What Is Vocational Ministry and Is It Right for You?

Young people who feel their faith deeply may be considering a career in mission work — service to God and His people. There are different ministries in church settings that you might consider pursuing, but before you do, it's a good idea to become more familiar with the concept of vocational ministry and what it entails. So, what is vocational ministry, exactly, and could it be the right choice for you? Let's take a closer look.

In This Article:

• Vocational Ministry Definition
• Is Pursuing Different Ministries in Church Right for You?
• What Are Vocational Ministry Careers?
• Essential Skills and Qualities for Faith Leaders
• Follow Your Faith to GCU

Vocational Ministry Definition

The vocational ministry definition is a calling to dedicate one’s life to serving God and His Church. In other words, vocational ministry involves pursuing a career (not just a volunteer position) within or related to church activities.

For instance, a person’s occupation might be in healthcare, but they volunteer at a soup kitchen on a regular basis — a type of outreach ministry. That is a way to engage in Christian ministry because it serves God’s people.

Another example could be a person who works a full-time job outside of the church but volunteers to lead faith formation classes for young children on Sundays. That is a type of educational ministry or youth ministry.

Is Pursuing Different Ministries in Church Right for You?

Not every Christian will feel called to serve in this capacity, and that is perfectly fine. Every Christian, regardless of where their career takes them, will have plenty of opportunities to serve God and bring glory to Christ’s name. However, if you do feel strongly called to serve in vocational ministry and you’re giving it serious consideration, you may wish to do the following:

• Pray about it: Christians don’t have to make decisions alone. Before making any major decision, such as choosing a career path in ministry, you should take plenty of time to pray about your decision. In thoughtful reflection, you may find God’s answer for you.
• Talk to your family: In addition to talking with God about your future path, you may find it helpful to discuss your thoughts with your family. They may help guide you and provide some food for thought as you make your decision.
• Talk to your pastor: It’s highly recommended to speak to your faith leader before deciding whether a career in vocational ministry could be right for you. Your pastor can help you understand what the career path entails, what you can expect and whether you might be well-suited to it. Your pastor might even recommend a specific vocational ministry occupation that they feel would suit your strengths and interests well.
• Become more involved in your church: If serving in church settings could be your career path, then it makes sense to become more involved in your church as soon as possible. Ask your pastor about volunteer positions, for example. You could also become an active participant in Bible study groups, community outreach projects and similar church activities.

If vocational ministry is in your future, you may also wish to spend more time reading the Bible and reflecting upon its teachings. Become an active student of the Bible. For example, in addition to reading it cover to cover, take the time to jot down questions and reflect upon how theology might be applied in everyday situations.

Another way to determine whether your future career lies in church settings is to take a closer look at the various occupations available.

What Are Vocational Ministry Careers?

Now that you’re familiar with the general vocational ministry definition, you may wish to examine specific career options. Consider the following types of careers in church settings:

Pastor

Becoming a pastor is one possible career goal for students who decide to pursue vocational ministry. The head pastor or lead pastor of the church is responsible for leading the congregation. They handle the following tasks:¹ 

• Prepare sermons based in biblical teachings
• Deliver the sermon during worship services
• Interpret and teach biblical scripture
• Provide counsel to congregation members

Youth Pastor

Another important position within the church is that of the youth pastor. As the job title implies, the youth pastor is responsible for nurturing the spiritual development and faith formation of the congregation’s young members. In some churches, youth pastors oversee a broad age range of worshippers — from about 12 to as old as 30. Youth pastors provide spiritual support and counseling.¹

Music Director

If your God-given talents are musical in nature, then perhaps an ideal vocational ministry career for you could be to pursue a position as the music director. Music directors are responsible for planning and organizing worship arts services, which include music and other forms of media. They lead the choir and also typically handle some administrative duties related to worship arts services.¹

Chaplain

When considering a career in vocational ministry, you may also wish to think about choices that lie outside of traditional church settings. For instance, perhaps you might wish to pursue a career as a chaplain. Chaplains serve God outside the church in places such as hospitals and other healthcare settings, as well as prisons, police departments and fire departments.¹

Chaplains may perform a broad range of job duties, such as leading worship services and performing religious rites. A chaplain may offer guidance on spiritual issues, and they can create spiritual care plans for both patients and healthcare staff members. Chaplains may even implement and oversee spiritual education programs, and they can provide crisis intervention (e.g., for recently bereaved families).¹

Missionary

If you long to travel and see other parts of the world, you might want to consider doing mission work full-time. Missionaries typically travel to other countries to spread the word of God. They may also engage in projects designed to assist and empower the local community (e.g., build a clinic or a school). Missionaries are generally sponsored by their church or by various Christian organizations.² 

Essential Skills and Qualities for Faith Leaders

God gives everyone unique strengths and talents, as well as the opportunity to develop new skills and qualities. One of the wonderful aspects of pursuing a life in vocational ministry is that there are so many different types of ministries you could choose, which means there is bound to be one that could fit your particular skill set and characteristics.¹

That said, there are some particular skills and qualities that aspiring faith leaders can benefit from. Do not worry if you don’t feel that you possess all of them. If you earn a degree in Christian ministry, you may have opportunities to work on developing skills and qualities, such as a Christ-like character. You can choose to continue to work on improving your character and refining your skills throughout your life.

The following skills and characteristics can be especially helpful for those pursuing a path in vocational ministry:²

• Scriptural knowledge, interpretation and application
• Public speaking
• Emotional support and spiritual guidance
• Ethical leadership
• Administrative skills (e.g., budgeting)
• Conflict resolution

Follow Your Faith to GCU

Grand Canyon University is a private Christian school that welcomes future Christian leaders to our campus. The College of Theology offers a number of bachelor’s degree programs for those interested in pursuing a life in service to Christ, including the Bachelor of Arts in Christian Ministry. Students will have opportunities to explore key concepts in ministry leadership and the applications of theology and will be encouraged to emulate a Christ-like character.