Involving Your Son in Ministry

Involving Your Son in Ministry: A few weeks ago, I shared some thoughts about “Involving Your Daughter in Ministry.” Now, I would like to share some information about sons. I have both a 20-year-old daughter and a 16-year-old son.

We do and have always served together as a family. My son and daughter serve in their own ways around our ministries. Just a few weeks ago, he entered his junior year of high school and also began an “introduction to teaching” class. His calling has been to be a physical education teacher and a special education teacher for a while. We have allowed him to experience ministry and have open conversations about personal gifts and calling.

I strongly believe that inviting him, not forcing him, to be involved, just like we did with our daughter, has better prepared him for his future. As a pastor, involving your son in ministry life can be a rewarding experience for both the child and the ministry.

Here are ten reasons why I believe a pastor should consider involving his son:

10. Modeling Faith in Action: Involving my son in ministry provided a tangible example of lived-out faith, showing him how I apply Biblical principles to life in good and bad situations.

9. Building a Stronger Bond: Working together in ministry can strengthen the relationship between father and son, fostering deeper communication and mutual respect.

8. Instilling Responsibility: Involvement in ministry teaches responsibility and accountability, helping my son see the hard work of ministry and develop a strong work ethic and a sense of duty to others of their own, no matter what they do in the future.

7. Developing Leadership Skills:  Early exposure to ministry allowed my son to develop leadership skills, such as public speaking, problem-solving, and teamwork, which are valuable in ministry and secular settings.

6. Nurturing a Servant’s Heart: My son learned the importance of serving others and cultivating compassion and empathy by participating in ministry.

5. Creating Lasting Memories: Shared ministry experiences have created positive memories and stories that have shaped my son’s identity and perspective on life.

4. Providing Spiritual Growth:  Involvement in ministry has been a significant part of my son’s spiritual development, helping him understand and deepen his relationship with God.

3. Encouraging Peer Relationships: My son’s involvement in ministry has given him the opportunity to build friendships with others who share similar values and faith, fostering a supportive community.

2. Supporting the Ministry’s Vision: When a pastor’s family is actively involved, it can reinforce the church’s vision for family ministry and demonstrate the power of a parent-child serving mindset.

1. Passing on the Legacy: Involving your son in ministry helps pass on a legacy of faith and service, potentially inspiring him to continue ministry or guiding him in a heart for ministry beyond the church’s walls in other vocations.