20 Things I Wish I Knew Before Becoming a Pastor

I am 25 yrs old. I will begin as a transition pastor to a 52 year old church this month. I am helpless, I need God.

Sir, I have been a pastor for 49 years. I have just retired. Your video is wonderful. Every beginning pastor needs to watch this and then spend time meditating on each of these points. Thank you for the video.

if your family is failing, your ministry will fail, family is the first ministry

I'm still in my first year. I just went through number 10 and number 12 today. If anyone's reading this, please pray for me. Please...

Bro, this is so good! You need to make this into a 20-chapter book and build out these concepts. This should be required reading/viewing for every ministry student. Keep it up, man!

Thank you so much! I absolutely agree... What i learned: Everybody want´s to be close to the pastor, but nobody want´s to have a deep friendship with him.

I have been running and hiding from a call to minister for a couple years now, just for these main reasons. Always have been thinking there is no way I'm getting up there. I got a confirmation a few months ago and started studying again when I came across this. The attacks my family and I have already received I take as the devil trying to scare me away again. NO MORE! I will persevere, and get this breakthrough on the other side.

As a veteran pastor, all 20 things mention are accurate. Seminary or Bible college of some kind is important to make sure you know how to interpret Scripture properly. I have been blessed with a long tenure at my current church, but there have been really tough times. A pastor needs to be sure he is called, because he will need to trust the calling when times are tough.

I'm in the seminary pursuing an MDiv, but I am not following the "plant a church" paradigm. Instead, I have designating myself a "field pastor." As a field pastor, I do not pastor a church group specifically, work at, or even attend a church. Instead, I work independently with homeless drug addicts. When people tell me I'll never pastor a church, I laugh and tell them "the world is my church." I agree with the majority of your comments, particularly #3. Even pastors need pastors...if you ever want to talk, you have my name. Grace and peace...keep fighting the good fight!

28) People will talk about you maliciously behind your back including the ones who smile at you in your presence.

As a 20 year pastoral ministry veteran, I can say every one of these is true. Great video. Packed with truth. Needs to be talked about.

#21 It will be difficult to find friends you can trust and want to walk closely with Lord like you because they are so rare.

31) People will criticise your grammar and level of understanding and interpretation of the Scriptures

I got called into ministry 10 years ago and I ran for my life, I saw what pastors go through in local churchs and I didn't want any of that. Last year God closed all the doors of employment, I couldn't earn a living and at a conference God called me again. This time without giving me a choice. I am still afraid and this seems like such a lonely road. Videos like this prepare people. Keep up the good work

27) You will face temptation more frequently than everyone else

I'm 32 years old and just now coming into a place of acceptance of the call to ministry on my life. It is a terrifying thought to be held accountable for the souls of an entire group of people. Thank you for being so brutally honest and transparent about the struggles that only a pastor could know. Blessings my brother.

I was called to the ministry years ago and got scared because I didn’t know God or even who I was. I stepped up and turned my life over to Christ and am now attending Southern Evangelical Seminary. I am on the road that God called me to be on and though I am not worthy, I am on that road and I am blessed to be here. Thank you for this video. God Bless!

I’m a pastors kid. Both my parents preach, for over 20 years. These are sooo true.

Awesome video - we need to hear this - am 39 all I want now is to live my life 100% for God ….. these past 39 years I’ve been my own God and am super tired of that - I’m also an ex Jehovah Witness who is finding God now - everything you mentioned in this video am saying amen 🙏- tks for keeping it real

I used to think being a pastor was wearing a suit and tie and giving a 5 point sermon and praying for people than going home. But the way I see it, it's about Experiencing God and The Divine and leading others to Experience that same Experience with God and teaching them these insights and Truths and helping others to connect to I AM WHO I AM!. I've encountered God and learned many things and I want to lead others to that Encounter with The Divine. God has given us The Ministry of Reconciliation and we want to help others Experience that same Oneness. I'm called to preach but the way I see being a pastor is way way different than how most view it.