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The Gospel Ministry Call Part 6 by Mike Ramey

by Mike Ramey
12/31/25
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     I wanted to take a time out to talk about a few landmines in the gospel ministry. Some of them are IN the walls of the church and some of them are IN the ranks of your fellow preachers and pastors. I had several great pastoral mentors who sat their preachers down regularly and taught them the facts of the gospel ministry life—the good and the bad.

     One well-taught but overlooked item in the training of many preachers has to do with plain ‘ol jealousy from other preachers and pastors. It matters little which denomination is involved. IF someone’s church or ministry is doing well, it may shock you to know that there will be jealousy and/or envy being fired at the successful brother from another preacher or pastor. This is an unfortunate reality of the gospel ministry and can ONLY be overcome by the strength of the Lord and sticking closely to his Word.

     Then, there are traitors among the gospel ministers; traitors who think more of doing the  work of the flesh, heaping accolades, honor, and wealth upon themselves rather than seeing people set free and souls harvested to the glory of God. Years ago, one unusual Pastor would have guests visit his church. They were amazed at the success of his ministry. One visiting man quizzed a Minister as to why his Pastor was successful: “It is because of the Bible and Jesus Christ.” Was the reply. The visitor quizzed the Minister again, to which the Minister reportedly replied: “Look, I told you; it is the Bible and Jesus Christ. What more do you want?”

     My gospel ministry brother, you will have people call you ‘narrow minded’ because you have the ‘audacity’ to learn, teach and preach from the KJV Bible. Further, you won’t ‘shade’ the message God has for you to preach by retreating to another, more ‘easily read’ version of the Scriptures. As several of my mentors taught: “Never beg or ask for an opportunity to preach God’s Word—the Lord’s spirit will guide you to the place where you can best minister and help others.” This is a true word. And, as you grow in grace, and grow as a gospel minister, you will find that—IF you are a true, obedient, and holy preacher—the opportunities to preach will be few. Be ready to preach what God has for you to share, anyway.

     Another thing they taught me: Stick to the KJV. No compromise.

     I’m not just talking about one denomination. Some of these traits exist across all denominational lines and non-denominational lines. Sad but true. Churches that ‘boast’ themselves as being non-denominational have their own peculiar brand of orthodoxy and idolatry. Further, IF you come from another denomination with ministry credentials, many non-denominational churches will ‘demand’ that you be ‘re-ordained’ into their non-denominational faith. EVEN if you happen to be of the same doctrinal leanings.

     You read that right.

     My ministry brother, IF the Lord calls you into the gospel ministry and the pulpit is His selection for you, be prepared to spend a lot of time being as wise as a serpent and harmless as a dove. Progress will be slow as some pastors you happen to serve under may be jealous of your godly accomplishments—more jealous than your fellow ministers in the church you have decided to join.

     Another landmine may lay within your church congregation. Let’s say you do a particularly good job preaching one Lord’s day. Your congregation members will make a big fuss. Some of them may even go to the Pastor and wonder why you aren’t preaching more than the other ministers on the platform. Beware, there ARE those congregation members who like to cause strive and division in their church by praising you to your Pastor above and beyond the normal daily requirement.

     Another landmine may lay with some of the women in your church. Single or married. They may decide to ‘cast’ their eyes upon you and get the lust of Potiphar’s wife in them and try to get you involved in sexual sin. Brother preacher, whether you are single or married yourself, BEWARE! These sisters have holy looking features on Sunday and a nasty FB page Sunday night. Don’t be fooled.

More to come.

     Mike Ramey is a Retired Minister, KJV Bible Teacher, syndicated columnist and Bible Prophecy Specialist who lives in Indianapolis, Indiana. He is a Circuit rider of the Funky Electronic Frontier. “The Gospel Ministry Call” series is one of a variety of his columns appearing and abounding in print and cyberspace, written from a biblical, business, and common-sense perspective since 1996. Catch Mike Ramey’s columns on X (Twitter), Substack, Faithwriters.com, LinkedIn and in fine publications like this one! To drop him a line—or a whine—the address is still the same: [email protected]. ©2026 Barnstorm Communications International.