The once strong commitment by the local church throughout church history to affirm a person who possesses the gifts and godly character suitable for Christian ministry, known as the external call, has practically vanished in the twenty-first century. This book is designed to equip and call back local churches to this biblical responsibility. This is accomplished by answering the typical questions that accompany this topic: Who is responsible? Who receives this call? Who gives this call and how does a local church proceed to give it? These are just a few of the important questions that are biblically, theologically, and practically answered. The aim of this book is to contribute to an awakening in the local church to relieve unnecessary pressures upon theological institutions, alleviate confusion to those seeking a call into gospel ministry, and restore a vision to this divine call which God has placed solely upon his redeemed people.
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In this new and important book, Brian Croft presents a bold and biblical understanding of the call to ministry. Along the way, Brian clarifies many issues of contemporary confusion, and his commitment to the local church ensures that his understanding of the call to ministry is never severed from the context of God's people. Few books are more timely than this one, and I am thankful to Brian Croft for his faithful and careful consideration of the call to ministry. --R. Albert Mohler, Jr., President, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Brian Croft provides clear, practical teaching about the role of the local church regarding men who sense a call to vocational ministry. This process used to be referred to as a church's ongoing ministry of 'calling out the called.' Pastor Croft has led his church to develop an intentional approach to evaluating a man's sense of call, an approach that is as effective as that of almost any church I know. If you have responsibilities of spiritual leadership in your local church, you'll want to get this book, for you'll find it helpful every time a man indicates that he senses God's call to vocational ministry. --Donald Whitney, Associate Professor of Biblical Spirituality and former Director of Applied Ministry, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, USA
Brian Croft loves the Savior, and he loves the church. That comes through in every page of this book. And every page of this book offers cogent, biblical, and useful instruction for this most necessary of responsibilities in the local church: testing, training, affirming, and sending workers into the ministry. For those of us who care that the harvest is plentiful and want the Lord of the harvest to send workers, this book helps us to be sure the workers are worth their wages. Croft tells us what to look for, and when we find it, how to cultivate it. --Thabiti Anyabwile, Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church of Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, and author, 'What Is a Healthy Church Member?'
Brian Croft provides clear, practical teaching about the role of the local church regarding men who sense a call to vocational ministry. This process used to be referred to as a church's ongoing ministry of 'calling out the called.' Pastor Croft has led his church to develop an intentional approach to evaluating a man's sense of call, an approach that is as effective as that of almost any church I know. If you have responsibilities of spiritual leadership in your local church, you'll want to get this book, for you'll find it helpful every time a man indicates that he senses God's call to vocational ministry. --Donald Whitney, Associate Professor of Biblical Spirituality and former Director of Applied Ministry, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, USA
Brian Croft loves the Savior, and he loves the church. That comes through in every page of this book. And every page of this book offers cogent, biblical, and useful instruction for this most necessary of responsibilities in the local church: testing, training, affirming, and sending workers into the ministry. For those of us who care that the harvest is plentiful and want the Lord of the harvest to send workers, this book helps us to be sure the workers are worth their wages. Croft tells us what to look for, and when we find it, how to cultivate it. --Thabiti Anyabwile, Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church of Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, and author, 'What Is a Healthy Church Member?'
About the Author
Brian Croft graduated from Indiana University in 1997 with a B.A. in Sociology and undertook some graduate work at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has served in pastoral ministry for fifteen years and is currently in his seventh year as Senior Pastor of Auburndale Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky, USA. He is the author of Visit the Sick: Ministering God's grace in times of illness (Acclaimed by Dr. Albert Mohler Jr. in Preaching Magazine as one of the year's best books for preachers in 2008). He and his wife, Cara, have four children: Samuel, Abby, Isabelle, and Claire.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Much Needed Biblical Instruction and Practical Wisdom in the Call to the Ministry
July 1, 2010
By Drew Mery
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Brian Croft, Senior Pastor of Auburndale Baptist church in Louisville, Kentucky, has produced a much needed resource in the area of the call to the ministry (as a pastor or missionary). This concise work comes equipped with a forward by Albert Mohler, Jr. himself, who, when speaks, deserves our attention. In his introduction, Brian Croft draws our attention to two aspects of the call to the ministry; one of them we are quite familiar with, while the other is often neglected in our day. The internal call is that call an individual senses within himself, as a God-given desire to work in the ministry, and believes he has been gifted for such a purpose. The external call, the one neglected or misunderstood, is that call which involves the local church examining the ministry-aspirant. It is this call that Croft seeks to give clarity and biblical instruction in, and I believe he has done us all a huge favor in this Bible-centered book, full of practical insight from his own ministry. The chapters follow:
