One of the biggest issues I think the church struggles with on a regular basis is the qualifications of a leader. Many churches wrestle with things such as education, experience and background when considering leadership, and especially pastoral staff. This isn’t an all bad sort of thing. But, the question is, are we approaching this is the correct manner?

My first “official” position on pastoral staff began in 2001. I took the position of Interim Youth Pastor for a great church in Bradenton, Florida. I would end up serving there for just under 2 years as the Interim. In that 2 years I learned a ton about leading people, building teams, teaching students to love Jesus and discipling next generation leaders. During that time the student ministry grew from about 30 to about 85 students(not record setting!), and I got to baptize a great number of those students! In time the church walked through the process of selecting a permanent Youth Pastor. It was a very precise, dedicated and grueling process. In the end, I was not chosen. The primary basis of the decision was a lack of a Bachelor’s Degree and Seminary Training. My limited education gave hinderance to other’s view of my passion and desire for leading students to Jesus.

While that was a very tough time for me, one where I could have become very bitter, it was a good thing. As it would turn out within a few months God would open an opportunity in Tri-Cities, Tennessee for me to serve as a Youth Pastor. The next 3 years of Ministry in TN were 3 of the most exciting, fruitful and exhilarating years of Student Ministry.

Fast forward to 2008 when I became the pastor of Grace Church in Kingsport, Tennessee. When that happened even I struggled with the appointment…..After all, I have no seminary training and have never pastored a church. I was, and still am, a young pastor. How can I be in such a position? Is God sure about this placement? Will I be able to handle all that this position will bring? Am I even capable of being a pastor on any level? All of these things ran through my head, and still do from time to time!

Here’s the reality, as I look at the way Jesus appointed his team, the Apostles, He did something very unique…..He did not call the seminary trained (religiously schooled), the experienced Rabbi’s or the God obsessed men of His time. Jesus went and selected a cross section of the people He encountered. He called fishermen, tax collectors, outcasts and more. They were an eclectic group of men. They were a largely unqualified group of men. Really, most of them were just teenagers! They were not the leader caliber the world would have appointed to walk with the Son of God! But, Jesus was seeking one thing………Desire!

These men had a desire to follow Jesus, worship Jesus, serve Jesus and share Jesus. Bottom line, they loved Jesus more than anything else! That is the key qualification of a great leader, they must LOVE JESUS ABOVE ALL ELSE! Yes, the qualifications of a leader in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 are crucial. But, before we measure men according to those standards, we must know those men LOVE JESUS.

Jesus calls those who love Him. After He calls them, He equips them.

We often neglect the truth of Philippians 4:13, I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me! That means on the days I doubt if I am qualified, capable and able to be a pastor…..I am doubting the truth of God’s very words to me!

Do you doubt your capability or the capability of others? Why? How will you change that?