According to the Scriptures, the church is vital in training men for ministry. Below are some key aspects of the church’s role in preparing men for ministry.
Spiritual moulding of men for ministry is one of the essential functions of the local church. This process encompasses discipleship and character formation. Through the faithful preaching of the Word, fervent prayer gatherings, and the fellowship of the saints, the church serves as a divine instrument for shaping and nourishing believers’ lives, especially those whom God calls to the ministry (Ephesians 4:11–13; cf. 1 Timothy 4:6-13; 1 Tim 5:22). Men for the ministry ought to be spiritually shaped within the church, with the help of Biblical teaching and example of godly leaders. Regular evaluations and spiritual “check-ins” ensure accountability and a strong foundation for a faithful ministry.
Recognising and developing spiritual gifts suitable for ministry are done within the context of the church. The Holy Spirit works through the church so that the spiritual gifts of His chosen men for ministry are identified, cultivated, and deployed for the glory of God, and the building up of the body of Christ (Acts 13:2; cf. 1 Tim 4:14; 2 Tim 1:6). Pastors and elders should assess spiritual gifts, character, and a genuine desire to serve.
Biblical instruction and theological training have been through the sound teaching of godly men within the church, helping prospective ministers understand Scripture deeply and apply it effectively in their lives (2 Timothy 1:13; 2:2; 3:14–17). Sunday schools, Bible studies, and dedicated ministry training programmes of the church can serve as platforms to equip men for the ministry.
Practical ministry experience should be intentionally provided by experienced pastors and preachers of the church through one-on-one discipleship and pastoral care. It enables aspiring ministers to model themselves after godly examples, equipping themselves to effectively apply sound doctrine to the lives of God’s people, thereby fostering spiritual growth. The mentoring process allows young leaders to learn through example, receiving correction and encouragement. Furthermore, churches should provide opportunities for hands-on ministry, such as preaching, teaching, evangelism, pastoral care, and administration. Real-life involvement helps refine skills and build godly courage under the guidance of seasoned leaders (Luke 10:1–11; 2 Timothy 1:7-14).
Ordaining and sending out of men who are called to the ministry are done by the godly pastors of the church. They lay hands on those called, prepared and equipped to be ordained to the ministry, commissioning them with prayer and affirmation, as seen in the early church (Acts 6:6; 13:3). Prayer and encouragement strengthen men for the challenges of the ministry (1 Thessalonians 5:11). The church’s support must continue even after sending, through ongoing relationships and resources. By faithfully carrying out these roles, the church ensures that men entering the ministry are well-prepared to lead, serve, and shepherd God’s people according to His will.
Pastor Michael Zhu
I am deeply grateful to the Lord for the precious opportunity to study and be equipped further in my pastoral ministry. The recent course on Eschatology has profoundly enriched my understanding of Biblical truths on this subject, and brought significant blessings to my personal spiritual growth, family life, and church ministry.
Through the study of Eschatology, I gained a deeper appreciation of God’s sovereignty over history and His ultimate plan of redemption. This unwavering hope in God’s promises has strengthened my patience and confidence in shepherding the flock, especially during challenging times. It has equipped me to guide the congregation to fix their eyes on God’s eternal kingdom and live faithfully in the light of Christ’s return. The course also helped me teach the congregation how to embody an eschatological faith—serving diligently in the present while eagerly anticipating the glory of Christ’s second coming.
In my family life, the hope of eternity has encouraged me to cherish relationships more deeply. It has inspired me to nurture my children with a focus on eternal values, and to pray and serve together with my spouse in unity. Within the church, this course has motivated me to prioritise the spiritual growth of my brethren, helping them face today’s challenges with their hearts anchored in the unshakable hope of God’s kingdom.
I sincerely thank Rev. Koshy for his dedication and the immense wisdom he imparted to us through this course. May the Lord continue to bless this programme, using it to strengthen more servants of God and bless His church for His glory. Soli Deo Gloria!
Pastor Donald Dela Cruz
If one reads the newspaper, he will be aware of the events of the world; but if one reads the Bible, he will understand why those events are happening. The world’s current events make sense after learning about end-time events. Biblical prophecy asserts that plagues and wars will intensify as the second coming of the Lord Jesus draws nearer. Thus, COVID-19 and the wars around the world happening today are confirmations of God’s infallible Word. Even God’s beloved Israel is in the midst of war and conflict, as declared in His Word.
In the church setting, I praise the Lord for giving me a clearer understanding of the end times. This more precise understanding will translate into profound teachings / doctrines which the congregation will receive from teachers, who have been PBS students. After all, God’s teaching must reach His people with all purity. I am praying that I can clearly impart and explain the lessons that I have learned to the brethren.
Personally, I see God’s sovereignty and faithfulness amid these events. It is true that the world will not get better; nevertheless, it brings comfort to me because all events have been ordained by God even before they happen. This simply means that my Heavenly Father is in full control. Praise the Lord that He is in control to preserve and protect His people for Himself.
Praise the Lord for sustaining GBI Online, and giving Pastor Koshy the strength to take up the tedious task of teaching theology to all of us every Monday morning.
Pastor Jied
I would like to express my appreciation for Pastor Koshy’s service in the Lord’s vineyard, especially regarding the Pastoral Biblical Studies that we had with him. It has been a very encouraging and blessed time to learn from God’s Word. I appreciated the divine promise of things to come and how we, as a church, should be prepared and long to meet the Lord. The lessons we learned help us to serve the Lord more fervently, knowing that our labour will not be in vain in Him. Praying for the ministry and all the brethren – to Christ be the glory. Amen.
Pr Seraph McGregor
In His providence, the Lord brought me to Gethsemane Bible Institute in Vizag in 2021. I consider it a great blessing to be part of a ministry such as this, which strives to be faithful to the Word of God in every way. One of the areas in which this can be seen is in the fact that pastors, preachers and missionaries alike, who already are Bible college graduates, continue learning God’s Word with an objective to sharpen and deepen their understanding of Scripture in order to preach it effectively and with clarity for the benefit of the church. Therefore, I am very grateful to God for the Pastoral Biblical Studies (PBS) classes.
Over the past three and a half years, I have studied three topics in the PBS classes: Doctrine of Revelation and Scriptures, Covenant Theology, and Eschatology. The first course was helpful because it brought to my remembrance the very important doctrines of the inspiration, infallibility, inerrancy and preservation of Holy Scripture. It is inspired or God-breathed, and therefore, it is trustworthy and life-giving.
Studying Covenant Theology was another interesting part of PBS. It helped me not only better understand the covenants by studying each one in detail, but also to study and understand them from a premillennial standpoint, which I had not studied before.
The current topic which we are studying in the PBS class is Eschatology. The study of this topic has particularly helped me as I have gained a better and clearer understanding of Premillennial Eschatology, and I have come to respect this position. It also helped me better understand passages in the Book of Revelation and elsewhere in the prophets with a more literal approach to interpreting the text. This will also help me share what I have learnt with others more clearly. Furthermore, I initially leaned more towards the amillennial view of Eschatology, but that is now changing, and PBS classes have contributed to it. I sincerely seek to explore and learn more about this subject before arriving at a particular conclusion that is aligned to being taught and informed by the Word of God. May the Lord help me and guide me.