THE NATURE OF THE FUTURE PASTORS

I have interacted with pastors from different backgrounds. I have attended a seminary and a theological college with different pastors. I have trained hundreds on various platforms. I have listened to their perspectives on various subjects. I have researched and written different books on purpose, potential and leadership-related topics. My MTh thesis was on Pentecostal Theology. I have concluded that the future pastors will not be like the present in various ways. Many changes will happen and many current pastors may lose their relevance if they don’t unlearn, relearn and evolve given the current challenges facing the ministry.

The future pastors will be well-balanced in conventional theological content and social exposure. Social exposure in this context means experiencing and understanding what it means to live and relate cross-culturally with people from non-theological backgrounds or outside the theological community.

Many current Mainline pastors have conventional theology, but inadequate social exposure, while many Pentecostal pastors have adequate social exposure, but inadequate conventional theological education. Attending a seminary only without participating in any non-theological school social exposure leads to hard theological knowledge with less social connectivity to real-life issues. Having social exposure without a theological education leads to extremes in some theological engagements. The two need the right balance to be effective.

It takes just a few minutes of conversation for me to know a pastor who only has theological education without adequate social exposure or a pastor who has social exposure without adequate theological education. I am one of the privileged ones who have experienced the university and theological contexts. I know the uniqueness of each. I read mass communication (diploma) from the University of Jos before my first and second degrees in theology from theological schools.  Currently, my mass communication background is very useful in my theological engagements. The University has exposed me to interactions with various people from both religious and non-religious backgrounds. This is very helpful in my understanding of human nature.

There is a new development: many Pentecostal pastors, who may lack the conventional theological training, are enrolling in theological schools to gain that knowledge. Additionally, many individuals from mainline theological backgrounds are also enrolling in universities for various fields, either before or after pursuing their theological studies.

I interviewed Harris John Gupai as part of my seminar paper in 2012 when I was doing my Mth at TCNN. He was also a student then at the same college. He said. “My core values were changed after my B.Th 1. I now see ministry as Christ-centred, not man-centred. My interpretation of the Scriptures was enriched. It is no longer the Bible supporting my idea, but mine aligning with the biblical text. My preaching style for the first time is no longer spontaneous; rather, it is now well-organized and more spiritual. My character development is the most important because I now do ministry ethically. I now appreciate Christianity from its historical background. I now understand how true biblical Christianity is to be practised today.” This is a wonderful testimony. Harris is now in the field. What do you expect will happen?

I named the future pastors EVANGELICAL PENTECOSTAL PASTORS. They will be well balanced in both conventional and Pentecostal exposures. They will be vibrant, creative, technological in approach, exposed, charismatic, and successful in both the church community and marketplace. They will be excellent teachers with the right applications of the Holy Bible to current events. They will highly value and engage in personal development.

Any pastor who is not well balanced in the conventional theology and innovative social exposure may not be relevant in the future ministry: especially in youth ministry, interpersonal and mass communication, technological use, connecting to current realities and cross-cultural ministry. Would you be one of them? Engage in personal development.

Pusonnam Yiri

Theologian- Entrepreneur- Journalist