The Pastor as Recruiter for the Preaching Ministry (In Search of Timothy)

Abstract

Gary P. Baumler’s essay encourages pastors to actively recruit young men for the preaching ministry, drawing inspiration from the biblical example of Paul and Timothy. Baumler emphasizes that while God alone calls and equips ministers, pastors play a vital role in identifying and encouraging potential candidates. He outlines spiritual and personal qualities to look for—such as a foundation in God’s Word, Christian character, and teachability—and stresses the importance of early engagement, mentorship, and continued support. The essay also addresses practical concerns, including academic readiness and the need for balanced encouragement without coercion. Baumler urges pastors to model joyful service and use available resources from Northwestern College to support recruitment. Survey data from ministerial students reinforces the pastor’s influence in vocational decisions. Ultimately, Baumler calls for faithful pastoral involvement in “the search for Timothy,” trusting that God will bless these efforts with future servants of the Word. Abstract generated by Microsoft Copilot (GPT-4)