I am not sure whether “Aggressive Pastoring and Ministry” is the best title for today’s reflection, but it seems to describe what I have been observing among the graduates of Melvin University.
These days, the ministry of our graduates is very aggressive. First of all, I believe this comes out of necessity. After graduation, they feel that they need to do something. They do not want to sit and wait; they want to begin ministry. They jump into pastoral work with tremendous intensity and energy. I am very happy to see that passion.
There is an old saying in Korean, “Remove the ox horn as soon as possible.” I think this describes their attitude well. When their passion is burning, they want to act immediately. At the same time, there is a great deal of curiosity. Because they have not yet experienced pastoral ministry in detail, they are willing to try things they have never done before. Their curiosity becomes a trigger for action.
Of course, their age also contributes to this. They are young, and young people naturally have a great deal of energy. Whatever they do, they seem to do it with enthusiasm. In some ways, it reminds me of young evangelists in Korea who, after graduating from seminary, immediately began pioneering churches with great courage—and sometimes with very little caution.
When I look at the pastoral and ministry work of our graduates, one characteristic stands out: they are very creative.
They are constantly trying new things. Sometimes their attempts may seem reckless, but there is also something admirable about their willingness to experiment.
For example, some have organized what they call revival meetings in an open field near the church, even in the middle of the week. In today’s language, it reminds me somewhat of busking—people performing in an open public place. It is not a large gathering. A few people may sit down, but from a distance it can look as though hundreds are participating.
They do not have enough money to rent a tent or build a proper platform. So they simply make a pulpit out of wooden boards. Then they lead worship, sing, and preach. There is nothing elaborate about it. They simply use what they have and begin.
This is one of the things I appreciate about African ministry: they do not wait until everything is perfect before they begin.
Another interesting difference from Korea is the role of women. Wives are often among the main singers, preachers, and people giving testimonies. As a result, the congregation often responds very actively.
In many African churches, lay leaders—especially women—are very active in preaching and ministry. They may not be ordained, but this is part of the traditional way ministry functions in many communities. Women are often more active than men, not only in society but also in the church and in pastoral ministry.
I also believe there is an outside influence on our graduates.
One of our professors is an American missionary who has considerable ministry experience and talent. He had extensive pastoral experience in the United States before coming to Kenya as a missionary. We met by chance when I was preparing to establish Melvin University, and I invited him to become a professor. He gladly accepted, and he is now teaching our students.
He is younger than I am, and his preaching style is highly evangelistic and even revival-oriented. That style fits very well with African churches and with the people he is serving. Since our students receive his preaching lectures, training, and guidance, it is natural that some of them are influenced by his style. They are beginning to reflect that influence in their own pastoral ministries.
But I have also noticed something else.
As I teach about my own experience with the Lay Pastors Ministry—its philosophy, content, methods, and development process—I realize that our students are also being influenced by what they see in me.
I believe younger pastors who are beginning ministry need a model.
They need someone they can watch and learn from.
I had that kind of model in Dr. Melvin Steinbron. I learned not only from what he taught but also from the way he practiced ministry. In the same way, I hope our younger pastors can find something useful from my experience.
Being a model is not simply about giving people content.
It is about showing them how to use that content to accomplish the purpose and calling of their ministry.
Every ministry is different. Every church has a different situation. Every pastor has different gifts, and every community has different needs. Therefore, there is no need for younger pastors simply to copy everything I have done.
The content may be different.
The methods may be different.
The culture may be different.
But the basic principles and know-how of ministry can be passed from one generation to another.
That may be one of the most important responsibilities of an older pastor: not merely to tell younger leaders what to do, but to give them a model from which they can learn.
I am encouraged when I see our graduates being aggressive in ministry. Their passion may sometimes need direction. Their creativity may sometimes need wisdom. Their enthusiasm may sometimes need experience.
But I would rather see a young pastor who is passionately trying to serve God and learning along the way than one who has all the knowledge but never begins.
Perhaps the goal is not to eliminate their aggressiveness, but to shape it.
Passion needs wisdom.
Energy needs direction.
Creativity needs purpose.
And youthful enthusiasm needs a model.
If we can help our young pastors combine these things, their aggressive ministry can become effective ministry.