Introduction
1 Prologue: To What is the Pastor Called?
2 Who is Responsible for the External Call?
3 Who Should Receive the External Call?
4 Who Gives the External Call?
5 How Should We Proceed with the External Call?
6 What is at Stake with the External Call?
7 Conclusion
Appendix 1 Pastoral Internship Template
Appendix 2 Service Review Evaluation
Appendix 3 The External Call (Acts 13:1-3)
I'm tempted to spend a brief amount of time in each chapter giving a summary of Croft's main points, but at the same time I don't want to give too much away. Allow me, therefore, to briefly summarize the whole book. Croft is obviously speaking from experience, as evidenced from the rich examples within his own ministry and the edifying insights of the parties, processes, and implications of the external call. Croft does a great job showing how the entire church body is involved in this testing, training, affirming and sending external call. While the pastors/elders of the church are the main authorities in the matter, the entire body has a responsibility-indeed a duty-to examine, encourage, and judge whether or not this aspirant minister is indeed called of God to enter this honorable and serious office. God has not given this responsibility to the colleges, seminaries, and para-church organizations-as helpful as they may be-but He has ordained this ministerial exercise to take place in the context of the local church.
The pastoral office (and the missionary alike) consists of numerous duties and privileges, of which his primary duties are to preach the word (2 Tim. 4:2) and shepherd the flock of Christ, all the while being a humble example to the flock (1 Pet. 5:1-4). Certain gifts and characteristics (1 Tim. 3:1-7; Tit. 1:5-9) will accompany the man that God has called to this office. The local church (pastors/elders and congregation) have a God-given responsibility to confirm that this individual (or individuals) indeed possesses these gifts and characteristics (at least to some degree, as the aspirant is expected to mature spiritually as he is tested and trained). Besides the Scripture references, and quotations by past, godly and faithful ministers, Croft provides practical examples from his own ministry how this process of testing, training, affirming, and then sending into the ministry may be fulfilled.
In Chapter 4 Croft provides four marks or areas of a faithful church that are essential in this external call process: 1) a local church whose central focus and practice are determined by Scripture, 2) a local church with pastors that shepherd and care for God's people, 3) a local church with a "regenerate" church membership, and 4) a local church that practices church discipline. For more information on these areas you need to get the book and read it
In Chapter 6 Croft presents some serious warnings to churches and individuals who fail in this task. He discusses four areas of risk if this external call is neglected: 1) the lives of individual Christians, 2) the well-being of local churches, 3) the effectiveness of theological education, and 4) the glory and name of Christ.
This book discusses the fundamental areas of this external call to the ministry, and will therefore serve as a great resource for pastors/elders, aspirant ministers, and lay-members alike. I don't simply highly recommend this book; I plead with you to pick up and read, and apply these biblical principles and practical insights in your own local church. I firmly believe that a stronger, healthier, and more doctrinally aware church will be the fruit of your faithful efforts. Thank you Brian Croft for supplying the church with this richly edifying and needed resource. I will reference it time and time again in my own ministry.
Introduction
1 Prologue: To What is the Pastor Called?
2 Who is Responsible for the External Call?
3 Who Should Receive the External Call?
4 Who Gives the External Call?
5 How Should We Proceed with the External Call?
6 What is at Stake with the External Call?
7 Conclusion
Appendix 1 Pastoral Internship Template
Appendix 2 Service Review Evaluation
Appendix 3 The External Call (Acts 13:1-3)
I'm tempted to spend a brief amount of time in each chapter giving a summary of Croft's main points, but at the same time I don't want to give too much away. Allow me, therefore, to briefly summarize the whole book. Croft is obviously speaking from experience, as evidenced from the rich examples within his own ministry and the edifying insights of the parties, processes, and implications of the external call. Croft does a great job showing how the entire church body is involved in this testing, training, affirming and sending external call. While the pastors/elders of the church are the main authorities in the matter, the entire body has a responsibility-indeed a duty-to examine, encourage, and judge whether or not this aspirant minister is indeed called of God to enter this honorable and serious office. God has not given this responsibility to the colleges, seminaries, and para-church organizations-as helpful as they may be-but He has ordained this ministerial exercise to take place in the context of the local church.
