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The Gospel Ministry Call Part 9 by Mike Ramey

by Mike Ramey
02/20/26
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     The KJV Bible has the word ‘doctrine’ listed more than forty times, with many of those times coming in the New Testament. The Book of Titus has the words ‘sound doctrine’ listed within the scriptures. Thus—and I’m not the brightest bulb on the tree—God places a high premium on the gospel minister operating with sound bible doctrine and NOT his feelings and opinions on God’s Word.

     What is doctrine? Bible truth. Those truths which are the main pillars of the Christian faith. Doctrine areas include God, Jesus Christ, The Holy Spirit, Heaven, Hell, Satan, The Virgin Birth, The Rapture, Salvation, Sin, Grace, The Resurrection, and the Second Coming of Jesus. These are among the BASIC doctrines of the KJV Bible. Further, IF a gospel preacher does not understand and believe these doctrines right from the outset of their being a Christian, their ministry will be ruined, and their ability to preach the truths of the KJV Bible pretty much null and void. This is why the first book that a gospel minister must master IS the KJV Bible. They must dig in its riches daily—NOT just for sermon material BUT to feed their soul. You were a Christian before you were called to be a gospel minister.

     After a few years as a Christian, and being sure of your gospel calling, the next step is being a member of a solid, Bible-Believing and KJV following church. You must follow the Code of Conduct that I discussed in the last two segments of this series. Again, such conduct for ministers and pastors is found in the Books of I Timothy, II Timothy and Titus. The Apostle Paul, under the light and leading of the Holy Ghost, lays out what God expects in those men who have been chosen to represent His Word before a lost and dying world.

     IF you know that you have been called to preach, you need to present yourself to your Pastor and discuss the matter with him. More than likely, he is aware of your service in the church BEFORE your receiving your preaching call. IF you have a good Pastor, he will be more than likely to establish a training schedule for you, place you among the other Ministers on the rostrum (under his leadership) on Sunday morning and place additional duties on you to help out in the church (such as become a teaching assistant to another Minister or Deacon, etc.). Then he will schedule you for your first public sermon before your church. This is called a licensing sermon and is the first step on the road to becoming a Minister of the Gospel.

     It will take about a year for you to become Licensed AFTER you bring your call to your Pastor. Don’t worry…you will be studying your KJV Bible more closely as well as taking a LOT of notes on the gospel ministry from your Pastor—in meetings, conferences, and closed-door sessions with other Ministers.

     I’ll say this again. IF you are NOT in a church where the Pastor is helpful to your advancement as a gospel preacher, nor IF that Pastor is NOT abiding by the Code of Conduct as laid out in the scriptures, it may be time for you to move on to a new church in your denomination, present yourself to THAT Pastor, and begin the process again with the aim of being Licensed.

    Looking back on my active ministry days, I served in a large church where the Pastor placed his Ministers under his Assistant Pastor, who was the Teaching Pastor over the Ministers of the church. For a span of two years I preached a public sermon, taught a few workshops, and did what was expected of me. When it came time to try to secure my Preaching License, the Teaching Pastor agreed…but the Pastor did not. Why? In my view, the Pastor was on a power trip. He sat the Ministers down and told them that he wouldn’t be giving Ministers their licenses until ‘He’ thought they were ready.

     In short, you could work your butt off—but wouldn’t be advancing anytime soon.

     Needless to say, I prayed. I soon moved my membership to a smaller church in my denomination, under a more seasoned, established Pastor. Within about a year, I had preached my Trial Sermon, and was licensed as a Gospel Minister. He had heard about the ‘blow up’ at my previous church (news travels fast among churches about internal operations of both large and small churches) and welcomed me with open arms.

     Next on the hit parade is Ordination. Once you spend a few more years in grade as a licensed preacher, Ordination is on the horizon. This makes you fit to step up to the pastorate (if the Lord leads) and serve to officiate over weddings, funerals, baptisms and administering the Lord’s Supper (Communion). Of course, an Ordained Minister is expected to have MORE on the ball concerning his knowledge and understanding of the KJV Bible and sermon preparation. Further, Ordination usually brings with it the desire to return to Bible College or Seminary to understand more about the scriptures.

     Depending upon the denomination, Ordination may be accomplished in a variety of ways. You could have a closed Ordination, where you are quizzed by the Pastors of your district; you could have an Open Ordination in front of your church congregation (with a full service, other Pastors, and the Pastor in charge of your district); or, you could have a combination of the two, along with a written exam. Your Pastor will outline the proper Ordination course.

     Ordination means that you can serve as a Chaplain (in some cases, with additional training) in a hospital, prison, or ministry setting such as a food bank or soup kitchen. Depending upon the denomination, your Ordination papers are good for life. It is rare that they are revoked—this happening in the case of a moral problem with the Ordained preacher. Ordination means the end of one journey and the start of another…a blessed promotion onto the frontlines of the gospel ministry. 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 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.