Younger People Receiving Ministerial Credentials in Kentucky
The Church of God has a program within the Division of Education called Calling and Ministry Studies (CAMS). In the state of Kentucky, the Church of God has made a concerted effort to train younger ministerial candidates. Last year, in Kentucky, the average age of the applicant was 39. This year, the average age is 29. At the recent testing date for the Exhorter exam, three teenagers passed the Exhorter exam, becoming credentialed ministers in the Church of God.
“In 2014, Bruce Rabon, administrative bishop of Kentucky, decided to become personally involved in ministerial training,” said J. David Stephens, D.D., assistant general overseer and executive director of the Division of Education. “One of his goals was to see younger people become credentialed ministers. He has achieved his goal!”
Stephens went on to say that Bishop Rabon and his team have used several means to help younger people in the Church of God recognize their call to ministry. Intentionally talking with people at youth camp — such as, youth, counselors, and staff — is an example. Other examples include promotion at state functions, posts on the state website, and use of social media.
“The key factor, however, is the planned action of reaching out to younger people and helping them to understand that they have a place of ministry in the Church of God,” Stephens concluded.
Kentucky is deliberately helping its youth discover their calling, and the younger people are discovering their God-called ministry. Furthermore, the effort to bring young people into the ministry in the state is helping Kentucky stay spiritually vibrant.
The Division of Education is thankful for the vision and effort of Bishop Rabon and his ministerial training team to help our young people realize their call to clergy ministry and to assist them in obtaining credentials in the Church of God.
