By Megan Young
Editor
JACKSON, Miss. — “Everybody knows the problem churches throughout our state and all over the Bible belt have,” said Jay Parks. “We don’t have pastors. We need pastors.”
Parks, himself a seminary-educated pastor at Old Union Baptist Church in Shannon, knows firsthand the pastor shortage plaguing small-town churches. Having grown up in north Mississippi, he saw a familiar trend befall the rural churches around him — a qualified pastor would be called, he would stay a couple of years, and then God would move him or he would have to move to provide for his family better.
This cycle would repeat, causing discouragement among the congregation that resulted in the church not effectively reaching its community.
In Mississippi, where 71% of churches have fewer than 100 members, this reality is all too common. Smaller congregations often do not have the resources to attract and retain trained pastors.
In fact, a growing number of the state’s pastors are considered bi-vocational, with 40-50% having another occupation outside the church to make ends meet. These men rarely have the opportunity or resources to take time away from their jobs and families to attend seminary.
“How could we work alongside those churches that have continuously had that cycle happening to raise up their best Sunday School teacher or their best deacon or their best teacher?” asked Parks. “Maybe they don’t become their pastor, but they can certainly stand in the gap if there’s a time the church doesn’t have a pastor. And then who knows what God would do with that?”
Parks’ ministry work in Africa revealed the answer. After getting got involved writing curriculum for the Church Missions Network (CMN), a church planting and pastor training ministry in East Africa he witnessed just how successful their strategy was of using African seminary-educated pastors to train and equip pastors and church planters.
While spending time with Malawian Pastor McLean Chimwenje, the subject of life goals came up. McLean asked Parks what he hoped God would do through him. Parks responded by saying that if he could lead 10 guys into the Gospel ministry in his lifetime, that would be amazing.
“Why is your number so low?” asked McLean. “What do you mean? Ten men, that would be unreal,” answered Parks. “Jay, if you would do what we’re doing in Africa here, God would give you thousands of men to train for the Gospel ministry,” responded McLean.
Energized, Parks sought the input of Dr. Ronald Meeks, his spiritual mentor and professor of Biblical Studies at Blue Mountain Christian University. Meeks agreed that the increasing pastor shortage was a problem and affirmed Parks’ calling to address that need. With the backing of Blue Mountain’s board and president, Barbara McMillin, he began the Pastor Training Schools.
The program consists of 12 courses taught by seminary-educated pastors in 6-week increments over a two year period. Students study the core courses covered in seminary, just in an abbreviated time frame — usually one night a week for two and a half hours each session.
Classes are taught in small cohorts across the state so that participants do not have to travel far to attend. There are currently 23 cohort locations in Mississippi alone, with a total of 31 across five states and growing. More than 250 students have enrolled with the expectation to exceed 300 by the time the next classes begin in August.
Through the partnership with Blue Mountain, a graduate of the Pastor Training Schools receives a Certificate of Christian Ministry and can test out of nine credit hours if they choose to pursue a bachelor’s degree from the university. Blue Mountain also offers the graduates a 50% discount on online training.
On Dec. 15, 2025, the first 14 men walked across a stage at Blue Mountain and graduated from the Pastor Training Schools. Parks witnessed just how significant earning the certificate was for them, not only for their education but for their sense of ministry calling.
“What I found with these guys, a lot of times they come and they say, ‘I don’t know about being a pastor. I’m not going to be a pastor,’” said Parks. “But they get in these classes and they realize that they do have the abilities and God can use them. They start to learn these skills and then I think their minds start to open up to the possibility that God could use them that way.
“So I just think that’s the coolest thing about it — being able to really just open an opportunity for people to consider, ‘What can God do with me?’ I think at the core, all of us feel like we’re not worthy, you know? God can’t use me. I’ve got this. I’ve got that. But he can use anybody. All he wants is your availability and your willingness.”
The next Pastor Training School session will begin in August. For more information and to apply, visit pastortrainingschools.org.
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