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Lucas Somma
Professor Cathy DiFronzo
First Year Experience
14 July 2015
Becoming a Minister and Nonprofit Director
Since the first grade’s initial aspirations to be a reality-television inspired storm chaser to
senior year’s solemn evaluation of the Culinary Arts’ field, I’ve made an excessive amount of
changes to the question- “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Yet, wrestling with
youthful idealism and more vitally the all too familiar desire to do incredible things for the
world, has changed me more than anyone can possibly know. I’ve decided to lay aside “reality”
and make it my chief aim to contribute to the betterment of the world. Primarily due to my
Christian faith, I aspire to be both a minister and nonprofit director.
In the tender and tranquil moments of a church service during my freshman year, I could
feel God speak to my heart, “I’ve made you to be so much more than a Chef”. The words
impressed upon my soul so deeply, that since then, I knew that I could not waste my life behind a
stove. However, throughout my senior year of high school, I stopped trusting and following, and
decided that the only realistic use of my talents and passions would be in the Culinary Arts’ field.
As I sat down with my high-school-educated and financially-struggling parents to convince them
(and likely myself, as well) that my best option was to attend either the New England Culinary
Institute or Culinary Institute of America, for approximately $57,000 a year, life crawled out of
me. From September 2014 to March 2015, I slept very little. I regularly stayed awake in fear of
my future, with the even more prominent mystery- “how does cooking benefit the world?” In the

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springtime, thankfully, I returned back to God and ultimately my desire to serve Him and the
world returned with remarkable vigor.
I understand that working in either ministries or nonprofit organizations is a grossly
underpaid undertaking. I’ve seen numerous ministries sink under in their first years alone, and
I’ve heard the facts- 1,700 pastors leave the ministry every month. In the nonprofit sector, it’s
understandable to assume that Presidents of organizations are either filthy rich from stealing
away massive amounts of net income or dirty poor after sacrificing above and beyond what is
understandable for the sake of their causes. Unfortunately, there is a lot stacked up against both
professions. Yet, I imagine that coming home every night after a dreadfully long day of assisting
in the fight against poverty and homelessness is abundantly more rewarding than any other 9 to 5
position. I also know that both professions take quite a bit of schooling. Although some pastors
are self-taught, the requirements for ordination and leading established churches are becoming
stricter. Likewise, the amount of knowledge it takes to run a successful nonprofit is
unfathomable. From what I understand, I believe both professions would require a Bachelor’s
degree, and a Masters wouldn’t be unhelpful.
As I sat down with Senior Pastor Casey Sabella of Christ Community, it became
immensely clear that ministry is not a career, it’s a calling. Suffering through the constant
hardships of a subpar income, church politics, and emotional investment that supersedes every
other area of life becomes essentially irrelevant at the honor of being called. The calling of God
does not invalidate our obstacles, it puts them in perspective.
In contrast to Casey’s experience as a minister, most clergy have a Bachelor’s degree at
the minimum. In order to become an Assemblies of God ordained minister, a four year degree in
Bible/Church Ministries at an approved or sponsored Assemblies of God University will satisfy

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the education requirement. The Assemblies of God denomination contains fifteen private
universities. Both Northpoint Bible College and Trinity Bible College offer degrees exclusively
in Bible/Church Ministries and similar programs, while offering opportunities for double majors
and minors. The majority of the schools, however, are fully accredited universities that offer a
wide variety of degrees, ranging from Accounting to Music. Although they offer a vast amount
of degree programs, they too offer Bible/Ministry related degrees. Yet, Evangel University is the
only Assemblies of God endorsed university with both Bible/Ministry degrees and a Nonprofit
Business & Social Enterprise degree. The cost of attendance is below the national average at
only $28,898 annually.
Beyond four year degrees, undergraduates have the opportunity to continue to further
their education at a graduate school. Almost every Assemblies of God school has an onsite or
online graduate program in religion oriented degrees.
Besides education, the Assemblies of God denomination has a variety of other
requirements for ordination that are largely personal. A candidate for ordination is expected to
adhere to doctrinal and administrative positions, and have good character, on top of possessing a
four year degree. Moreover, on the spiritual side, candidates must exhibit a calling to ministry
and fulfill moral requirements listed in biblical passages such as 1 Timothy 3.
Beyond ordination, however, the typical minister is in for a mediocre life from a financial
standpoint. The average annual salary for clergy is $47,730 while the top 10% earn $76,430.
However, some congregations agree to provide certain amenities such as housing and a car upon
employment. The rate of pay from the congregation is also generally contingent upon the size of
the congregation a minister serves, as well as his experience. Outliers reach up to $210,000 a
year. Clergy members are most likely to land a job in a religious organization, general hospital,

