romans 10:14 (ESV)
[20] Lee Roy Martin, Toward a Pentecostal Theology of Preaching, 2015, 1.