Christ provides workers for His church and He calls them into church work vocations through His people. The resources from The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) are intended for you, the influential adult, to use as you encourage our youth — and adults — to consider becoming a pastor, deaconess, Lutheran school teacher, director of Christian education, director of parish music, director of family life ministries, director of church ministries or director of outreach.
The resources, which include conversation guides, Bible studies, and journey maps, will help you talk about church work and guide young people on their journey to a church work vocation.
God works through influential adults like pastors, parents, church workers and other laity (people like you!) to call people to church work vocations — all it takes is a few moments to begin the conversation.
Teacher Colloquy Webinar Recording
This webinar, recently hosted by Set Apart to Serve and the Concordia University Education Network (CUEnet), goes over the process, requirements and benefits of becoming an LCMS Minister of Religion—Commissioned. Watch the recording.
Resources
For Pastors
- Encouraging Men to Consider a Second Career as a Pastors
- Routes to the Office of the Holy Ministry
- A Pastor’s Guide to Mentoring Future Second-Career Pastors
- Next Chapter, New Calling: A Guide for the Wife of a Potential Second-Career Pastor
- Forming a Congregation Set Apart to Serve Focus Team
- Engaging Laity in Your Congregation
- Talking to young people about vocation
- Encouraging future church workers
- Messaging templates for influential adults
- Bulletin insert — General
- Bulletin Insert — Second Career in Church Work
- The 8 LCMS Church Work Vocations *
- Talking points for encouraging second-career church work
- Kids in the Divine Service
Presentations
Use when teaching congregations and teachers about the importance of church work vocations.
- For congregations: Download presentation | Download talking points
- For teachers: Download presentation | Download talking points
For Families
Resources to share with and encourage families
- Conversation Guide for Ages 12-14
- Essential Experiences Workbook & Individual Tracker Presentation
- Your Guide to Mentoring Future Church Workers
- Your Guide to Job Shadowing for Future Church Workers
- Journey Map
- Bible Study — Prayerfully Considering Full-Time Church Work: Set Apart to Serve at Camp
- Bible Study — Leading Lives That Matter
- Bible Study — Seeing Yourself in a Church Work Vocation
- Bible Study — I AM the Alpha and the Omega
- Conversation Guide for Ages 14-18+
- Essential Experiences Workbook & Individual Tracker Presentation
- Your Guide to Mentoring Future Church Workers
- Your Guide to Job Shadowing for Future Church Workers
- Journey Map
- Bible Study — Prayerfully Considering Full-Time Church Work: Set Apart to Serve at Camp
- Bible Study — Leading Lives That Matter
- Bible Study — Seeing Yourself in a Church Work Vocation
- Bible Study — I AM the Alpha and the Omega
Resources
For Parents
- Conversation Guide for Parents
- Conversation Guide for Ages 12-14
- Essential Experiences Workbook & Individual Tracker Presentation
- Your Guide to Mentoring Future Church Workers
- Your Guide to Job Shadowing for Future Church Workers
- Journey Map
- Bible Study — Leading Lives That Matter
- Bible Study — Seeing Yourself in a Church Work Vocation
- Bible Study — I AM the Alpha and the Omega
- Conversation Guide for Parents
- Conversation Guide for Ages 14-18+
- Essential Experiences Workbook & Individual Tracker Presentation
- Your Guide to Mentoring Future Church Workers
- Your Guide to Job Shadowing for Future Church Workers
- Journey Map
- Bible Study — Prayerfully Considering Full-Time Church Work: Set Apart to Serve at Camp
- Bible Study — Leading Lives That Matter
- Bible Study — Seeing Yourself in a Church Work Vocation
- Bible Study — I AM the Alpha and the Omega
Resources
For Church Workers
- Teacher Colloquy 101
- Enrich Your Use of the SAS Curriculum
- Next Chapter, New Calling: A Guide for the Wife of a Potential Second-Career Pastor
- Forming a Congregation Set Apart to Serve Focus Team
- Talking to young people about vocation
- Encouraging future church workers
- Messaging templates for influential adults
- Bulletin insert — General
- Bulletin Insert — Second Career in Church Work
- The 8 LCMS Church Work Vocations *
- Talking points for encouraging second-career church work
Presentations
Use when teaching congregations and teachers about the importance of church work vocations.
