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1 Indeed Editorial Team. (2024, April 18). 11 Jobs in a Church to Pursue (Plus Salaries and Duties). Retrieved Nov. 25, 2024.
2 Indeed Editorial Team. (2024, April 18). FAQ: What Can You Do With a Christian Ministry Degree? Retrieved Nov. 25, 2024.
Approved and verified accurate by the dean of the College of Theology on Jan. 16, 2025.
The vocational ministry definition is a calling to dedicate one’s life to serving God and His Church. In other words, vocational ministry involves pursuing a career (not just a volunteer position) within or related to church activities.
For instance, a person’s occupation might be in healthcare, but they volunteer at a soup kitchen on a regular basis — a type of outreach ministry. That is a way to engage in Christian ministry because it serves God’s people.
Another example could be a person who works a full-time job outside of the church but volunteers to lead faith formation classes for young children on Sundays. That is a type of educational ministry or youth ministry.
God gives everyone unique strengths and talents, as well as the opportunity to develop new skills and qualities. One of the wonderful aspects of pursuing a life in vocational ministry is that there are so many different types of ministries you could choose, which means there is bound to be one that could fit your particular skill set and characteristics.1
That said, there are some particular skills and qualities that aspiring faith leaders can benefit from. Do not worry if you don’t feel that you possess all of them. If you earn a degree in Christian ministry, you may have opportunities to work on developing skills and qualities, such as a Christ-like character. You can choose to continue to work on improving your character and refining your skills throughout your life.
The following skills and characteristics can be especially helpful for those pursuing a path in vocational ministry:2
Young people who feel their faith deeply may be considering a career in mission work — service to God and His people. There are different ministries in church settings that you might consider pursuing, but before you do, it's a good idea to become more familiar with the concept of vocational ministry and what it entails. So, what is vocational ministry, exactly, and could it be the right choice for you? Let's take a closer look.
Not every Christian will feel called to serve in this capacity, and that is perfectly fine. Every Christian, regardless of where their career takes them, will have plenty of opportunities to serve God and bring glory to Christ’s name. However, if you do feel strongly called to serve in vocational ministry and you’re giving it serious consideration, you may wish to do the following:
If vocational ministry is in your future, you may also wish to spend more time reading the Bible and reflecting upon its teachings. Become an active student of the Bible. For example, in addition to reading it cover to cover, take the time to jot down questions and reflect upon how theology might be applied in everyday situations.
Another way to determine whether your future career lies in church settings is to take a closer look at the various occupations available.
Now that you’re familiar with the general vocational ministry definition, you may wish to examine specific career options. Consider the following types of careers in church settings:
Becoming a pastor is one possible career goal for students who decide to pursue vocational ministry. The head pastor or lead pastor of the church is responsible for leading the congregation. They handle the following tasks:1
Another important position within the church is that of the youth pastor. As the job title implies, the youth pastor is responsible for nurturing the spiritual development and faith formation of the congregation’s young members. In some churches, youth pastors oversee a broad age range of worshippers — from about 12 to as old as 30. Youth pastors provide spiritual support and counseling.1
If your God-given talents are musical in nature, then perhaps an ideal vocational ministry career for you could be to pursue a position as the music director. Music directors are responsible for planning and organizing worship arts services, which include music and other forms of media. They lead the choir and also typically handle some administrative duties related to worship arts services.1
When considering a career in vocational ministry, you may also wish to think about choices that lie outside of traditional church settings. For instance, perhaps you might wish to pursue a career as a chaplain. Chaplains serve God outside the church in places such as hospitals and other healthcare settings, as well as prisons, police departments and fire departments.1
Chaplains may perform a broad range of job duties, such as leading worship services and performing religious rites. A chaplain may offer guidance on spiritual issues, and they can create spiritual care plans for both patients and healthcare staff members. Chaplains may even implement and oversee spiritual education programs, and they can provide crisis intervention (e.g., for recently bereaved families).1
If you long to travel and see other parts of the world, you might want to consider doing mission work full-time. Missionaries typically travel to other countries to spread the word of God. They may also engage in projects designed to assist and empower the local community (e.g., build a clinic or a school). Missionaries are generally sponsored by their church or by various Christian organizations.2
Grand Canyon University is a private Christian school that welcomes future Christian leaders to our campus. The College of Theology offers a number of bachelor’s degree programs for those interested in pursuing a life in service to Christ, including the Bachelor of Arts in Christian Ministry. Students will have opportunities to explore key concepts in ministry leadership and the applications of theology and will be encouraged to emulate a Christ-like character.
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