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Hardwick

While recording a podcast interview a couple of weeks ago, the host asked me, “When did this become personal for you? When did you know, ‘We have to do something about this need now?’ ”

The question gripped my heart. The focus of the interview was on the incredible need for pastors that has become so prevalent, especially in our Acts 2:17 Vision process. Why did the issue rise to the surface in our research of Tennessee Baptists and why must it rise to the surface for me as a Tennessee Baptist pastor?

Three key points came to mind along with one glimmer of hope.

1. Right now, more than 400 Tennessee Baptist churches do not have a pastor to shepherd and lead them.

That is a staggering thought. Some of those 400 had an interim pastor. But many relied on their local sssociation leader, a volunteer within their church or a volunteer from another church just to fill the pulpit.

I know for fact some of those churches are in our urban areas. Some are in very rural and remote locations. Some of them could afford to pay a pastor, perhaps full-time or bivocationally. Some might not be able to pay a pastor. Some have a viable future. Some maybe have some difficult questions to wrestle through in terms of their future.

Whatever the circumstance, I have a conviction I believe you share: every church deserves a pastor. Whether they are facing a process of revitalization, a need to replant or new opportunities for fresh vision and growth, congregations need shepherds to guide them into God’s preferred future for them.

Together, I believe we can do something about that need.

2. More than 55 percent of our Tennessee Baptist churches have a bivocational, part-time or volunteer pastor.

God bless those pastors willing to take on such an important mantle of leadership for part-time pay or even for no pay! These men and their wives are the heroes of gospel work in our state and I thank God for them!

What that statistic tells me is we do not need to assume that every pastor we develop in our churches must be full-time. That reality could very well open the door for more leaders to consider the call of God on their lives. And, it certainly says we must think differently about how we develop pastors.

This is why I believe local church-based residencies, internships and theological training become so important. 

Not every pastor called to ministry can uproot his life and perhaps even his family to move to seminary and dedicate three to four years to full-time seminary training. While that might still be the preferred scenario, it’s doesn’t have to be the only scenario.

Together, we can make the equipping that is needed more accessible to more potential pastors and ministry leaders.

3. Passing the mantle of church leadership to the next generation was the number one concern of Tennessee Baptist pastors.

Far and away, pastors in our state are concerned about the next generation. They are concerned about their churches reaching and discipling the next generation. They are concerned about the next generation of ministry leaders being ready to take on the mantle of leadership. Many pastors know they are in the sunset years of their ministry.

The average age of a pastor has crept up to 59-60 years old. As a great generation of ministry leaders nears retirement, they are looking behind them and wondering, “Where are the up and coming pastors and ministry leaders?” “How can I help equip them?” “What is going to happen to my church?”

The concern aging pastors feel and the questions they are asking don’t just speak to our ministerial development pipelines, but also our discipleship pathways in our local churches. How are we “calling out the called” as part of our every day and every week discipleship strategies?

Together, we can reach, disciple and send the next generation.

Let me share a glimmer of hope.

God is moving on our college campuses in incredible ways! For example, the BCM at ETSU under the effective leadership of my good friend Jonathan Chapman has more than 40 students who feel God’s call to vocational ministry. Two of them are serving as ministry residents in our church! God is calling and more people of all ages are hearing and heeding that call, especially our young leaders. This is happening on all our campuses across Tennessee!

The need for pastors and ministry leaders is great and growing. Let’s take it personally and collaborate together to call, equip and send out the next generation of healthy, gospel leaders! B&R — Hardwick is senior pastor of Forest Hills Baptist Church, Nashville.