Pastoral Opportunity Profile

Teaching Pastor

General Information

The Teaching Pastor will be the primary preacher with full responsibility for the pulpit ministry, discipleship, and teaching ministries.
Note: This church received 25 resumes for applying to this job as pastor. The man they called changed his position after arriving on the job to Senior Pastor.—Forest “Romans 10: 17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Basic Position Qualifications

The person in this position needs to have the following:
Education -M. Div. or M. Div. equivalency required.
Experience - Minimum 5+ years of ministry experience…having served as a Teaching, Senior Pastor, or Associate Pastor in a church over 300.
Passion - in building people through the practical and relevant teaching of God's Word.
Methodology - desiring to work through teams in accomplishing our vision.
Theology - beliefs consistent with the our Church statement of faith.
References - 3 professional references, 2 personal (total of 5).
Specific Position Qualifications
The person in this position needs to be highly competent in:
Effectively communicating with passion and clarity, biblical truth as well as casting vision to the church family (communicator)
Designing, developing, and implementing plans for spiritual development (discipleship), and the teaching and preaching ministries (planner)
Team alignment, team building, and team management, consensus building, and conflict resolution (shepherd leader)
Ability to understand, articulate, and apply theological doctrine to church issues.
Computer literate (preferable)
Disciple those in teaching and discipling roles

Functional Roles

The person in this position is responsible for:

• Participating with the elders and other pastors in developing the MHBC vision and strategies, and communicating it through sermons and other teaching situations.
• Designing and implementing services, through team involvement, that transforms lives by building believers and attracting seekers to the Lord.
• Preaching regularly during the weekend services utilizing both expository and topical studies.
• Leading and developing a preaching team to ensure quality preaching and training of younger preachers.
• Developing a sound teaching ministry through classes, small group curriculum, and discipleship programs.
• Providing theologically sound doctrine for the church as it navigates through complex issues.
• Serving as a primary liaison with the local community.

Success Factors

• The person in this position will be considered successful if within 3 years:
• The teaching of the Sunday services remains of high quality, builds up the church family, is attractive to seekers,
  
• experiences numeric growth, and leads to committed life change.
• The teaching in adult education and other venues grows in effectiveness and quality.
• Transforming our church into a training center, training preachers and developing new teachers within our congregation.
• The worship services are being developed, implemented and reviewed by teams that include both pastors and volunteers. The people within the preaching / teaching teams are being shepherded through strong, caring relationships.
• The church family clearly understands and lives out the vision of the our church
• The church family is growing in grace and their knowledge and experience with Christ.
  

Spiritual Qualities

The person in this position will be characterized by:

• Christ-likeness - someone who lives their life with God as their first love, with Christ as their model, and with the Holy Spirit as their power-source.
• Humility - someone who seeks to understand other people's points of view, works as a servant leader building and supporting others, is not ego-centric, and builds and works on teams.
• Authenticity - someone who lives their life openly before God and man, whether in public or in private, honestly dealing with their sin, and faithfully pursuing righteousness.
• Maturity concerning giftedness - someone who lives their life stewarding their own giftedness well, aligning the giftedness of staff with important work, and honoring the complementary giftedness of others.
• A focus on mission - someone who lives their life captivated by God's mission, devoted to Christ's commission, and aimed toward accomplishing our Church’s mission.
• A foundation in Scripture - someone who lives their life growing in their understanding, application, and communication of Scripture.
• A lifestyle of prayer - someone who lives their life in moment-by-moment dependency on the Lord, evidenced by continual prayer.
• A love for Christian community - someone who lives their life as an integral member of the Body of Christ, as a key member of our church, and as a strategic member of the staff team.
• Truth/grace - someone who is committed to the tenacious pursuit of truth and the liberal extension of grace.