- For congregations: Download presentation | Download talking points
- For teachers: Download presentation | Download talking points
For Families
Resources to share with and encourage families
Set Apart to Serve Quarterly Highlights for Educators
- Conversation Guide for Ages 12-14
- Essential Experiences Workbook & Individual Tracker Presentation
- Your Guide to Mentoring Future Church Workers
- Your Guide to Job Shadowing for Future Church Workers
- Journey Map
- Bible Study — Prayerfully Considering Full-Time Church Work: Set Apart to Serve at Camp
- Bible Study — Leading Lives That Matter
- Bible Study — Seeing Yourself in a Church Work Vocation
- Bible Study — I AM the Alpha and the Omega
- Conversation Guide for Ages 14-18+
- Essential Experiences Workbook & Individual Tracker Presentation
- Your Guide to Mentoring Future Church Workers
- Your Guide to Job Shadowing for Future Church Workers
- Journey Map
- Bible Study — Prayerfully Considering Full-Time Church Work: Set Apart to Serve at Camp
- Bible Study — Leading Lives That Matter
- Bible Study — Seeing Yourself in a Church Work Vocation
- Bible Study — I AM the Alpha and the Omega
Resources
For Laity
- Encouraging Men to Consider a Second Career as a Pastors
- Routes to the Office of the Holy Ministry
- Next Chapter, New Calling: A Guide for the Wife of a Potential Second-Career Pastor
- Talking to young people about vocation
- Encouraging future church workers
- Messaging templates for influential adult
- The 8 LCMS Church Work Vocations *
- Talking points for encouraging second-career church work
For Families
Resources to share with and encourage families
- Conversation Guide for Ages 12-14
- Essential Experiences Workbook & Individual Tracker Presentation
- Your Guide to Mentoring Future Church Workers
- Your Guide to Job Shadowing for Future Church Workers
- Journey Map
- Bible Study — Leading Lives That Matter
- Bible Study — Seeing Yourself in a Church Work Vocation
- Bible Study — I AM the Alpha and the Omega
- Conversation Guide for Ages 14-18+
- Essential Experiences Workbook & Individual Tracker Presentation
- Your Guide to Mentoring Future Church Workers
- Your Guide to Job Shadowing for Future Church Workers
- Journey Map
- Bible Study — Leading Lives That Matter
- Bible Study — Seeing Yourself in a Church Work Vocation
- Bible Study — I AM the Alpha and the Omega
Resources
For Districts
- Routes to the Office of the Holy Ministry
- Forming a District Set Apart to Serve Focus Team
- Forming a Congregation Set Apart to Serve Focus Team
- The 8 LCMS Church Work Vocations *
- Bible Study — Prayerfully Considering Full-Time Church Work: Set Apart to Serve at Camp
- Bible Study — I AM the Alpha and the Omega
Presentation
Use when talking about Set Apart to Serve (SAS) with all audiences of people in the Synod, to tell about the initiative and its available resources, and to explain how to encourage the next generation of church workers.
- For all audiences: Download presentation | Download talking points
Set Apart to Serve Quarterly Highlights for Educators
Resources
For Second Career Pastors
Presentation
Use when talking about Set Apart to Serve (SAS) with all audiences of people in the Synod, to tell about the initiative and its available resources, and to explain how to encourage the next generation of church workers.
- For all audiences: Download presentation | Download talking points
Additional Resources
‘Set Apart to Serve’ Curriculum
Teacher Colloquy Webinar
‘Set Apart to Serve’ Quarterly Highlights for Educators
‘Set Apart to Serve’ Town Hall — Resource launch
‘Set Apart to Serve’ Promotional Resources
Concordia University System church work programs
Learn about the LCMS church work vocations and access information directly from the Concordia University System programs that prepare these workers.
LCMS Servant Events
Every summer, LCMS Servant Events take place around the country, providing youth with opportunities to serve, share Christ’s love and build relationships. Interested in volunteering?