Districts Continue Efforts to Support Students Called into Ministry

Assemblies of God districts across the United States are intentionally investing in the next generation, believing that these young leaders will positively affect the future climate of the Fellowship.

From as young as middle school, AG districts are identifying and empowering young men and women who feel called into full time ministry.

Each year, the Southern Missouri Ministry Network (SOMO) hosts a Called Retreat on the campus of Evangel University. The two-day event brings together kids from across the district for spiritual encouragements, fellowship, and specific training geared towards their called area of ministry.

The retreat hosted Illinois Student Ministry Director Chris Stanley who spoke to SOMO students on the anointing of the Holy Spirit, and breakout sessions were held in the areas of youth ministry, children’s ministry, church planting, non-profit ministry, and worship ministry.

The purpose of the annual event is to empower students to press on towards the calling they have on their lives.

This year the SOMO Called Retreat’s youngest attendee was just eight years old. Feeling called into full time ministry for over a year, Callum Grant attended the retreat sessions with hopes of learning more about ministry and church planting.

“I really loved it,” Grant says. “I learned that sometimes you may have to risk your life for Christ. And it’s not always going to be easy. Sometimes it may be a challenge, but that’s ok because at least people are coming to Christ and knowing that He is their Lord and Savior, and they can start living a new life.”

Ending with a special commissioning service from SOMO Ministry Network’s superintendent, Don Miller, Grant and 165 other students were poured into and released back to their home churches with a charge to continue to pursue their calling and hold themselves to a higher standard of living, all for the purpose of preparing themselves to be used by Christ.

“If you wait for an opportunity to prepare for the opportunity, you won’t be ready when the opportunity arises,” he told students.

Just across state lines, the Illinois District, who launched their Called College in 2023, has dozens of students gaining hands-on ministry training this summer, some of which are even doing international ministry.

The purpose of these summer ministry opportunities (SMO), according to the college’s director, Rich Pruitt, is to help young men and women gain real-life experience. “Students learn the most when they are out in ministry,” he says. “And this year, 29 Illinois students are out in SMOs gaining that real-life experience, learning things we can’t teach them in the classroom.”

Due to the average age of ministers in the Assemblies of God, churches are hungry for young staff members, according to Phillip Schneider, district superintendent for Illinois. “Our students are getting the opportunity to start being involved in ministry from year one and that opportunity is fanning a flame that we are already seeing great fruitfulness from,” he says.

Schneider believes that Called College will be a game-changer for the district, citing that at this year’s district council, he believes they will have 40 men and women under the age of 25 who will receive their ministerial credentials.

Intentional recruitment and retention of young people who feel called to ministry is how the Assemblies of God will survive another 100 years, according to Schneider. “Unless we keep up with our efforts, we simply won’t have enough men and women entering into full time ministry."

AG General Superintendent Doug Clay is encouraged about ministers in the AG under 40 years old. He says that he is grateful for the intentionality that the AG districts are placing on challenging young people regarding their call into ministry.

“One of the best ways to serve the next generation is making time and space for them to consider God’s call on their life,” he says. “We believe the next generation is not the church of tomorrow, but very much the church of today.”