This person must meet all the qualifications of an elder as found in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus

Thoughts on Pastor calling—By Forest R. Steenfott

I went over what this Local Church is looking for in a pastor from their web site. I was saved in 1947 at 16 years of age. Today at 75 years of age I am involved in discipleship ministry. I do some counseling and Bible teaching.
Education and Experience in doing Christian Ministry for Forest Steenfott:
Here are some of my qualifications for doing ministry. I was saved in 1947, dedicated my life to Christ as Lord of my live, attended 5 years in a Bible College and received a Bachelor Art in Bible and a Bachelor Theology, degrees. I was ordained in a Baptist Church. I have been involved in other churches as deacon and chairman one time. I served some time on the missions committee, Senior High counselor, and Sunday school superintendent of the Junior High. I was on the board of directors for the Santa Clara County Jail Chaplain ministry. I had preached in regular church services, and held Wednesday prayer services. Recovered a failing church. The church is alive and well in East San Jose today. I also had preached many times at a local Rescue Mission.
Two Administrative Activities, Which the Church Asked Me to be Responsible For:
The church I was in was “The Baptist General Conference.” This was the old Swedish Baptist denomination. The National organization was going to have their national conference in San Jose, California. I was asked to put together this conference. I brought people around me that had different abilities and expertise in their area of interest for putting together the convention. I had to arrange for the main auditorium, conference rooms, and booths for displays, Piano and organ, nursery for young children, etc. I worked with the City of San Jose, Hotels, and food services. It all came together and ran very smoothly.
The second area was in my own church, which was in The Baptist General Conference. I was the deacon chairman at the time. The pastor wanted to have a week of evangelistic meetings. He had the evangelist and the music man. I develop and brought together the working committees. One of these committees was a prayer committee. We had house prayer meetings. The meetings for the week went well with many saved.

Writings By Forest Steenfott:

I learned how to study the Word of God in my Bible College days. I have gone deeply into my own Bible studies over the last few years. I have read and studied many Bible scholars. I have written on many Bible subjects and issues.
I have taught two home Bible studies. I have prepared my own material and taught First, Second, Third John, Jude, Second Peter and the letters to the Seven Churches of Revelation chapters two and three. I have sense a gradual growth in their Christian lives. One of these is Gary Pomeroy, member of Home Church.

Ministry of Forest Steenfott’s Own Family Relationships:

Shall we consider my own family, first my wife, Grace of 48 years? Yes, I pledged my vows that I would love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, for better for worse, in sickness and in health, for richer for poorer; and forsaking all others, keep thee unto her, so long as ye both shall live. Grace and I did everything together. Yes, I laundered clothes, helped with the dishes, vacuumed floors, went shopping for groceries together, and we even shopped for clothes together including her bras and dresses.
Then my beloved wife became very ill. Then for eight months, I bathed, clothed, and fed her. I had to take her to the toilet and clean her. She was awake most of the night. She couldn’t get in or out of bed. All of this became a twenty-four hour job. I carefully and faithfully watched over her in a nursing home for four years. Do you believe that is being a faithful husband? Grace went to be with the Lord Jesus on December 13, 2001.
Grace and I had four children, three boys and one girl. We did have trouble with the boys in their late teens with drugs. All of the children received Christ as Savior in their early years. Grace and I prayed earnestly for the boys, and God answered by bringing them back to Himself. Diane was always clean. All of our children have children of their own. The grandchildren are coming to Christ as their savior.

Administrator. in the Corporate World of Business until the Plant closing 1980:

I became employed in 1959 with Simplex Time Recorder Company. This was in their printing plant in San Jose, California. The factory made time equipment, fire alarms, security systems, and printed time cards on the East Coast. Their San Jose Printing plant only printed time cards for the Western part of the United States. I was made Plant manager in 1952. I had about ten people working for me. My leadership was team management. My immediate supervisor was at the factory on the East Coast. I had very little employee turn over. We produced a sizable profit over the twenty plus years I worked in the company. I was able to do all the jobs in the plant. I invented a gauge that could set the blades of the paper cutter to exact sizes, and do it in much less time than before. I was able to hire a one arm man for shipping by changing the controls of our forklift. I even rebuilt one of our printing presses by taking it to a machine shop where I did the work myself.
The Plant was closed down by some poor advice given to top management in 1980. This was at the time that the computer was coming to age. The company figured that the time card business was going to die because of the computer age. The funny part about this notion was that the company is printing more time cards today than in 1980 at the closing of the San Jose Printing Plant. The Simplex Company had more respect and confidence in the leadership of Forest Steenfott than what the church has ever had in Forest Steenfott.
I have the mental capacity of taking a project, laying out the rules to perform the project to completion. I had to make several trips back to the main office to coordinate the closing of the printing plant. I met in a room of folks with different interest in the company. They looked at me and ask, “What do we do?” I said, “No problem, give me thirty minuets, and I will have the whole program for you.”
A funny thing happened after another trip I made to headquarters. I wanted to say goodbye to the elderly Superintendent of the factory. He had been fired by the new young owner of the company. He had some very choice unspeakable words for me. He could not understand that the company put a knife in my back, and I was helping them close down the San Jose Plant. He was unaware I work for God not the new young owner of the company.

