What Do Future Pastors Need From the Church Right Now?

Knowing Scripture’s emphasis on training future pastors, how should the church today invest in and train the next generation of pastors?

By Joshua Martin 

In his final letter before his death, the apostle Paul wrote, “The time for my departure is close. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:6-7, CSB).

As Christians, we want to believe and utter those words when our time on earth comes to an end. We desire to stay faithful to God. Paul knew as long as he had air in his lungs his mission wasn’t over.

In his last letters (1 and 2 Timothy), Paul wrote to encourage his missionary companion and prodigy, Timothy, who at the time was a young pastor in Ephesus. Clearly, Paul thought it was important to mentor and offer wisdom to the young minister while he still could. He took the opportunity to pour into the next generation of church leaders before his impending death. Paul’s example should motivate the church today to invest in young believers, as God uses each generation to carry out the mission of the church.

Knowing Scripture’s emphasis on training future pastors, how should the church today invest in and train the next generation of pastors? 

Here are four ideas based on Paul’s example that still apply to pastors today. What do future pastors need right now?

1. Mentorship

As he did ministry, Paul made a point to mentor young leaders such as Timothy and Titus.

In 2 Timothy 2:2, Paul calls for discipleship saying, “What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (CSB).

Mentorship and discipleship from those in the church are what make effective pastors. — Joshua Martin Share on X

Dr. Tommy Meador lead pastor of Northwood Baptist Church in North Charleston, South Carolina said he had a pastor who took him under his wing as he prepared for the pastorate. “I learned more about leadership from him than anything else I had done,” Meador said.

Mentorship and discipleship from those in the church are what make effective pastors. Paul was able to teach Timothy and Titus by including them on his missionary journeys so they could see firsthand how to live on mission for the gospel.

As you pastor and lead in a local church, who can you teach along the way? Every future pastor needs a mentor who can teach and challenge them to proclaim Jesus Christ in a strategic manner.

2. Opportunities

Leland Brown, equipping pastor at East Cooper Baptist Church in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina said there were ample opportunities for him to lead and serve in the local church when he was training to become a pastor.

Both Timothy and Titus were given opportunities to go on missions with Paul and lead the churches in Ephesus and Crete at relatively young ages. While young ministers must remain humble and teachable, the church should give them opportunities to practice their giftings.

“If you want to develop good teachers and preachers,” Brown said, “you should give them contexts where they can be mediocre teachers and preachers first.”

“If you want to develop good teachers and preachers, you should give them contexts where they can be mediocre teachers and preachers first.” — Leland Brown Share on X

As a leader in your church, how can you open doors of opportunity for young people to serve? Could they serve in the youth ministry? Is there a discipleship group they can lead?

3. Faithful ministers of the Word

“The most important thing a church can do to prepare a future minister is to be a faithful minister of the Word,” said Dr. Jonathan Watson, an associate professor of Christian Studies at Charleston Southern University (1 Corinthians 4:1-2).

This seems obvious, yet it’s often overlooked. Church leadership must proclaim who Jesus is with their words and through their actions. Churches must faithfully preach the Word. Paul teaches Timothy how to be faithful to the Word saying, “Now the goal of our instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith” (1 Timothy 1:5, CSB).

The younger generation is actively seeking truth in a world where the culture says we can make our truths. The church needs to take responsibility for proclaiming that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). 

As Mark Dever, senior pastor of Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, D.C., said in an interview, “Raising up future pastors is done through faithfully pastoring and discipling your church.”

Pastors who desire to raise up the next generation of pastors must exemplify what it looks like to faithfully shepherd the flock. A young pastor needs to see what a healthy church looks like. Is Jesus the foundation and the standard on which your ministry depends?

4. Patience and grace 

Daniel Darling, director of the Land Center for Cultural Engagement at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary said he was fortunate to have his first pastorate at a church that was patient with the learning curve he experienced. “I had older, wiser lay leaders who helped me make decisions,” Darling said. “If there’s one thing you can give an incoming pastor—especially a younger one—it’s your patience. Of course, pastors also need your accountability, but younger pastors especially need grace as they learn how to lead.”

"Of course, pastors also need your accountability, but younger pastors especially need grace as they learn how to lead." — @DanDarling Share on X

We’re all sinners who have fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). A church that exhibits grace to a young pastor is demonstrating the good news of Jesus. As believers, we’re called to imitate Christ, and what better way to exhibit Him than by offering grace as Jesus did on the cross.

Every pastor is going to fall short. It’s only human. For the church, the challenge is to give abundant grace while also holding leaders accountable. 

The charge

So how should the church train its future leaders? The same way Paul trained Timothy and Titus over 2,000 years ago. Although the world changes, the word of God never changes.

These are four practical ways a church can pour into future pastors. But it all starts with the heart. You want the gospel to continue to be proclaimed so people can go from death to life and find true hope. So, who are the young believers in your church God may be calling into pastoral ministry? How can you pour into them?