Video summary
Ministry is often misunderstood by the outside world as a path filled only with triumphs and public recognition, yet Pastor Dave Rosales emphasizes that it involves profound hidden struggles alongside immense spiritual joys. While there are undeniable blessings such as witnessing conversions, physical healings, families being restored, and children growing in Christ's love, these moments of glory exist within a reality marked by silent battles. Ministers frequently face personal attacks, accusations from the community, and deep feelings of their own inadequacy or failure when they feel unable to articulate God's word clearly enough. These internal experiences are not merely obstacles but essential components of the vocation that often go unacknowledged by those who do not walk in ministry daily.
The core message conveyed is that every minister serves a "wounded healer," meaning they worship and emulate Jesus, who was broken on their behalf yet remained without sin. Because Christ understands human temptation and rejection intimately, He validates the pain ministers endure when others blame them for decisions or reject their efforts despite sincere love. Rosales shares personal anecdotes from over forty-five years of ministry experience to illustrate how conversations once filled with tears often end in silence as individuals withdraw affection due to perceived unworthiness. These painful interactions happen behind closed doors and are rarely seen by the public, yet they serve a divine purpose that transforms the minister's character rather than diminishing their worth before God.
Ultimately, entering this calling requires careful consideration of its cost because every hardship experienced refines one into the specific type of servant God intends them to be. The process teaches ministers how to listen beyond words, love those who show little affection in return, and deeply understand the grace that purifies the heart. Those who traverse the darkest valleys become guides for others facing similar struggles, proving that the deepest healers are indeed the ones who have suffered most profoundly. Therefore, before stepping into this role with faith, individuals must ensure their calling is genuine, recognizing that while human applause may be absent, God rewards secret sacrifices openly and eternally.
Read the full video transcript
Ministry is not what people think it is.
There are joys that are
beyond everything that you could
imagine. [music] There are joys of
seeing people saved, seeing people
healed. There are children that are
raised in the knowledge and love of
Christ. There [music] also the silent
things. There are also the attacks.
There are also the senses of your own
personal failures. The humanity of
ministry is something that sometimes we
forget. We serve [music] and worship a
wounded healer. You don't know what
you're asking for.
You don't know what you're asking for.
Hi, this is Pastor Dave Rosales. I'm
pastor of Calvary Chapel of the Chino
Valley in Chino, California.
Over the years I've had people speak to
me concerning ministry and the call to
ministry and how they know whether or
not or how to know whether or not they
are called in all and obviously I'm not
the one who determines that. That's a
call that comes from the Lord.
The call to ministry is something that
comes by the impulse of the Holy Spirit.
It's a sense
that the Lord has called you to it. It's
like what Paul said to Timothy when he
said, "If any man desire the office of a
bishop,
he desires a good thing." So, there's
that internal witness that comes.
There's that sense of calling that's a
personal awareness, if you will,
that there's something that you want to
do and something you sense a leading by
the spirit to do. I remember a number of
years ago now, it's been a number of
years, over 30 really,
one of my assistants said come to me and
had spoken to me and had said to me
that they had a desire to go out and
pastor a church.
I still remember that that day very well
because as he came in into my office, he
was standing before me
at my desk, he said, "I feel called by
God to go into pastoral ministry to
plant a church."
And uh
he asked me, "What What do I think about
that?" And I still remember, he's a very
dear friend to this day, he's my dearest
friend.
I still remember tearing up.
And again, this is over 30 years ago
now.
And saying to him,
"You don't know what you're asking for."
And he smiled at me.
And
kind of nodded, that kind of nod that
you give when
you really don't understand the point
that's being made, but you want to
attempt to.
So, he kind of nodded and agreed, "Well,
I don't."
And then several years later, after he
had gone out to plant his church, he
approached me and we were visiting,
we're again dear friends.
And he said to me, "You remember when
you told me that?" And I said, "Yeah."
He says,
"You're right. I I didn't know
what I was asking for."
Ministry is not what people think it is.
And those of you who are ministers,
those of you who are pastors, you know
exactly what I mean.
There are things that are hidden from
others. There are things that you go
through that nobody understands. There
are feelings that you have
that you can't put into words.
There are joys that are
beyond everything that you could
imagine. There are joys of seeing people
saved and
seeing people healed in various ways,
including sometimes even physically.
There are families that are put
together.
There are children that are raised in
the knowledge and love of Christ.
So many things that are so wonderful.
There are so many times of
sitting in
church services, just worshiping God,
and then you have the joy of talking
about how good he is. All of those
things are good.
But there are also the silent things.
There are also the attacks. There are
also the
the accusations that are made. There
are also the senses of your own personal
failures that you have be
the wishing that you
were a better person or the wishing that
you
were more clear when you presented God's
word.
The humanity of ministry is something
that sometimes we forget.
I remember when the Apostle Paul was
writing to the Corinthians in 1
Corinthians he had said to them in I
believe it's chapter 2
verses 1 through 5
that he had been with them with many
tears and humility.
Said the same kind of thing to the
Ephesian elders in Acts chapter 20 when
he told them I've been with you with
humility and tears.
There are things that you experience
that break you.
And they're the things that are breaking
you that are the things that are making
you into the man of God
the minister of God that you want to be.
The fact is you and I we
we serve and worship a wounded healer.
We we worship the one who is broken on
our behalf. He was hurt. He knew all
things that we've gone through
tempted in every way as we yet without
sin.
He understands in other words the things
that we've going we go through and
he knows beyond anything you and I will
ever know the rejection that occurs
even when you're trying to do the best
that you can for somebody else. I can't
tell you
how many times over the years again I've
been in this fellowship for 45 years but
I've been teaching the word
since uh September of 1974.
So I've had many years of ministry
experience.
And I can't tell you how many times over
the years that I've had a very
open-hearted conversation with somebody
I love very much only to
sometimes even cry with them, only to
see them
blame me for a decision they make
or to tell me
that I
am just not worthy
of uh
of their love.
Some of you know that you have you have
cried for and prayed with and done much
for many people.
And all of it is done in secret. You
don't do it to be recognized by man.
You know, that what you do in secret God
ultimately rewards openly. You don't do
it for
the applause of man, you do it for
for the applause of heaven.
But there are many things that that I
have done that you probably have also
done
that were done in secret.
And uh because of that
people don't know
how much sacrifice you really have and
how much
how many tears you've cried, how many
prayers you've prayed. You put your head
on the pillow at night thinking of
people that are
within a week or two going to leave the
church and say things about you that are
just extremely painful.
So, you want to be a pastor. You want to
be a minister.
Count the cost.
Because everything you go through makes
you into the man or woman in terms of
your ministry as a lady
that you want to be.
It teaches you to hear people's
words and even
the things behind their words that
it teaches you to love even those who
can be so unloving towards you.
And it teaches you the grace of God.
And it purifies your heart.
So, make sure.
Make your your calling sure.
Make sure that this is where you're
supposed to go
because the best healers will always be
the wounded ones.
The deepest ones are the ones who always
go through the deepest things.
And the one who goes through the valley
of the shadow of death becomes a guide,
if you will, to those who also will go
through the same valley.
So, make sure. Make sure of your
calling.
Make sure of it.
And then step in in faith.
And let's see what God will do. But,
make sure before you move.
God bless you.