Why the Church Must Relearn the Art of Encouraging Callings
Encouraging callings in today’s Church is more vital than ever. When Jesus said, “The harvest is rich, but the labourers are few” (Luke 10:2, RNJB), He was highlighting the urgency—not the bureaucracy—of responding to God’s call.
I find myself wondering: If the harvest is so plentiful… why do we make it so hard for people to become labourers?
That’s where this episode begins. It’s not about doctrine versus pastoral care (that was Episode 4). This time, we’re looking at the people who feel called—truly called—to serve, to lead, to teach or plant or guide—but instead of encouraging callings, the Church often quietly dismisses them.
I’ve lived it. And I’ve heard it from many others, too.
Some get “discerned” to death—kept in a holding pattern of uncertainty, meetings, applications, and silence… Rather than being supported through a culture of encouraging their calling. Others are told they need theological degrees from specific institutions (and good luck affording those, if your church can’t or won’t pay for you). And some are overlooked because their path to ministry doesn’t “look right” to those holding the keys.
They’re not denied outright. That would be clearer. They’re just never really invited in.
And all the while, the harvest goes unworked.
When Discernment Becomes Delay
In many traditional systems, discernment is held up as a kind of sacred filtering process. And in theory, it should be: a thoughtful, Spirit-led journey of testing and affirming someone’s calling.
But what I’ve seen far too often is something else.
I’ve spoken to people who waited years—years—just to be told maybe. People who were nudged forward just enough to give them hope, but never embraced enough to give them confidence. People who were asked more about their academic record than their character. Who got more questions about their CV than their capacity to love.
I’ve felt it myself.
Sometimes the hurdles are theological. Sometimes they’re logistical. Sometimes it’s as simple (and as devastating) as not having the right sponsor, the right background, or the right accent. And often, the process costs more than many can afford—not just financially, but emotionally and spiritually.
It’s exhausting to feel called and yet constantly questioned.
It’s disorienting to hear “You’re gifted” but be given no space to use that gift.
It’s discouraging to see opportunity extended to those with titles, while those with testimony are left waiting.
Encouraging Callings: There’s More Than One Way to Say Yes
When I began studying with Christian Leaders Institute (CLI) and later became recognised through Christian Leaders Alliance (CLA), what struck me was the opposite spirit. I wasn’t treated like a risk to be evaluated—I was treated like a worker to be equipped.
They didn’t promise fast-track ordination. They didn’t hand out credentials lightly. But they did say this: “If God is calling you, let’s help you get the tools to answer.”
It was simple. And beautiful.
The training was high-quality and free. The discernment came not from distant panels, but from people who actually knew me—pastors, family members, mature Christians who could speak truthfully into my life. It wasn’t easier. But it was accessible. And most of all, it was encouraging.
And sadly, I’ve heard the way others speak about it. I’ve heard the snide remarks: “ordination mills,” “not real seminaries,” or “backdoor clergy.” But here’s the thing—many of the pastors I’ve seen go through CLI and CLA are more Christlike, more servant-hearted, and more missionally engaged than some in far more traditional settings.
They’re feeding the hungry. They’re planting house churches. They’re leading with humility.
And they’re doing it not because a system crowned them, but because Christ called them—and someone said yes.
One Body, Many Parts: Toward Accessible Ministry and Encouraging Callings
Jesus told His disciples, “Anyone who is not against us is for us” (Mark 9:40, RNJB). Paul said, “The body is one, though it has many parts” (1 Corinthians 12:12, RNJB). And again: “I am the vine, you are the branches” (John 15:5, RNJB).
These aren’t just poetic metaphors. They’re reminders that Christ’s Church is diverse, interconnected, and rooted in Him—not in any one structure, culture, or brand.
But somewhere along the line, we’ve forgotten that.
We treat difference with suspicion. We mock unfamiliar paths. We confuse institutional alignment with spiritual anointing. And instead of saying “How can we build you up?” we often say “Are you even allowed in here?”
It’s time to stop sniggering and start supporting.
As Proverbs says, “Iron is sharpened by iron, one person sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17, RNJB). And in Ephesians: “Encourage one another and build each other up” (1 Thessalonians 5:11, NJB).
Soft Eggs, Hard Eggs… Still Eggs
Here’s a simple analogy that makes the point: I like soft eggs. You might prefer hard-boiled. They’re cooked differently. They feel different. But they’re still eggs. They nourish the body.
So why do we act like our way of doing church or training clergy is the only “edible” method?
The problem with church gatekeeping is that it creates insiders and outsiders—not based on calling, but on conformity. If we want to see genuine growth, we must shift from control to encouraging callings, making space for every part of the Body to serve.
