ministry

From High Schooler to Pastor

From High Schooler to Pastor

God loves to take ordinary people and do extraordinary things through them. The story of going from high schooler to pastor shows how God can transform a life when someone is willing to follow Him.

This Bible study is built on two powerful passages: 1 Timothy 3, which gives the character traits of a pastor, and Mark 1:17, where Jesus calls His first disciples with just a few words: “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.”

The Call of Jesus is Always Personal

In Mark 1:17, Jesus called Peter and Andrew to follow Him. He didn’t ask them to fill out a form or go to Bible school first. He simply said, “Follow Me.” That’s exactly what He does today. He calls regular people, often in simple moments, and says, “Come with Me. I will change you.”

That’s what happened to one young man. He was just a high school student sitting in church when God touched his heart. He stood up, walked to the front, and gave his life to Christ. That moment changed everything.

The path from high schooler to pastor started with just one step of obedience.

God Looks for Open Vessels

That young man didn’t just stop at salvation. He got involved in the high school ministry. He showed up, listened, served, and started going on missions. SWAT trips—short for Students With A Testimony—took him all over the world. On those trips, he led others to Jesus.

God often chooses people who are open. That’s what Paul meant in 1 Timothy 3. The chapter lays out the qualities of someone who desires to be a pastor. He must be above reproach, faithful, humble, wise, gentle, and grounded in God’s Word. These are not things you get from a classroom—they grow in your life as you walk with Jesus daily.

From high schooler to pastor, the shaping happens in the small, faithful steps.

Mentorship Makes a Big Difference

That young man didn’t grow alone. Someone poured into him. He had a spiritual mentor who prayed with him, taught him, and took him under his wing. At the time, no one knew that young man would marry the mentor’s daughter and become family. But God knew.

That young man became a pastor at Harvest. Later, he and his wife moved to Montgomery, Alabama, where he planted a church called Jesus City Church just two blocks from Martin Luther King Jr.’s church on Dexter Avenue. From a storefront, they’ve reached so many people with the gospel.

God Still Calls and Equips

If God could take a young man from a church seat and send him into full-time ministry, He can do it again and again. Maybe He’s calling you. Or maybe you’re the one called to pour into someone else.

The journey from high schooler to pastor is never about ability—it’s about availability. Say yes to Jesus and see where He leads.

To watch the full message and bible study on this topic, CLICK HERE.

To view on YouTube, CLICK HERE.

The Three Gifts of God

The Three Gifts of God

God is a giver. He doesn’t just give us life—He gives us gifts to help us live for Him and serve others. In the Bible, we see that there are three gifts of God that every believer can receive and use. Obviously, these aren’t gifts to keep to ourselves. They’re meant to help build the church, help others, and glorify the Lord.

Let’s walk through three powerful passages—Galatians 6:9-10, 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, and Ephesians 4:12—and break down these amazing gifts: grace gifts, ministry gifts, and active gifts.

The Three Gifts of God Begin with Grace

First, let’s talk about grace gifts. These are mentioned clearly in 1 Corinthians 12:4-11. Paul writes that there are many kinds of gifts, but they all come from the same Spirit. These gifts include wisdom, knowledge, healing, miracles, prophecy, and more.

These gifts are not something we earn. That’s why they’re called grace gifts. God gives them because He loves us. He gives us the power and the tools we need to do His work. The Greek word here for “gifts” is charismata, which comes from charis, meaning grace. That means these gifts flow from God’s kindness and not from our goodness.

You can’t work hard enough to get them. You don’t need a Bible degree. If you’re a Christian, the Holy Spirit can give you what you need, when you need it, to help someone else. That’s amazing!

The Three Gifts of God Include Ministry

Next comes ministry gifts. You’ll find these in Ephesians 4:12, where Paul says that God gave some to be pastors, teachers, evangelists, and more—not to do all the work—but to help equip everyone for ministry.

The Greek word for ministry is diakonia, which means service. That means ministry isn’t just preaching. It’s doing anything that helps others grow in their faith. Helping with kids’ church? That’s ministry. Encouraging someone going through a hard time? That’s ministry too.

The three gifts of God are not just for pastors or leaders. Every believer has been given something to use to help the church grow strong and full of love.

The Three Gifts of God Must Be Activated

Last, let’s go to Galatians 6:9-10, where Paul encourages us to not grow tired of doing good. This is where we see active gifts. God gives you gifts, but He expects you to use them. That means you have to show up, step out, and get going.

If you never speak up, serve, or take a step of faith, your gift sits on a shelf. But when you obey, God energizes your gift. He uses it to bless people around you and bring them closer to Him.

God doesn’t give us gifts so we can look special. He gives them so we can point people to Him. It’s not about spotlight. It’s about serving.

So let’s recap the three gifts of God:

1. Grace gifts – God gives them by His Spirit.

2. Ministry gifts – God uses them to build His church.

3. Active gifts – God calls us to use them in action.

Don’t let your gift sit idle. You’ve been gifted for a reason—go use it for God’s glory!

To watch the full message and bible study on this topic, CLICK HERE.

To view on YouTube, CLICK HERE.