Administrator in Custodial and Maintenances for Valley Christian Schools.

I started with the school in the Junior High as a custodian in 1984. I found that I had to do some maintenance, too. I was doing such good work and enjoying it that I was put in charge of the High School in custodial and Maintenances. The Junior High was put with the High School. There was a separation between the two schools. I bring this up for what I did for the printing company is the same thing I did for the school. The school was leasing the properties they were on. The schools had to move from time to time. The administrators had to have a meeting on what to do. I got into these meetings without being invited. They did not know of my talents. I would lay out the whole moving arrangement. The move was always successful. The Valley Christian Schools had more respect and confidence in the leadership of Forest Steenfott than what the church has ever had in Forest Steenfott.
There is no way I could qualify to be this church’s pastor from their qualifications and requirements.
They have basically eliminated me. I agree there should be a standard quality of life and some show of leadership ability. Then let the sovereignty of God do the rest in calling your pastor.

Using and obeying Scripture Alone for Calling a Pastor.

Note: Letters between Tom Heringer and Forest Steenfott, brothers in the Lord, attended the same Bible College, and very good friends. We discussed the issues of churches calling pastors.
Dear Forest That is the whole point of Sola Scriptura scripture alone if you abide by it is sufficient. Problem is that some people without a clear statement of what you believe the scriptures are saying will find a way around the scriptures. There should not even be an argument over who is or who is not qualified to be a pastor. The other problem that goes with this is adding qualifications that are not in the scriptures, the one that comes to mind is the one that says a pastor should have a doctorate degree. Don't get me wrong pastors need to be educated, but we seem to be placing the cart before the donkey if you will an education is a means to an end not the end itself. The Lord Jesus did not graduate from a theological school and neither did most of the apostles.
The one apostle that did also wrote under inspiration the qualifications for a pastor (Pastor Paul if you will). These are not just contrived points that are in the qualifications, but have real meaning. The one that comes to mind is the one that says: 4One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; 5(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?). How many pastors do you know who have pastored large churches that are a complete failure as a parent and husband.
To me these qualifications were intended to be used in looking to a man that was already in the church and had in fact grown up in the church. How else would you possibly know how the man has met these qualifications unless you have watched him grow up? I think the whole way we prepare men to be pastors is flawed. They must have first demonstrated as they are growing up, being saved or moved to a new area. What I have seen in people over the last 30 years, it seems like most of these things become evident in the first 30 or 40 days. Let them preach, teach or minister, because that is how you will find out what kind of man he is (Godly or otherwise).
You should have never been ignored, you obviously have the gifts and the calling. It should have been up to First Baptist Petaluma to see to it that you were actually doing what God had called you to do. In other words your home church is responsible to see to it that you are ministering some where, if not your home church, then somewhere. We seem to pop pastors out and then just let them go without a care. The apostle Paul looked into how his young pastors were doing hence the letters to Timothy and Titus. John was just as involved, notice the letters to the seven churches, he put the responsibility where it should be. Thomas
Dear Tom, I want to speak to what you said in your three paragraphs to me. My home church in Petaluma and Pastor Fred Brock did sheparded me along while after I left Western Baptist Bible College, Oakland, California. This was this same church and pastor that were part of the ordination counsel. They examined me for ministry. They made an unanimous vote in 10 minuets for the church to ordain me.

Church Rejected Forest Ministry

One more thing. I wrote an article, “Church Rejected Forest Ministry.” This began to appear in the late 70s into the 80s to the present time. This letter was part of my request for ministry.

“Mr. _______________ I had spoken to you about my interest of coming into Home Church for Christian ministry. You made a statement that has become so true for me over these past years. You said, ‘You must be willing to clean floors.’ I know what you mean. I have been faced with that for years. This is what you really are saying, ‘You join us with a show of humility, do the lowly jobs so we may prove you over a few years to your character, spirituality and abilities. Then we may allow you to do Christian ministry in our church.’” OUCH! I have had no gross sins, and my teaching has been the same from the days I learned it in the 50s. I have had good roots planted in my home church, Pastor Fred Brock, and Doctor H. O. Van Gilder. Here is something I am still saying over the years.

