Studies indicate that a pastor does not reach significant effectiveness until five to seven years into a pastorate. Some observers suggest ten years. When we consider that the average pastorate lasts from three to seven years we see that we have a problem. The question is; what is the problem？1 Guess what？ Yours truly has an opinion on that (one that’s shared by many, including a number of leaders at Bible schools and seminaries). I suggest the problem arises when a guy enters the ministry with no prior training in a local church. He’s got no experience in soul surgery.