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or home healthcare services company. Thankfully, nonprofit organization managers do make
significantly more than clergy. Their median rate of pay is $59,970 annually. Both occupations
also have an entry level education of a Bachelor’s degree, though there can be anomalies with no
or significantly more education.
The minister’s life is not an easy one. A person typically becomes a minister out of sense
of calling, or desire to serve God. With that being said, every career advancement is seen as a
spiritual advancement and every material benefit a blessing directly from God. Typically,
personal faith is left at the sidelines of a career. Although society may have religious inspiration
to do the work they do (think of the countless Christian bakers or Muslim physicians), you can’t
shy away from expression of faith as a minister.
Similarly, I intend to start or join a nonprofit organization that does something good for
the world. I’ve come to the understanding that my faith is irrelevant unless it has somehow
motivated me to influence the world. How can I say grace over my food when my brothers and
sisters are starving? How can I afford a $60 Bible when children are illiterate? How can I pray
when the sick are not comforted?
My intentions to pursue both occupations are the result of an inner desire to influence
both those in and outside of the Church.
First and foremost, I saw that the Assemblies of God denomination fits my beliefs and
direction most suitably. Their theology is based on their interpretation of the Bible and revelatory
experiences by pivotal leaders (though their revelation only supports the centrality of scripture).
The Assemblies of God is a Pentecostal denomination that values both service to God, and
relevance to the rest of the world. In other words, Assemblies of God congregants desire to love
God and love people in extraordinary measures.

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This is obvious even in their denomination sponsored schools. Evangel University, for
example, prides itself in providing a rigorous academic atmosphere that incorporates Christian
faith and motivates students to do incredible things in the world. I also found that Evangel was
the most suitable school for an aspiring minister and nonprofit director, from an academic
standpoint. Evangel offers a Church Leadership major that satisfies the educational aspect of the
Assemblies of God ministerial ordination requirement, and a Nonprofit Business and Social
Enterprise major which enables me to adequately serve in nonprofit organizations. However, I
also have the option to attend any other university within the denomination and later attend a
graduate school for a Masters in Nonprofit Leadership (or a similar degree). With this in in mind,
I can evaluate other schools based on different factors. From a financial standpoint, Northpoint
Bible College or Trinity Bible College are the least expensive with the cost of attendance at
approximately $18,000 per year. Geographically, Northpoint Bible College and University of
Valley Forge are the closest. Northpoint is located in Haverhill, MA while University of Valley
Forge is located in Phoenixville, PA.
As a result of the research I’ve conducted, I’ve decided to focus more on ministry and
obtaining a degree in Church Leadership than Nonprofit Business. With that in mind, I feel it is
most necessary to focus on which university most adequately provides greater opportunities
within the ministry. Evangel University, Northpoint Bible College, and University of Valley
Forge are my top contenders at the moment. In the meantime, I’ll begin searching for low-level
nonprofit jobs such as an administrative assistant, cook, or project worker. Nevertheless, my
endeavors to serve God and influence the world will continue.

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Works Cited
1 Timothy. Holman Christian Standard Bible. Nashville: Holman Bible, 2009. Print.
“Clergy”. Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2014. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 25
Mar. 2015. Web. 23 July 2015.
Dart, John. "Pastors' Salaries Rise, Pollster." Christian Century 119.13 (2002): 17. Academic
Search Premier. Web. 26 July 2015.
Herndon, Jay. "Education Qualifications for Credentials." AGNCN. Assemblies of God,
Northern California and Nevada District Council, Inc., 2015. Web. 26 July 2015.
Herndon, Jay. "Qualifications for Credentials." AGNCN. Assemblies of God, Northern
California and Nevada District Council, Inc., 2015. Web. 26 July 2015.
Sabella, Casey. “Interview with a Small Church Pastor.” Personal interview. 27 July 2015.
"Social and Community Service Managers." Occupational Outlook Handbook. U.S. Bureau of
Labor Statistics, 08 Jan. 2014. Web. 25 July 2015
Tingum, Janice. "How to Become a Christian Pastor." Small Business by Demand Media.
Houston Chronicle, n.d. Web. 25 July 2015.