Those who plan to become a minister of tomorrow must be filled to the brim with gospel hope, and this hope is not based upon talent, intellect or any expectation of reward. Nouwen grounds the Christian hope in the resurrection, and ministers of tomorrow must speak of hope, but not as an attachment to one’s experience or giftedness. Instead, our hopes rest in the one to whom all authority in heaven and on earth rests, Jesus, the resurrected and conquering King. Thus, as Nouwen suggests, “Hope prevents us from clinging to what we have and frees us to move away from the safe place and enter unknown and fearful territory” (p. 76).
Becoming a minister of tomorrow means they are liberated from the fears of horizontal critique, and they’re not deadened by the applause of man. Instead, they lead tenderly with transparent courage; they are patient enough and humble enough to bear the burdens of the suffering, and their message and ministry is saturated with gospel hope. When the curtain fully rises from pandemic disruption, and when the stage is set for our return to normalcy, these are the ministers tomorrow needs on center stage.
Grand Canyon University has been training Christians in ministry since its inception. If you are interested in pursuing a career in ministry, GCU's College of Theology has many degree programs, including Bachelor of Arts in Christian Ministry and Bachelor of Arts in Christian Studies.
References:
Nouwen, H. (1979). The Wounded Healer: Ministry in Contemporary Society. Image/Doubleday.