May 2008

Equipping the Saints for the Work of the Ministry

The call to spiritual leadership is a call to equipping. Every leadership role in the church of the Lord Jesus Christ has the responsibility to teach, train, and equip. Whether working with children, youth, or adults, Christian leaders must equip. We train children in the discipline of developing a biblical worldview. We train young people in the discipline of applying their biblical worldview to the development of spiritual values and practices for their lives. Christian adults are then quipped for investing themselves in servant ministry that will have an eternal impact. In applying their biblical worldview, they learn to involve their spiritual giftings and motivations and their spirit-ruled natural abilities for furthering the cause of Christ Jesus and His eternal kingdom. There is no greater endeavor in the human experience.

According to the Apostle Paul's account in Ephesians chapter four and verse twelve, ministry doesn't belong to preachers or professional ministers; it belongs to the body of Christian Saints. Pastors and church leaders are called out of the body of ministering saints to equip others in their ministering roles. As a young "preacher boy", I was taught to say that I was now called to "the ministry." However, I came to learn from scripture that this was both a misnomer and a misstatement. When I was born of the Spirit of God and birthed into the Body of Christ, I was born a minister. I am a minister of the "new creation" and the "new covenant." My life assignment is to serve Christ by serving others. This does not come by some special calling, but out of the experience of being "in Christ."

Since I acquired from my father Adam an innate propensity for selfishness, I come to my assignment in Christian ministry ill-prepared for self-sacrifice and servant service. I must be oriented to the principles of a Kingdom focus and commitment. I must be trained and equipped for my assignment in the Church, the Body of Christ. This is why the role of biblical equipping carries the need for a continuing commitment. It is the primary task of church leaders.

We desire for every Covington graduate to possess a burning zeal for the biblical assignment to "equip the saints for the work of the ministry." Through this commitment, we believe our lives will bear eternal fruit and truly "Impact Eternity." The role of Covington Seminary thus becomes one of equipping the equippers. We are thrilled for the ongoing opportunity we have now in this our thirty-first year to be involved in the lives and ministries of our students. Their equipping impact is a primary dynamic of Christ's kingdom.

J. Steve Sullivan, Jr.

President