Diary of a novice minister - I’ll always be a Novice Minister

I’ve been studying at Moore College for three years now. One more year, and I’ll be a full-time minister. I’m supposed to be competent by now. But I still feel like a novice.

I still don’t feel like I really know the Bible. If anything, I’m aware of how little I know, and how much more there is to learn. I’ve got all these unanswered questions. And I think that’ll continue, even when I start full-time ministry. I’ll always be a novice with the Bible.

That’s not all. I think I’ll always be a novice in ministry, too. Ministry’s the only profession where you have to be a children’s worker, youth worker, social worker, life skills coach, life of the party, administrator, accountant, small-group facilitator, matchmaker (hey, don’t laugh – a couple of ministers have tried it on me…), and motivational speaker… all at the same time. And I’ll have to change roles instantly.

One moment I’ll be congratulating someone who’s just got engaged. Next moment I’ll be sympathising with someone who’s lost a baby. Then I’ll be off to a finance committee meeting to discuss how to raise more funds. Without a moment to recover.

How on earth am I going to handle all that? I don’t have all those skills! I might be able to learn some. But most of the time I’ll have to muddle through. And probably do a pretty second-rate job. I’ll always be a novice in ministry.

And I’ll be a novice in my particular church, too. Every church is different. It’s got its own background, culture, history. And church is always changing, too, because people change.

Church members get older, get married, have children. They get a promotion, change jobs, move house, renovate the house. I’ll always be learning how to serve them in their particular situation. What are their joys? What are their struggles? What dangers do they need to be warned of? What strengths can I build on? I’ll always be a novice in my church.

Well, maybe that’s a good thing. Who am I, anyway? I’m a disciple of Christ – a novice. I’m a servant of Christ, and his people – a minister. I’ll always be a novice minister.

Farewell, dear readers.

God be with you. 

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