Love God, Love People

Parker | future preacher

My name is Parker. Since the seventh grade I have wanted to be a preacher. I have witnessed much of what my father, a pastor, has experienced and this is one thing that led me to this career choice. I want to have the same experiences and see people's lives changed because of my work in the ministry.

In order to be a preacher I need to attend a college that offers degrees in preaching, Biblical studies and pastoral ministry. Most churches want a preacher with at least a Bachelor's degree, and some require a Master's degree. I plan on attending Lamar University for at least two years. I can live at home and eliminate the costs of food and housing. I can take my core curriculum classes at Lamar and then transfer to East Texas Baptist University and complete my Bachelor 's degree. I would also like to earn a Master's degree at some point.

CareerOneStop.org and BigFuture.org were helpful websites for gathering information about my career. According to these resources I will need good communication and listening skills. The ability to help people understand Biblical truths and how they apply to everyday life is also important. I will need to know how to perform baptisms, weddings and funerals. A preacher must develop relationships with his congregation. This will often require sympathy and counseling skills.

In 2014 the national median income for a pastor was $38,500, while the Texas state median income was $63,700. Nationally there were 5,700 job opportunities for pastors and in Texas there were 630 positions available. These statistics are slightly different than when I researched them last year.

In spite of these statistics it's not about the money. It is about serving God and serving people.