Having seen the title, you may be reading this blog with hint of ire on your mind. “Ministry shouldn’t have ‘ladders,'” you probably think. Through one lens, I would agree. You’re still reading, though, so you must be giving the idea a chance. Let’s keep thinking through it.

In the traditional career path, a guy takes a job, works hard, people notice, he gets more responsibility, he receives promotions and raises, and he climbs the corporate ladder as high as his capacity will take him. Success…check. Power…check. Money…check. Acclaim…check.

That’s not the ladder I have in mind.

Reframe the idea to a ministry setting for a moment. Someone senses a call to ministry. Maybe it’s very specific, but often it’s not. At this point, ego can certainly enter in. “How can I get to that big church with a large platform as quickly as possible?” one may ask. “I guess I’ll just move up the ranks.” Certainly that’s not what the trustworthy saying, “If anyone aspires to the office of Overseer…” means.

What if the ministry ladder were not about ego-driven ambition but about stewarding your gifts, advancing the gospel, developing strong leaders for kingdom purposes, and preparing for future responsibilities the Lord gives you?

I got to thinking about this recently when I walked through the history of a candidate’s call to ministry. We’ll call him Tucker. Tucker is a Lead Pastor and loves that role. But Tucker started as a Student Pastor. He told me he chose that role intentionally. He loved kids, but he knew his path eventually led to shepherding a congregation as a preacher, caregiver, and leader. He was following his call, but not in a linear way. A less direct path seemed wise to him.

So, what course did he take? Tucker chose to start in student ministry under a capable Senior Pastor to gain experience in a church setting, learn from a seasoned pastor, and prepare for his ultimate calling. You could say that student ministry was his “stepping stone.” Oof, I hear some of you curling up in a ball after reading that and crying as I write this.

I’m in no way decrying a lifelong call to a particular ministry. In fact, I love it and coach new pastoral leaders to consider how longevity in a particular role and place can lead to so much spiritual fruit. Take a look at my friend Jody who is encouraging Student Pastors in this way better than I could. I’ve also heard godly wise people say that a call is a direction not a destination.

But, it’s OKAY to serve in a ministry role you may not be in for life so you are well prepared for the next chapter. Seeing a ministry role as a stepping stone, with the idea of preparation rather than egoism, can be a God-glorifying option as long as you don’t jump on the next stone for the sake of notoriety, financial gain, or another fleshly motive.

Joshua trained as a spy before leading millions. David wandered with a group of soldiers getting ready to become King. Twelve disciples followed Jesus for three years and goofed up left and right before they established the church. Paul spent three years getting ready to follow his clear call.

I went from Children’s Pastor to Next Gen Pastor to Executive Pastor over twenty years in ministry, each time walking through a door the Lord opened for me rather than forcing the doors open with a pry bar of leadership lust. Often times when you look back from your end point in ministry, you see stepping stones that upheld you and directed your entire journey.