The pastoral office (and the missionary alike) consists of numerous duties and privileges, of which his primary duties are to preach the word (2 Tim. 4:2) and shepherd the flock of Christ, all the while being a humble example to the flock (1 Pet. 5:1-4). Certain gifts and characteristics (1 Tim. 3:1-7; Tit. 1:5-9) will accompany the man that God has called to this office. The local church (pastors/elders and congregation) have a God-given responsibility to confirm that this individual (or individuals) indeed possesses these gifts and characteristics (at least to some degree, as the aspirant is expected to mature spiritually as he is tested and trained). Besides the Scripture references, and quotations by past, godly and faithful ministers, Croft provides practical examples from his own ministry how this process of testing, training, affirming, and then sending into the ministry may be fulfilled.
In Chapter 4 Croft provides four marks or areas of a faithful church that are essential in this external call process: 1) a local church whose central focus and practice are determined by Scripture, 2) a local church with pastors that shepherd and care for God's people, 3) a local church with a "regenerate" church membership, and 4) a local church that practices church discipline. For more information on these areas you need to get the book and read it
In Chapter 6 Croft presents some serious warnings to churches and individuals who fail in this task. He discusses four areas of risk if this external call is neglected: 1) the lives of individual Christians, 2) the well-being of local churches, 3) the effectiveness of theological education, and 4) the glory and name of Christ.
This book discusses the fundamental areas of this external call to the ministry, and will therefore serve as a great resource for pastors/elders, aspirant ministers, and lay-members alike. I don't simply highly recommend this book; I plead with you to pick up and read, and apply these biblical principles and practical insights in your own local church. I firmly believe that a stronger, healthier, and more doctrinally aware church will be the fruit of your faithful efforts. Thank you Brian Croft for supplying the church with this richly edifying and needed resource. I will reference it time and time again in my own ministry.
By jrh001
Format:Paperback
Brian Croft writes an excellent, succinct book discussing the local church's responsibility to "call the called." Croft says that while the personal, internal call of a man to preach is necessary, it is not nearly sufficient to determined who is truly called by God and who is not. What is necessary is for the local church to test and train a man to determine his gifts and abilities and then finally affirm (or not) whether he is truly called to the pastorate or not.
The book has many strengths. Croft has worked in the pastorate for about 15 years, and his practical experience shows through the pages. Croft writes with passion, insight, and pastoral wisdom. This is plainly a man who is serious about shepherding the people of God and is anxious to see the next generation of pastors and teachers rise to their high calling. The book is well researched and well written with numerous quotations and thoughtful interaction with both authors and the Bible. Test, Train, Affirm, and Send is also eminently practical for all those involved in church from pastoral staff to laymen in the pews. In short, the book was a pleasure to read.
On a personal note, it was very convicting and makes me ponder my specific calling. I certainly feel the internal call, but I've never thought about the genuine necessity to seek external confirmation. This will be something that I will be prayerfully pursuing in the coming weeks. I am exceedingly thankful that Brian Croft took time write this short yet wonderful little book on practical pastoral ministry.
The book has many strengths. Croft has worked in the pastorate for about 15 years, and his practical experience shows through the pages. Croft writes with passion, insight, and pastoral wisdom. This is plainly a man who is serious about shepherding the people of God and is anxious to see the next generation of pastors and teachers rise to their high calling. The book is well researched and well written with numerous quotations and thoughtful interaction with both authors and the Bible. Test, Train, Affirm, and Send is also eminently practical for all those involved in church from pastoral staff to laymen in the pews. In short, the book was a pleasure to read.
On a personal note, it was very convicting and makes me ponder my specific calling. I certainly feel the internal call, but I've never thought about the genuine necessity to seek external confirmation. This will be something that I will be prayerfully pursuing in the coming weeks. I am exceedingly thankful that Brian Croft took time write this short yet wonderful little book on practical pastoral ministry.
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