Double Ordained?

At this point, I’ve been pastoring for a while. In fact, compared to most pastors my age, I have quite a bit of ministry experience, simply because I started so young!

I began leading youth ministry when I was 18 years old. By 21, I was ordained as a pastor by our Baptist church. So, this year marks 20 years of ordained ministry! Over those years, I’ve seen a few things, stepped on far too many land mines, and boy, do I have some stories.

Now, this week is especially meaningful because I’m getting ordained… again.

Did you know you could get ordained twice? I didn’t really know that until a couple of years ago, but here we are. After two years of classes, conferences, research papers, interviews, and meetings, this week I am finally being ordained for ministry in the Christian and Missionary Alliance!

I realize I’m throwing around the word “ordination” like it’s something we normally talk about, but it’s not exactly a word you hear outside the church. So, what is ordination?

Simply put, ordination is when the church formally recognizes and sets someone apart for pastoral ministry. It’s an affirmation of a person's calling, character, and commitment to serving Jesus and his church. While I’ve already been ordained in the Baptist tradition, this ordination will allow me to fully serve as an ordained pastor in the Christian and Missionary Alliance.

It’s not a graduation, but in a lot of ways, it’s more important. Not because it’s about me, but because of the eternal significance of the work God has called pastors to do. The responsibility of shepherding God's people, faithfully preaching his Word, and pointing people to Jesus is something I don't take lightly.

And after 20 years, I think I understand the weight of that responsibility more than I did when I was 21.

So, I would love for you to join us this Sunday as we celebrate my second ordination. It’s a special milestone for me, and I’d be honored to share it with the church family I have the privilege of serving.