With that conviction, I drafted my letter of application to serve in the ministry, specifying “part-time” service. However, my bishop, a discerning shepherd of souls, returned the letter to me and firmly instructed that I delete the word “part-time” and replace it with “full-time.” That moment felt stern, even unreasonable, but in obedience and trust, I did as he asked.

My desire to serve part-time was not merely about maintaining a stable income; the teaching salary I was receiving at the time was not only regular, but significantly greater than the stipend typically offered at the entry level of ministry, as a catechist. Moreover, I was deeply concerned about staying close to my widowed mother, thinking that being part-time would allow me the flexibility to care for her.

Yet, again, my bishop responded with spiritual insight: *“It is not you who has been helping her, but God, and He will continue to help her even with you in full-time ministry.” That statement reshaped my understanding. Today, I can testify that God has indeed looked after her, and through full-time ministry, I may have supported her more meaningfully than I could have as a classroom teacher with a regular salary.

As the years have passed, it has become evident that the bishop’s insistence was not just ecclesiastical direction but divine orchestration. Full-time ministry has opened doors I never imagined, spiritually, socially, and even materially. The fulfilment, honour, and privilege of ministering to souls, preaching God’s Word, and shepherding His people cannot be compared with any worldly engagement. The apostle Paul reminds us: “He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:24). God’s calling comes with His enabling. He does not send and then abandon; He accompanies, empowers, and supplies.

I have also come to understand and now affirm what I once heard from a preacher: “Where God gives a vision, He will also bring a provision. Where He gives an assignment, He will bring a consignment. And where He locates His children, He will bring to them an allocation for such location.” This is no mere cliché, it is a spiritual truth I have lived. Young men who are discerning a call into full-time ministry should not fear.

God is not unjust to forget your labour of love (Hebrews 6:10). Many who serve part-time are making tremendous contributions to the body of Christ, and such service is honourable. But if God’s call on your life is to serve Him full-time, obedience is the path to joy, fulfilment, and fruitfulness.

In conclusion, my journey from the classroom to the altar has taught me that the will of God is always for our good. Initially, I thought I was letting go of financial security, family responsibility, and personal comfort, but what I gained in return has far outweighed what I feared to lose.

Today, my stipend is not only sufficient but surpasses what I once received as a teacher. More importantly, I stand as a witness to God’s faithfulness. To every potential minister wrestling with uncertainty, I say: follow the mind of God, not your fears. “Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass” (Psalm 37:5). God’s call may stretch you, but it will never fail you.

We are not alone.
God is with us.

There were times we were lied against, blackmailed, sidelined, and denied what was rightfully due to us. In some instances, the fruits of our labour were attributed to others, and our contributions were overlooked. The weight of it all led me, at two separate times, to consider stepping away from ministry altogether. Yet, on both occasions, the Lord graciously restrained me from resigning.

In His time, He remembered us, restored our strength, and lifted us to a place of renewed purpose and peace. Many who now see the grace of God at work in our lives can hardly believe we once passed through such seasons of rejection and deep trial within the ministry.

Our story is not unique. Throughout Scripture, we see faithful servants of God walking through hardship at the hands of those closest to them. The Psalmist writes, “For it is not an enemy who reproaches me… But it was you, a man my equal, my companion and my acquaintance. We took sweet counsel together, and walked to the house of God in the throng” (Psalm 55:12–14). Yet, such moments teach us to anchor our hope not in people, but in Christ Jesus, the sure foundation. As Paul assures, “Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: ‘The Lord knows those who are His’” (2 Timothy 2:19). The Church is God’s chosen vessel, but its members, including leaders, remain imperfect and in need of grace, just like us.

I share this testimony not as a complaint, but as an encouragement to fellow servants of Christ who may be enduring similar experiences. I understand that for some, the pressure became too much, and they walked away from the ministry, or even from the faith. Sadly, some died that is a deeply saddening reality.

Yet, like Joseph, I have come to see that what was meant for evil, God has used for good. He allowed the trials to shape and prepare me, not just for growth, but so that I might now encourage others who are walking through similar paths. As Joseph said, “God meant it for good… to save many people alive” (Genesis 50:20). My journey through hardship in ministry was not in vain, it has become a testimony for others to hold on and not give up.

To those currently enduring hardship in the ministry: remain steadfast. Trust the Lord who sees in secret and rewards openly. Do not allow bitterness or resentment to take root. “Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time” (1 Peter 5:6).

Serve with love, without malice, and with the assurance that God is both just and faithful. Many who are now in respected positions in ministry once passed through similar seasons of pain and seeming obscurity. But God, in His faithfulness, lifted them according to His plan. You too can trust that your time will come.

And to those who are now in positions of leadership, especially those who once suffered mistreatment, may you lead with compassion and humility. Do not repeat the errors of those who hurt you. Instead, let your leadership be marked by grace, understanding, and the desire to lift others.

“And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32). Promotion and recognition in the Church should never come through rivalry, gossip, or manipulation, but through faithfulness, fruitfulness, and the call of God. As Scripture reminds us, “Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips” (Proverbs 27:2), and, “By their fruits you will know them” (Matthew 7:20).

May we, as ministers of Christ, walk in love, lead with integrity, and encourage one another in the journey. The Church is being sanctified, and Christ, her Head, is faithful. *Let us serve Him and His people with hearts made strong by grace, shaped through trials, and anchored in hope.

We are not alone.
God is with us.