The Power Of The Pastoral Call.

Do Not Underestimate The Power of the Pastoral Call. It Can Inspire Others To Join In Gods Mission

Pastors wield an incredible power that they often do not recognize—the power of calling others to join them in ministry. Their voices, empowered by the Holy Spirit, resonate in ways that reach deep into the hearts of those they invite to join them in the work of spreading the Gospel. It is a power that does not stem from their own resources or worldly influence but from God through His Holy Spirit.  The pastor has a divine partnership with the God of heaven, who works through their words to inspire and move others.

A Twice-Inspired Call

The pastoral call for others to join them in ministry is a sacred and unique form of communication. When a pastor issues a call to action, it is inspired twice. First, it is inspired as it leaves their lips, born from a yearning to spread the Gospel that God Himself has placed in their heart. Second, it is inspired again when it reaches the hearer, as the Holy Spirit personalizes the call, tailoring it to the individual’s life circumstances, gifts, and mission. This is what I call Holy Spirit editing. It ensures that the message is not just heard but understood and applied to the heart.  The call becomes a conviction that they are receiving a direct call from God Himself. This divine partnership with God amplifies the pastor’s words, infusing them with a potency often unnoticed by the very one speaking them.

Pastors, do not underestimate your call’s power to encourage others to join you in gospel service. God is already preparing individuals for sacrificial service, waiting for you to voice the invitation He wants them to have.  The invitation that will set their feet on the path of ministry.

My Journey: The Weight of a Call

I experienced the strength of the pastoral call firsthand during a pivotal moment in my career. After serving for six years on a pastoral salary in a sacrificial organization, I was considering my next step. Three hours south of my current location, I had an excellent offer— an opportunity that included a generous salary, administrative support, a spacious office, and the resources to create an ideal practice. It seemed like the logical choice.

But then, Pastor Kablanow invited me to join his church-planting effort to the north. He responded clearly and directly when I asked what he could offer me: “Nothing.” No salary, no office space, no staff, no equipment, no referrals—nothing. You might say the offer was an extraordinary one, in a tongue-in-cheek kind of way.

That night, I shared the situation with my wife. The decision was a challenging one. On the one hand, there was stability and financial security; on the other, there was uncertainty and sacrifice, yet a growing conviction of a call. As my wife and I prayed and reflected, one question became central: Was God calling us to go north? The answer was a quiet but firm “yes.” My wife’s response sealed the decision: “Then what are you waiting for? The happiest place you’ll be is where God has called you to go, and it is unsafe to go anywhere else.”

Starting with Nothing

With that conviction, I took the pastor’s offer and began to build a clinic from scratch near his church to support his evangelistic efforts. Starting with no staff, no resources, and only four small rooms in the back of a physical therapy office, I did everything myself—from advertising and scheduling to medical visits and billing. Those first six months were grueling, and I often worked harder than I had during residency and certainly made less income. Yet, looking back, I realize that is the path that God had given me to walk, and I have no regrets. 

The pastor later confided that he would not have had the audacity to make the request if he had understood the magnitude of what he was asking and how it would affect me, my wife, and my family. But that is the beauty of the pastoral call: it moves people to act, not because of what is offered but because it is God who is calling through the pastor’s words. It is a divine partnership between God and a dedicated pastor that brings together resources, people, and opportunities in ways that human planning never could.

The Fruit of Sacrifice

Our partnership lasted over a decade and a half, and through it, lives were changed. People came to know Jesus due to our combined efforts, and my family and I grew in faith and resilience. The rugged road we walked became a path of incredible blessings and had I seen the end from the beginning; I would not have chosen any other way.

A Word to Pastors

Pastors, do not underestimate the power of your call to encourage people to join you in God’s ministry. Your invitation carries divine weight. When you call for others to join you in ministry, God is already at work in their hearts, preparing them to respond. You may not see the results immediately but be assured God can work through your call to inspire individuals to take bold steps of faith, even when the path ahead seems impossible.

The ability to make the pastoral call is a sacred trust. Use it wisely, and use it often. God has placed you in your position to lead and invite others into the incredible privilege of working for Him. Do you believe this?  Make the call in faith and trust that He will provide the resources and the strength needed to accomplish His purposes in His time. You never know who will respond to the call—or how their lives, and yours, will be transformed in the process.

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