When I first entered pastoral ministry, which seems like ages ago, retirement was something far off in the future. I knew it would one day come but never gave it much thought. Well, here I am, more than four and half decades later, finally retired from the ministry . . . for a second time.

1.     My First Retirement—Retiring from Pastoral Ministry

After serving in pastoral ministry for over thirty-five years, I arrived at a point where I sensed the Lord was leading me to “retire.” I still wanted to continue serving in some kind of vocational ministry, at least during a portion of my retirement years. But what could I do?

Several years prior, the Lord had opened my eyes to an urgent need that existed outside the United States. An overwhelming majority of pastors globally—especially in Africa, Asia, and South America—have little to no theological training or even access to such training, yet they still have the responsibility to shepherd God’s flock. As I reflect back on my years in the pastorate, I am so thankful for the training I received that prepared me for my responsibilities as a shepherd, especially in teaching and preaching the word. Being aware of this need, while still serving in the pastorate, I started participating in short-term ministry (STM) trips designed to help provide training for these pastors. After my first trip, I knew this is what God wanted me to do for what I call my “retirement ministry.”

After retiring from pastoral ministry, I began serving full-time with Training Leaders International (TLI), a non-profit organization that focuses on strengthening the global church through training its pastors and leaders. My desire was to pass on what the Lord had taught me through my years of training and pastoral ministry.[1] (See an article I wrote about this: “Retiring from the Ministry?”)

Over the next number of years, the Lord gave me the opportunity to participate in about 35 STM trips to places such as Haiti, Brazil, Serbia, Liberia, Ghana, Togo, Ethiopia, India, Myanmar and the Philippines. The point of each trip was to equip pastors and other leaders how to study, interpret, and communicate God’s Word accurately. My “retirement ministry” gave me a glimpse of how God was building his church around the world.

2.    My Second Retirement—Retiring from My Retirement Ministry

After training pastors with TLI for over a decade, the Lord in his providence indicated it was time to retire from this ministry too, even though I wanted to continue. As I think back on my years training pastors abroad, I consider them to be the highlight of all my years in the vocational ministry.

I can clearly see how the Lord used my years of theological training and pastoral experience to prepare me for this unique ministry. He allowed me to continue to be a faithful steward of what he taught me over the years.

“The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful people who will be able to teach others also” (2 Tim 2:2).

3.    My Reflection—Was My Retirement Ministry Worth It?

Training pastors during a portion of my retirement years has been the best investment of my time, energy, and resources. This does not mean it was easy. It was not easy raising financial support to serve in this kind of ministry. It was not easy to continually travel so many miles to be able to equip the pastors in person. It was not easy to teach in a hot and humid environment all week long. But it was absolutely worth it to see God’s marvelous provision and enablement for what he was calling me to do. I was humbled that the Lord was pleased to use me to help train and encourage many pastors and leaders in the global church over these years.

It was a blessing to see with my own eyes how the lives and ministries of these brothers and sisters in Christ were impacted by the training. I saw pastors who had never learned how to study or interpret God’s word begin to study a passage in its original context and see God’s truth come to light for the first time. Many pastors who only preached the same message from different passages of Scripture were now preaching the God-intended meaning from each passage. I saw pastors who had only learned how to preach by mimicking tele-evangelists begin preaching messages themselves based upon the word of God.

During the training, pastors shared how they finally recognized that they had failed to preach God’s word accurately in their churches. During one training session, a pastor came up to me and said, “I think I need to repent before the people in my church for not teaching the Scriptures correctly!”

Training pastors and other leaders in the global church impacts more than just the leaders themselves; it impacts their churches. We have heard reports from people in the churches of pastors who attended TLI’s three-year training curriculum that they noticed the difference in their pastors’ ministry. “Our pastor is preaching differently than before. He is now preaching from the Bible!”

When we equip these pastors to accurately interpret, teach, and preach God’s word, it helps to strengthen the churches under their care. The spiritual health and growth of the church correspond to their pastors faithfully teaching and preaching Scripture, which is why we focus our training on the expository ministry of the word. As God’s people in the churches begin to clearly understand what God says in his word, they mature and better live out their faith in an unbelieving world.

4.    My Encouragement to Pastors

Even though I have retired (again) after a decade of training pastors and other leaders abroad, the need still exists. There are many around the world who still do not have access to theological training. What’s more, we also need those who have theological training and pastoral experience to go and help equip them in how to handle God’s word.

Are you a pastor? Consider going on an STM trip to help these pastors in the global church who have a hunger to learn how to faithfully preach and teach God’s word. They are so appreciative of those who are willing to travel to where they live to provide them with the training they need.

Are you a veteran pastor nearing retirement? Consider giving a portion of your retirement years to training pastors and other leaders through a ministry like TLI. Utilize the time God has given you to impact the lives of other pastors and leaders by passing on to them what God has taught you.

“And even when I am old and gray, God, do not abandon me until I declare your strength to this generation, your power to all who are to come” (Ps 71:18).

If you take the opportunity to go, you will find a highly effective ministry with pastors and leaders in numerous countries around the world. There is a deep respect in many cultures, especially in Africa and Asia, for pastors who are older and have years of ministry experience. They will listen attentively and respond positively to what you have to share.

5.    My Conclusion

No, traveling abroad is not easy. We must often leave our “comfort zone.” We often face many challenges. We often spend long hours on planes and in airports. We often stay in less than desirable accommodation. We often have to eat food that is . . . different. There is always an element of “risk” involved when we travel to another part of the world.

In reality, though, it is not really a “risk” because we believe God is sovereign, wise, and good. And the fruit is worth it all when we realize how the training impacts the pastors, teachers, leaders, and their churches in difficult places. We can have a front row seat to witness how Christ is strengthening his church around the world.