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
The importance of pastoral affirmation cannot be overstated. Much of the health of our local churches rises and falls on such a weighty matter. Brian Croft has helpfully heralded a call to local churches to return to the ownership of pastoral discipleship. This work will offer great clarity where much confusion has been found in recent years. --Eric Bancroft, Senior Pastor, Castleview Baptist Church, Indianapolis, Indiana, and Former Adjunct Professor, The Master s College, USA
As a pastor and pastoral-ministries instructor, I greatly enjoyed this work! What Brian Croft has written will help pastors, churches, seminary professors and students include an important but often missed step in a man s journey from a mysterious call to the ministry to a local congregation s call of that man to a pastorate. Brian s challenge rightly returns the responsibility of laying hands on a pastoral candidate from the academy to the local congregation and its elders, while also calling church leaders to recover a proper concept of no man suddenly within the affirmation process one that is gospel-promoting in its intentionality, discernment, investments, and length. Vocational and lay leaders should keep this work close at hand when a man professes an inward call to ministry. May its truths help to strengthen the body of Christ with biblically based appointments of God-fearing, Spirit-called, elder-trained, and church-affirmed shepherds of the flock of God. --Eric C. Redmond, Senior Pastor, Reformation Alive Baptist Church, Temple Hills, and Assistant Professor of Bible and Theology and of Pastoral Ministries, Washington Bible College, Lanham, Maryland, USA
The importance of pastoral affirmation cannot be overstated. Much of the health of our local churches rises and falls on such a weighty matter. Brian Croft has helpfully heralded a call to local churches to return to the ownership of pastoral discipleship. This work will offer great clarity where much confusion has been found in recent years. --Eric Bancroft, Senior Pastor, Castleview Baptist Church, Indianapolis, Indiana, and Former Adjunct Professor, The Master s College, USA
As a pastor and pastoral-ministries instructor, I greatly enjoyed this work! What Brian Croft has written will help pastors, churches, seminary professors and students include an important but often missed step in a man s journey from a mysterious call to the ministry to a local congregation s call of that man to a pastorate. Brian s challenge rightly returns the responsibility of laying hands on a pastoral candidate from the academy to the local congregation and its elders, while also calling church leaders to recover a proper concept of no man suddenly within the affirmation process one that is gospel-promoting in its intentionality, discernment, investments, and length. Vocational and lay leaders should keep this work close at hand when a man professes an inward call to ministry. May its truths help to strengthen the body of Christ with biblically based appointments of God-fearing, Spirit-called, elder-trained, and church-affirmed shepherds of the flock of God. --Eric C. Redmond, Senior Pastor, Reformation Alive Baptist Church, Temple Hills, and Assistant Professor of Bible and Theology and of Pastoral Ministries, Washington Bible College, Lanham, Maryland, USA
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
1 July 2010
By Drew Mery
- Published on Amazon.com
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.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Convicting, Thought-Provoking Work
9 July 2010
By jrh001
- Published on Amazon.com
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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