This article was supposed to be imbedded in another one I am writing about collegiate ministry and Collegiate Week in particular. But the more I wrote about this subject, the more I realized how important it is and that it really needed its own article.
The Yoda of Louisiana collegiate ministry is Steve Masters, BCM director at LSU. This guy is a machine. I had known of Steve for years, but really got to know him and see him work the week we all lived together during Collegiate Week this past August.
He has created a website which is chock-full of resources every Pastor, Youth Pastor, College Pastor, Campus Minister or anyone else invested in the lives of young people, should know about. Honestly, EVERY Baptist church and ministry leader should know this site.
I’m talking about the SBCcalled.com website. This site could immediately be helpful to you and your church as you attempt to help young people navigate a possible call to ministry.
The first thing you will see at the site is the purpose statement and it is as follows…
Welcome to SBC Called. The purpose of this website is to provide information, resources, and training for High School Students and College Students who feel called to ministry. We hope this website will help these students with their journey into ministry.
The resources are almost overwhelming. There are so many helpful things scattered around the site but the main tabs are as follows…
- Preparation – This section will help you in areas of personal preparation as you explore your call to ministry.
- Resources – This section contains resources that will be helpful in your path to ministry.
- Education – This section provides helpful information for continuing your education as you prepare for ministry.
- High School Students – This section is to help High School students with your calling into ministry.
- College Students Ministry and Missions Opportunities – This section contains information about ministry and missions opportunities throughout the SBC.
The tab titled “SBC INFO” covers information related to the IMB, NAMB, the CP, and the BFM. The site also describes the basic anatomy of Baptist life and how associations, state conventions, and our national entities serve our cooperative effort. And how about this… each of our 6 seminaries and every one of our over 50 Baptist-related colleges are mentioned and linked to from this site. It is literally the one-stop-shop for those who serve our high school and college students as they help our young people consider the possibility of a future in ministry.
The fact is, most of us have heard of the discouraging news related to the lack of young people entering vocational ministry. A number of our states have more churches than they do pastors to shepherd those churches. As I understand it in Mississippi alone 25% of their churches are without pastors.
This resource is one that will help your ministry and your church identify, encourage, and equip your young people to navigate their call to ministry. Desperately needed, this site is appreciated and ought to be regularly utilized.
I am so thankful that God placed this burden on the heart of Steve Masters which was ultimately fleshed out in the form of this website. I look forward to what God is going to do with it as He continues to raise up men and women to serve Him by serving our churches.
Please let your ministry friends (as well as any young people you know who might be interested in ministry) know about the SBCcalled.com website and let’s pray God uses it in a mighty way.
