10/10/05 :: Fathers and sons at Pastors College, part 2
Gaithersburg, MD >> Continuing the "next generation" theme, part 2 of our series features Ken Mellinger and his son, Jared. Ken graduated from the first class of the School of Ministry (the forerunner to the Pastors College) in 1991 and serves as senior pastor of Living Hope Church in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Jared, a student in this year's Pastors College class, was profoundly influenced by the life of his dad.
Ken Mellinger
How have you encouraged your son to consider becoming a pastor or church-planter? How have you cautioned him?
Once Jared mentioned the idea of being a pastor was on his heart, I bought him tons of books which he devoured. We discussed different pastoral situations anonymously so I could get Jared's thinking on how he would handle things. I gave Jared ministry opportunities (preach, run youth camp, lead a care group). I gave feedback whenever possible. The only cautions were pride and self-righteousness.
In what way(s) has your son's experience of entering into ministry differed from yours?
Jared has leadership gifts that are obvious to many. I didn't enter vocational ministry until I was 37 and Jared is 24. Jared has grace and gifts that far surpass me.
Has CJ's example of transferring leadership of Covenant Life Church to Joshua been helpful to you? If so, how?
I was always cautious about nepotism. I'm not transferring leadership to Jared so I don't think it has been helpful. We're playing A ball down here, they're in the big leagues. It is probable that Jared won't return to Living Hope.
Jared Mellinger
I grew up in my dad's church. I still remember one occasion when I was 14-years-old and my dad casually inquired whether or not I had any interest in entering the ministry. My answer was "no".
Today I can say that there is no one–living or dead–who has had a more significant influence on my desire to enter the ministry than my dad. Observing his passion for people and his respect for Sovereign Grace Ministries had a profound effect on me as a teenager and continues to have a profound effect on me to this day.
More than once my dad has told me, "I just can't believe that I have the privilege of being a pastor in Sovereign Grace." My dad knows that being a Sovereign Grace pastor is the best job in the world, and he has been intentional in transferring a sense of this privilege to me. His investment in my life has been huge: He has given me countless resources, he has identified grace in my life, he has spoken to me often of the potential my life has for advancing the kingdom of God, and he has helped me sort through my sense of a call to ministry.
The result of my dad's influence in my life is that being a pastor in Sovereign Grace is extremely appealing to me. This is not because I want to mindlessly do whatever my dad is doing for the mere sentimentality of following in his footsteps. It is rather because I have seen Christian ministry faithfully modeled by my pastor (a.k.a. "dad") in the context of a local church. I have seen the power of the gospel to change lives for the glory of God through this man's leadership. His compelling example, and the example of Living Hope Church as a whole, has stirred in me a desire to plant a church like Living Hope elsewhere, and to live my life as my dad has lived his.
I enjoy reminding my dad that my life is a small part of the ripple-effect of his life. Part of what makes this such an exciting time to be a part of Sovereign Grace Ministries is that we can anticipate a lot more ripples coming from the homes of the pastors of Sovereign Grace Ministries in the future. I'm eager to see what kind of fruit comes from the homes of our pastors. I think the father-son trend we are seeing is going to become increasingly common, simply because the gospel is attractive. It is difficult to grow up in the home of a man who has devoted his life to seeing the gospel bear fruit and not want to spend one's own life doing the same.