OH, FOR A PULPIT

By

Forest R. Steenfott

To stand behind that sacred desk and preach!
To stand on the Word of God and proclaim it’s truth to all generations!
To boys and girls, and teens: Bring them to Christ in personal relationship to Him.
To the youth in their 20’s and 30’s: Teach them to observe all things that God has commanded in love relationship with each other.
To middle age: How to be faithful and true to others and themselves. Be a model of Jesus Christ to the young folks.
To the elderly: Cheer and encouragement, to keep their eyes on Jesus the Lord, not circumstances.
Yes, to stand behind that desk and have the fullness of God’s Holy Spirit and preach Jesus Christ the Lord, crucified, risen and coming King. Hallelujah!
Written May 19, 1989
I was a Pastor for Linda J. Schultz (Gary Pomeroy’s sister), through E-mail. Gary is my very best friend. I was with him during his liver transplant.
I will give my reasoning on how the church should search and call for God’s man. What are the resources the church may use in finding a pastor? There are two major resources in the calling of God’s man for ministry. It really lies in the sovereignty of God, which this church brings out in their Statement of Faith.
______________________

God Leads Us Along

In shady, green pastures, so rich and so sweet, God leads His dear children along; Where the water’s cool flow bathes the weary one’s feet, God leads His dear children along.
Some through the waters, some through the flood, some through the fire, but all through the blood; some through great sorrows, but God gives the song, in the night season and all the daylong.

Some-times on the mount where the sun shines so bright, God leads His dear children along; Some-times in the valley, in the darkest of night, God leads His dear children along.
Some through the waters, some through the flood, some through the fire, but all through the blood; some through great sorrows, but God gives the song, in the night season and all the daylong.

God Leads Us Along, words and music by George A. Young, 19th century

The author and composer of “God Leads Us Along,” was an obscure preacher and carpenter who spent a lifetime humbly serving God in small rural areas. Often the salary was meager and life was difficult for his family. Through it all, however, George Young and his wife never wavered in their loyalty to God and His service.
The story is told that after much struggle and effort, the George Young family was finally able to move into their own home, which they had built themselves. Their joy seemed complete. But then, while Young was away holding meeting in another area, hoodlums who disliked the preacher’s gospel message set fire to the house, leaving nothing but a heap of ashes. It is thought that out of that tragic experience, George Young completed this hymn, which reaffirms so well the words of Job 35:10: “God my maker, who give songs in the night.” The words of this hymn have since been a source of great comfort and encouragement to countless numbers of God’s people as they experienced the “night” times of their lives. Here is a man of God whom I would desire to be my Pastor.—Forest

