Chapter 1: The Call To Ministry

The Call to the Ministry of Soul Care

Every call to ministry is a call to people. The ministry of soul care is not a profession; it’s a divine invitation to serve the hurting and to bring the truth of Christ into the struggles of daily life. This calling is not limited to pastors or professionals but belongs to every believer who has received the Spirit of God and the Word of God.

Pastor Chuck Smith often said, “God is not looking for ability but availability.” The same is true in counseling ministry. The Lord calls ordinary believers to participate in His extraordinary work of restoration. The Ministering Servant does not rely on personality or technique but upon the power of the Holy Spirit and the sufficiency of Scripture.

Pastor Bob Hoekstra echoed this same truth: “Man is not the counselor — Jesus is the Counselor.” When we minister God’s Word, we point the Disciple in Care back to the Wonderful Counselor Himself, trusting the Spirit to illuminate the Word and bring lasting change.

At the Calvary Chapel Fellowship of Biblical Counselors, we teach that the call to soul care begins with worship. Before we can help others, we must be grounded in Christ ourselves. Our confidence in ministry flows not from methods but from relationship — a living dependence upon the Lord who said, “Without Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

The Apostle Paul modeled this dependency when he wrote, “Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.” (Colossians 1:28) Counseling God’s way is, at its core, proclaiming Christ and depending upon His life to produce maturity in others.