Some are trained in formal seminaries. Some are raised up in house churches. Some are bivocational, unpaid, unknown. Some wear vestments, others don’t. Some baptise in fonts, others in rivers.
And yet all serve the same Christ.
If we believe in “one holy, catholic, and apostolic Church,” then we must start acting like it. Not by erasing difference, but by honouring calling—wherever it arises. The real test isn’t how someone was trained, but whether they walk in truth, humility, and love.
My own journey has been anything but conventional. In the last few years, I’ve worshipped in a wide variety of communities—some more contemporary and casual, others traditional and liturgical. I’ve been deeply shaped by this mix. As a child, I’d visit friends’ churches—Roman Catholic, Methodist, Anglican, Presbyterian, Pentecostal—and I loved the diversity.
From my early twenties, I worked as a company director in a century-old firm, then became a stay-at-home pug dad and ministry student. I studied theology through organisations that don’t share all my views, which taught me to ask difficult questions and think deeply. I’ve lived as an immigrant in two countries, navigated systems that didn’t always understand me, and found grace along the way.
All of this has helped me see ministry from a different angle. I don’t believe tradition should be discarded—but I do believe it must remain alive. I’ve grown to love vestments, liturgy, and the sacred mystery of the Church. And I believe that just as the early Church held many backgrounds together in one Body, we must make room for different journeys into faithful service.
The Church Needs More Shepherds, Not More Bouncers
The role of the Church isn’t to secure the gate. It’s to open it wide—to make space for the Spirit to do what only the Spirit can do.
Yes, we need discernment. But discernment without encouragement becomes control.
Yes, we need standards. But standards without grace become stumbling blocks.
We don’t need more gatekeepers. We need more guides.
People who lead others to Christ—not just into systems.
People who bless the broken, not just affirm the polished.
People who see the potential in someone who hasn’t had the right doors opened yet.
Because if the harvest is still plentiful, and the workers are still few… then let’s stop standing in the way.
Let’s equip. Let’s encourage. Let’s commit to encouraging callings—not controlling them. Let’s get out of God’s way—and back to His work.
✍️ Writer’s Note
This article reflects my own experiences and observations—shaped by prayer, Scripture, and an often unconventional journey into ministry. I’ve been encouraged and I’ve been overlooked. I’ve walked both well-trodden paths and unexpected ones. This reflection isn’t about attacking systems—it’s about asking whether we’re building walls or making space for the Spirit to move. Because if the harvest is still plentiful… then maybe it’s time we stopped standing in the way.
To begin this series from the start, read Returning to the Table: A Call to Authentic Christianity.
📖 “The harvest is rich, but the labourers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send labourers into his harvest.”
— Luke 10:2, Revised New Jerusalem Bible (RNJB)
📚 Reference
Christian Leaders Institute / Alliance – https://www.christianleaders.org
Cremer, Benjamin.
“Jesus didn’t tell the disciples to guard the gate. He told them to feed the sheep.”
Posted via X (Twitter), 2023
Cremer, Benjamin.
“Beware of ministries that operate like kingdoms instead of like communities.”
Posted on X (formerly Twitter), 2023.
🔍 Further Reading & Supporting Perspectives
On socioeconomic barriers in church leadership:
📰 “A middle‑class culture dominates the Church” – Church Times
Explores how church leadership often reflects and reinforces middle-class norms
https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2019/1-march/comment/opinion/a-middle-class-culture-dominates-the-church
On working-class clergy feeling overlooked:
📰 “Do clergy have to stop being working class?” – Church Times
A commentary on how selection processes can alienate those from lower-income backgrounds
https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2024/5-july/comment/opinion/do-clergy-have-to-stop-being-working-class
On overcoming class divisions in church life:
📰 “Has the Church forgotten the working class?” – Psephizo
Examines the invisibility of working-class voices in many church contexts
https://www.psephizo.com/reviews/has-the-church-forgotten-the-working-class/
On accessible training for ministry:
📰 “Studying Ministry” – Christian Leaders Institute
Details CLI’s tuition-free, online pathways for those feeling called to serve
https://www.christianleadersinstitute.org/study-ministry-training-online/
📚 Further Resources from FHLM
If this article spoke to you—especially if you’ve felt called but sidelined, or hungry to serve in a Church that reflects Christ more than credentials—explore our free and growing library of tools for life-giving ministry:
✅ Finding Freedom – A 2-week study for those recovering from spiritual manipulation or discouragement
✅ Guiding Souls – Reflections on mentoring and Spirit-led leadership
✅ Servant Leadership – A practical training pack for faith-based or secular ministry
✅ One Faith, Many Journeys – A devotional series honouring diverse paths to Christ
Explore them all at: FHLM Resource Library