I have a good friend who is beyond me in his education. I have heard him preach, been in his home Bible studies. From my experience with this gentleman by the name of Bob would be a caring pastor. I have been speaking with him in respect to churches calling a new pastor. Here is his note to me regarding calling of a pastor.
“Forest, my brother, I love you, too. Frankly, I don't think search committees usually know what they're doing. When my church voted to accept the new pastor, somebody said, "But what happened to Bob?" What happened was that the search committee stonewalled my application—refusing to give me a yes or a no—for 9 months, until I just withdrew. Then the church actually applied to the new minister. It would have been nice to have received some kind of response to my application, but as I say, I don't think anybody in the church knew what they were doing. Anyway, I am in ministry at the middle school, and I thank the Lord for that! Bob”
I believe this situation for the lack of knowledge in searching and calling for a pastor comes from the previous pastoral Bible teaching. The major Bible teaching for Christians must be knowing and obeying the Lordship of Jesus Christ. He must have first place in our lives, which would affect everything we think or do. To produce this in our lives the Old and New Testaments must be read and studied. The Old Testament makes very clear the sovereignty of God. He is to be Master of our lives and also the church community. We have trouble with this concept in America, because we were raised under democracy, for the people, by the people. We have no concept of monarch rule. Read of the authority of Jesus Colossians 1: from 12 through 18, 18 “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.”
The (First) Resource is the Word of God, and the (Second) is the Churches Responsibility to Pray:
THE WORD OF GOD, according to many church’s statements of Faith.
We believe that the Bible, both Old and New Testaments, is the complete and revealed Word of God, fully inspired and without error in the original writings, and that it has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct (Psalm 19:7-11; Isaiah 40:8; Matthew 5:18; II Timothy 3:15-17; II Peter 1:21).
You said it, “We believe that the Bible has—supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct.” This is supreme in calling a pastor. It must be God’s calling and will. It is not what you may think you want, or desire to have. Listen to what the Lord said in Matthew 6: 9-10 “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” This calling must be God’s will.
Here is another truth about God that is very clear from Isaiah 55: 8-9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” In the matter of seeking a pastor for spiritual ministry is not always what we may think or have knowledge of as what God may think and has knowledge of.
Look with me at Ephesians 4: 8 “Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.” 4: 11 “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers.” The pastor is a gift from God. As the church is the gift receiver what position does that put your church in? Give some thought to that.
Second Timothy 3: 16-17 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” Apostle Paul was giving this instruction to Pastor Timothy for preaching of the Word is for doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction in righteousness. Preaching like this in our day is not too popular. This type of sermonizing is a must in discipleship.
So often we pull Scripture verses out of context. Let us put 2 Timothy 3: 16-17 into context by including 4: 1-5 “I charge thee therefore (The “therefore” is the pick up of chapter three, verses sixteen and seventeen.) before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears (these are the people in the church that have itching ears); And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.” Let us not tie the pastor’s hands by our rules, qualification, or requirements.
The Word of God gives very clear God given qualifications for the pastor. These are essentially what the church’s should be. Apostle Paul gives these qualifications in First Timothy 3:1-7 “This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.” Once again Paul gives the same instructions in Titus 1: 5-9. Do not put these two text references as an appendage at the end of your qualifications and requirements. These Bible passages are a lot more valuable then your written out requirements for a pastor. A pastor of any spiritual quality would come to the conclusion that your qualifications are more important than the Scripture. That would turn good men away.
I could give you names of churches in my area that had thought they had called a very qualified man, but he turned out to be a dud. I know what you are trying to do with your own qualifications, as would the business world to prevent this from happening to them.
This reminds me of the church’s, not the Body of Christ, first business meeting before the day of Pentecost. Peter called it! Even used Scripture! Then cast lots (gamble) for the next Apostle! It was futile. The Holy Spirit had not been given yet. The next major Body of Christ business meeting was one that affected us today. You need to read the entire context. Here are just a few texts from it.
Acts 15: 2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.
6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.
19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:
28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; AMEN!
These next requirements come from Apostle Peter, First Peter 5: 1-11. Peter begins this chapter speaking directly to pastors, “The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed.
I want to list these in order as they appear in context and say a few words about each. These requirements give the pastor an awesome responsibility to God not the church. Why do I say that? It comes out of Hebrews 13: 7 “Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation,” and 17 “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.” Remember Ephesians four that states the pastor is a gift from Christ, the Son of God.
We now come to the second resource available to the church in its search for a pastor. God is still sovereign in the choice of your pastor, but the responsibility shifts from the pastor to the church. This is a matter of prayer. We have an idea that prayer is something we do on occasions such as opening and closing meetings, before eating, or before we go to bed. Our casual thinking of prayer really notes our low esteem of God. Can you imagine what would happen between husband and wife if they talk to each other as much as we talk to God? Lovers talk to each other.
The second resource is the church’s responsibility is to pray. I want to go back to the church statement of faith. There are two of them that focus on God, but has much to do with the church’s prayer life.

THE TRINITY

We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These are equal in every divine perfection and perform distinct, but harmonious, functions in creation, redemption and providence (Genesis 1:26; Isaiah 9:6, 7; Matthew 28:19, 20; John 1:1, 14; 10:30).

