10/08/2026
"We should accept a lack of formal education, but we absolutely should not accept a lack of effort. While we champion the uncredentialed but faithful man, we must fiercely guard against the opposite extreme: pastoral laziness masquerading as spiritual reliance. True humility recognizes that we never know as much as we think we do. A man of God, even if he is the primary teacher in his village, must never graduate from being a student of the Scriptures. He should always be a student of the Word.
Unfortunately, it is common to hear some men use the language of an almost mystical and irrevocable “call” on their lives as a shield against accountability and an excuse for intellectual laziness. They treat this supposed calling as a free pass that exempts them from the rigorous study of God’s Word. But we must be biblically precise. In the New Testament, the Greek word for “calling” (klēsis or the verb kaleō) overwhelmingly refers to God’s effectual call to salvation—calling believers out of darkness and into His marvelous light (Romans 1:6, Ephesians 4:1).
When the New Testament speaks of pastoral leadership, it does not rely on the language of a mystical, unquestionable voice that bypasses diligent preparation. Instead, it emphasizes a God-given desire and a willing aspiration. Paul writes, “If anyone aspires to be an overseer, he desires a noble work” (1 Timothy 3:1).
Pastoral ministry is driven by a profound, God-given desire to feed the flock, not a mysterious “calling” that allows a man to bypass the hard work of biblical study."
Excerpt from the article:
You Have to Start Somewhere: Reclaiming the Biblical Standard for Pastoral Qualifications in Missions/ A Biblical Model for Integrity Over Institutions in Global Missions
Read the full article here: https://biblicalchristianmissionary.org/you-have-to-start-somewhere-reclaiming-the-biblical-standard-for-pastoral-qualifications-in-missions/
Images of team member Frantzdy Francois and Legliz Batis Avila la, in Avila, outside of Pedernales Dominican Republic