A Crisis in the Pulpit

In 1856, a 22-year-old pastor stood before thousands at the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London. His name? Charles Spurgeon. But Spurgeon wasn’t content to simply preach to the masses. He knew the pulpit wasn’t a solo mission. While the sanctuary was packed, his mind was focused on something else: the next generation.

That same year, Spurgeon launched what would become The Pastor’s College — not to train gentlemen, but Gospel workers. “We are not here to train gentlemen,” he said, “but to make ministers.”

He welcomed poor young men, many with raw gifts and little education. He gave them boots and books. He opened his library — and his pulpit. And in 1875, his passion for training preachers culminated in the classic Lectures to My Students, a book that still shapes pastors today. In the preface, Spurgeon issued a call that echoes to this day: “We want again Luthers, …  Bunyans, Whitefields — men fit to mark eras, whose names breathe terror in the enemy’s camp; and if we are to have them, we must train them up.”

In the preface, Spurgeon issued a call that echoes to this day: “We want again Luthers, …  Bunyans, Whitefields — men fit to mark eras, whose names breathe terror in the enemy’s camp; and if we are to have them, we must train them up.”

The Problem Before Us

At Faith Baptist Church, we don’t have Spurgeon’s Tabernacle. We don’t have a booming Victorian voice. But we do have this sacred moment — and we are stepping into it.

This summer, we’ve welcomed three ministry interns. They are not here to “stay busy.” They are not shadowing for the sake of convenience. They are stepping into the ancient, weighty, and joyful work of Gospel ministry.

Today, that call is more urgent than ever. We are living in the middle of a pastoral crisis:

• Over 50% of active pastors in the U.S. are over 55 years old.
• Less than 15% of churches have a training pipeline for future leaders.
• Nearly half of pastors under age 50 have considered quitting in the past year.
• Seminary enrollment is shrinking.
• And churches in towns and cities alike are searching for pastors — and coming up empty.

This isn’t a future concern. It’s a now concern.

How Are We Doing That at Our Church?

This summer, our interns will:

• Study and teach Scripture
• Receive pastoral mentorship
• Serve in real ministry settings
• Be entrusted — not just with tasks — but with the truth

They will not just observe. They will participate. Because the call to ministry cannot be caught by osmosis — it must be entrusted.

How Can You Be Involved?

You might be thinking, “That’s great — but what does this have to do with me?” Everything.

• If you’re a father, raise sons who love the church.
• If you teach a Sunday School class, watch for future leaders.
• If you’re a seasoned believer, invite someone younger to lunch and invest in them.
• If you’re in any congregation, pray for the young men in your church by name.

The local church is not a museum — it’s a greenhouse. A place where Gospel workers grow.

And if not us — who?
If not now — when?
If not intentionally — then how?

Let’s get serious about recruitment for the ministry. For the churches. For our own souls. For the Gospel.

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Caleb Phelps is the pastor of Faith Baptist Church. This article first appeared in the Echoes of Faith newsletter. We republish it here with permission.

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Photo by Lori DeJong on Unsplash