THE HOLY SPIRIT

We believe in the Holy Spirit who came from the Father and the Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer at the point of salvation, and that He is an abiding helper, teacher and guide (John 3:3-7; 16:8-14; Romans 8:26; Acts 2:38, 39; Ephesians 5:18).
You believe that God exists in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. These three are equal in every divine perfection and perform distinct. Amen, I believe that. You also believe in the Holy Spirit indwells each believer. He is an abiding helper, teacher and guide. Amen and Amen, I believe that. Looking into our evangelical church performance, today, I would have to ask a question. Who is the Holy Spirit?
I am not a Pentecostal and don’t believe in the gifts given by the Holy Spirit as they do. Feelings are a big part of their movement. I have many good and close Christian friends in this movement. My oldest son is in the Assembly of God. That is no reason for us to invite the Holy Spirit out the back door. In our meetings and in our minds the Third Person of the Trinity does not exist. Don’t say to me, “I don’t know what I am talking about.” I have been a faithful committed Baptist for 59 years. I know what I am talking about. You are probably asking, too, “What has this got to do with prayer?” Everything, brother, everything! I want to cover some more ground about the awesome Holy Spirit of God.
In my way of thinking, the Holy Spirit must be a very important Person in
ourselves and the church.
I was told in my Bible College days, “Don’t make doctrine out of history.” The Acts of the Apostles are history, but it does demonstrate the vital relationship between the Holy Spirit and His church. I have already given you one instant of the work of the Holy Spirit in Acts.
There are many evidences in Acts about the Holy Spirit, but I am turning to two events that directly deal with prayer in the church. First, I have something to share with you about my experience with prayer in the church. I was searching for a new church for fellowship. I went to Sunday school, morning and evening services at a Baptist Church in my area. This is the church that my wife and I raised our children. I was very impressed. I went to their Wednesday evening “Prayer Meeting.” I left it very troubled in heart and mind. I did not know what the problem was. I even had a sleepless night over it. I could not put my finger on the problem. That next afternoon it began to come to me what the problem was. The next morning, Friday, I put it into written words. It was not a “Prayer Meeting” in my sense of the word. It was purely a Bible study and prayer for the sick. There is nothing wrong about Bible study or even praying for the sick, but when the church meets together to pray it is to be worship, which is mentioned in Psalm 103: 1-5 “A Psalm of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.”

The Young Church in Real Prayer

Acts 4: 8 “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel:”
The word filled means to be controlled by the Holy Spirit. Now Peter under the control of the Holy Spirit gave some counsel to Israel’s leadership. They in turn threaten the Apostle’s of Christ. The Apostles went back to the church and reported there threatening. What did the church do? The right thing to do is have a prayer meeting.
17 But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.
Just to leave the tract for a minute, This appears to be our problem in our country and culture, today. Our churches need to pray as outlined here in Acts four.
24 And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:
In our addressing God declare His sovereignty as creator of all things.
“They lifted up their voice to God with one accord.” It was a community event. It shows their faith in God by praying together. The Holy Spirit is involved in this from the start with Peter, “filled with the Holy Spirit.” Then at the end of their prayer the Spirit of God answered their request. Secondly, with only one item on their mind, meaning “with one accord.” There were no other requests considered. This is serious business, verse 8 “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, You rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,” and verse 10 “Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead.” This is like going into the lion’s den. Anyone associated with the apostles is open to persecution. They needed great boldness to witness of Jesus Christ.
Let us bring your church into this same prayer situation. It is very serious business in having God’s man as your pastor. I know you feel this, too. I’d call special prayer meetings for only one reason, to pray for God’s calling of your pastor. Here is your assurance of the answer from God, Matthew 18: 18-20 “Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Praise the Lord.
25 Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?
26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.
A pastor I had many years ago, taught us to pray Scripture back to God. I have done this very thing for years. The church in Acts 4 does the very same thing.
27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,
28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.
The Scripture you use should relate to the problem at hand. God’s sovereignty comes up again, “For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.” Keep this firmly in your mind while praying for a pastor, the sovereignty of God.
29 And now, Lord, behold their threatening: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,
30 By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.
Here is their prayer request, “boldness to speak the Word of God.” Then they prayed this request in the name of Jesus.
31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
The answer was given, “boldness to speak the Word of God.” The next few verses go into what happened.
The next event regarding the Holy Spirit and His church speaks mostly about sending fourth missionaries, but also can apply to calling a pastor. I’m going to let you read between the lines other than to say, think carefully of verses 2 and 3. Go and do likewise.
The Calling of Man/Woman into Ministry

Acts 13:1 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
4 So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.
Conclusion

Take this calling of a pastor out of committee into the hands of the church, a church in prayer. This may not sound too organized, but with faith in a sovereign God, “all things work together for good.” God bless you.