From the Home Place

April 22, 2026

Another nice day in Wyoming, but moisture would make it a beautiful day! The long-range forecast is that we will have little probability of receiving any rain the rest of April, so much for May flowers???

I just completed a great visit with our middle son-in-law. He is the administrative pastor for seven different churches in Florida. We both spoke of how difficult it is to find young men who know they have been called to full-time ministry. It seems to both of us we have a real shortage of young men who possess the greatest gift for a pastor: that thing called humility.

For whatever reason, most of the young men of today want the position, the power and the pleasure of being a pastor, but they have little desire to work their way into a community. It’s almost like they have an attitude that any community would be blessed to have their presence. And teachability, they have a piece of paper that says they have been taught, now it’s their turn to teach, so they think.

For my son-in-law and I, you just can’t top humility, drive and people skills when looking for a new pastor. The three qualities that appear to be void in most of our bible college and seminary students of today. But every now and then, there is such a young man who possess all three of these qualities. If you have been blessed to find such a man, stop and praise God for His gracious gift to your church and your community!

Because of the void of humble young men accepting the call to be life-servants of the Most High, it seems to both of us that churches are going to have to start training their own pastors from within. After all, where will you find a pastor who knows your community any better? Where will you find a pastor who has close connections within your community? Where will you find another pastor who is any more teachable than a young man who realizes that his church community is willing to invest in his education and preparation to live among his people, in his community?

And by the way, we need to start training these young men when they are in grade school, continuing up to the time that they receive a call to serve their home church as full-time pastors! Yes, it’s going to be a long process, so choose wisely, pray fearlessly, and invest heavily.

Think about it, he may not be the greatest preacher to ever bless your pulpit, but I know many churches that would love to have a pastor who loves their community and the families who call that community their home! After all, if he is humble, called and teachable, he can always learn how to be a better preacher. As I’ve often said, “Give me a man with a heart for God and people, and I will train his hands and head.”

Looking for the next generation’s pastor with you, Neal