Preachers need REAL classroom training as well as OJT

[Mark H. Stevens, Th.D]

ANSWER NUMBER SIX: Preachers need REAL classroom training as well as OJT (On the Job Training) in order to be effective ministers. Unqualified preachers are killing churches!

In too many of our churches (I am talking to Black folks) we have the ancient slave mentality that says, “I don’t need to go to school to be a preacher, I got the anointing!” Well during the days of slavery and Jim Crow we didn’t have an opportunity to go to Seminary or Bible Colleges. My grandfather was a deacon and his brother was a pastor back in the days when folks only got a grade school education and had to quit because they had to help pick tobacco. My forefathers made due the best they could under harsh circumstances. Now there is NO excuse for a preacher not getting formal training! You may not be able to afford Harvard or Princeton Theological Seminary, but every denomination should have a local Bible school. Most churches today have their own Bible Institutes or Schools. When you accepted the call to preach you also accepted the call to discipleship (training). Jesus spent 3 years training His disciples for ministry. He taught them how to pray, how to cast out devils, how to lay hands on the sick, how to carry themselves, and how to make more disciples. I am disgusted at how easy it is to be ordained in our churches. Just because a brother or sister can testify loud or run their mouth doesn’t mean they are called to preach! If they are called they will be willing to be trained BEFORE being given a piece of paper ordaining them. Remember this, if the preacher is ignorant and unlearned, then the people will be too! The gospel preacher must devote his (or her) life to purity of doctrine. Paul warned Timothy to avoid fables and old wives tales. It’s very easy for preachers to get involved in the “flavor of the month” teachings.

[Mark H. Stevens, Th.D]

My bottom line is this, WE NEED BOTH the Anointing and EDUCATION. education doesn't mean seminary in every case BUT it does mean TRAINING SOMEWHERE!!!! I am tired of the excuses..."I can't afford to go to school"...that is a lie, I watch preachers wear $300 suits to church and won't pay $150.00 for one class at a local Bible School.....see my point!

[PASTOR CHARLES E BELL JR]

I have know churchs who have turn off or not call a Pastor because they have a degree. some church what to stay the same

[PASTOR CHARLES E BELL JR]

Rev Luckett I agree Pastor Mark there are some church who dont want an ed pastor

[PASTOR CHARLES E BELL JR]

MARK I AGREE THE CHURCH HAV DROP THE BALL

[Mark H. Stevens, Th.D]

Brother I realize everyone doesn't have monet THAT is why the local church has to step up it's game and TEACH, I have a Coorespondance Bible school that is ONLY 40 dollars, now tell that 40 dollars is too much? We will pay for 200 Stacy Adams though

[PASTOR CHARLES E BELL JR]

BRO MARK I AGREE WITH OJT AND CLASS ROOM TRAING BUT MY POINT IS EVERY ONE CANT AFFORD IT OR DIDNT HAVE THE OPPT TO GET IT BUT GOD CALL THEM I HAVE SEEN MEN WHO HAVE DO NOT KNOW HOW TO READ HAVE LED A LOT OF SINNER TO CHIRST SAVE AND THIS ARE DOCTORS LAWER ,TEACHER HE MAY NOT NO HOW TO READ BUT HE KNOW HOW TO USE THE PEOPLE AROUND HIM. AND IF GOD CALL HE WILL EQUIP. AND THE PROBLEM WITH OTJ IS A LOT OF PASTOR IS SCARED OF THERE YOUNGER MINSTER IF THEY KNOW MORE THEN THEM THEN THEY WILL LOSE THERE CHURCH BUT IF GOD GIVE IT TO THEM THEN THEN THERE SHOULDNT BE ANY FEAR BUT IF GOD HAVE A PASTOR WHO CANT READ THEN WHO AM I TO TELL GOD WHAT TO DO OR WHAT I THINK YOU CAN GO BLIND TOMORROW.DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO GIVE UP ON YOU. THE WORD SHOULDNT B E IN YOUR EYES BUT IN YOUR HEART .THERE ARE A LOT OF PASTOR WHO HAVE DR. BA MA. AND LEADING THE CHURCH AND THEMSELF TO HELL . LOT OF ED AND UN ED HAVE TAKEN THE BIBLE NOT AS IT IS BUT HAVE MADE OUR OWN INTERPATION. MS VANN I UNTERSTAND BUT MAKE SURE IT JESUS WE ARE TEACH NOT SCHOOLING OR WHAT MAN THINK .AND JESUS HISTORY IS THE MOST INPORTANT TEACHING WE CAN TEACH.

[Mark H. Stevens, Th.D]

BTW while some of your are gagging on the statement "Preachers need classroom training" You missed the part I said about OJT...ON THE JOB TRAINING! Too often pastor won't let young ministers do ANYTHING but carry thier brief cases......we also learn by DOING! When I was 21 I was a Sunday School Superintendant and in charge of the street ministry, train them and USE THEM and they will be GOOD ministers!

[Mark H. Stevens, Th.D]

I'll be brief, It was when I studied Church History that I was able to see how the abuses of the Catholic Church are repeated even in the Pentecostal church, with all thy getting GET an understanding,,,,does that ring a bell? Slaves were prevented from reading, why? Because knowlege is power, a good pastor WANTS his members to have knowlge...why? So they can be more effective in ministry, Jesus poured into his disciples everyday, we MUST pour into our members so they can be effective disciples and disciple makers.

[PASTOR CHARLES E BELL JR]

ms vann you are correct but every one who preach is not called by GOD.

[Micah RaSun-Vann]

MEEEEEEEEEETOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!

I'm pentacostal and yes I want the anointing and the gifts because I want to experience all that the Father gave to the church. At the same time my heart goes out to the uneducated preachers and laypeople who adopt fads and latest techniques and teach them to the people without properly studying and adhering to the Word.

I watch countless respond emotionally to preachers who yell "Stomp on the Devil and say get out of my life", Twirl around three times and say "Devil be gone", Slap your neighbor and say "The devil's getting out of my house tonight". And we leave feeling good. But the real issue is that many of the problems are strongholds and very few preachers are studied enough to address strongholds or to say: Sister/brother you have a stronghold in your life, it's your thinking and it's going take some work and commitment on your part to get rid this pattern of thinking/stronghold. The devil is not leaving just because you scream, slap your neighbor, turn around three times, ball up tissue and throw it over your back saying "get thee behind me satan". We're going to sit down and look at why and how he's gotten entrance into your life and what you're doing or thinking that is allowing him to take up residence. We're going to the Word to see what the Lord says about this issue and we're going to do what the Lord tells us to do until he's gone. We're going to study, pray, and meditate. We're not going to dance tonight.

That would be too much like what God called the preacher/teacher to do.