Topic: Pastor Interview

Order Description
Instructions: As a conclusion to this assignment, include a 1 page summary of your observations from the interview described below and what applications you may make to your present or future ministry as a result of conducting the interview.

Pastor Name: Tom
Church Name: First Baptist Church
Section II: Interview Question
1. Tell me about your call to pastoral ministry? I’ve been serving in some capacity of ministry in the local church since I got saved in 1971. In about 1998 I felt the call to preach and I was licensed in 2000. I was ordained in 2008 when I went into a full time ministry position with California Southern Baptist Convention. I knew I was called to preach and minister but wasn’t sure if I would ever be a Senior Pastor. Until, at the end of 2013, when my time with California Southern Baptist was coming to an end. The pastor of the church I was attending said he was going to retire and was thinking about closing the church. I felt God spoke to me, and said step up, and take over as the Senior Pastor. I did, and have been serving in that capacity for two years
now.

2. Which pastoral responsibility do you enjoy the most, and why? I of course love preaching and teaching, because I think it’s what I do best.

3. Which pastoral duty do you enjoy the least, and why? Thing I enjoy least is correction. By nature I am a pretty mellow person which makes Paul’s instruction to rebuke, exhort and correct hard for me.

4. Describe the amount of time you spend in an average week in sermon preparation? I’ve been preaching and teaching for a long time now. So I have lots of experience and scripture in my heart. Not bragging, I can almost stand up and preach on queue. So since my congregation is made up of a lot of people young in their faith, I do a lot of basic teaching, so I don’t spend as much time in preparation as a pastor of a much more mature congregation. That said I probably spend on average a couple hours a week in sermon prep, not counting PowerPoint prep or handout prep. My sermons come from my devotions and needs I see in the congregation. Also I’m not a manuscript preacher. I preach from outlines and rely on God to give me words and illustration as I go.

5. Describe the amount of time you spend in an average week in administrative responsibilities? I spend a lot of time in administrative task. As a pastor of a small church I wear pretty much all of the administrative hats.

6. Describe the amount of time you spend in an average week in personal devotions and prayer? Here is my normal routine. I’m up, I do some stretching type exercises and I walk for about 30 minutes. While walking, I’m praying. When I get back home I jump on my stationary exercise bike. I ride the bike for 30 to 45 minutes. I use this time for reading
through the Bible. I have breakfast and then use our Daily Bread or The You Version Bible for personal devotions which are usually followed by prayer using one of my prayer list.
7. What is an area of pastoral ministry you wish you had been taught in school? I spent about two years and Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary but didn’t finish. So there is a lot I didn’t learn in school. My training as been received from working in the local church, my secular jobs, personal reading, conferences, and workshops.

8. Describe your ordination council? The council was made up of local pastors, deacons and the DOM of the local Southern Baptist Association. At the point I was ordained I had been preaching for 8 years and had over 30 years in local church ministry. I studied some and was able to answer all the questions fairly easily. It was a great experience.

9. What is one piece of advice you would give to someone aspiring to become a pastor? Don’t do it unless you know for sure you are called. Being the pastor is more than just preaching, its hard work that requires, patience, vision, passion, sacrifice and resilience. If you just want to be called pastor, and get a parking spot with your name on it, find something else to do.