| Standards for Credentials |
The work of the ministry is both divinely ordered and scripturally ordained in order to provide leadership and equip the church to carry out its commission in worshipping God, evangelizing the world, and perfecting the body of Christ.“The River” issues credentials to individuals who demonstrate the Call of God on their lives and who have proven themselves to be committed to ministry.
Qualifications to help determine their call
There are practical ramifications because we have to discern if an individual seeking our approval has been called by the Lord.
What then are some of the indicators we look for to determine this? .jpg) What is your testimony of salvation and the evidence that your profession of faith is genuine? It is not enough to say the right things. There must also be, as John the Baptist put it, fruit in keeping with repentance (Matt. 3:8). This is the reason we want to know you as an individual, or know the leaders you minister with (there must be an organic connection to us, of the same tribe, same DNA, connected to folks that know them and are closely connected to Bethel, Global Legacy, The Mission or Family Christian Center), before approval will be granted.
It is also why we review the reference forms and conduct a face to face interview.
This is why we require three references and find out what the person is like in the other part of their life including home, work, school, business and reputation with others.
 We want to know if you are spiritually mature enough to carry out the ministry you are proposing. The spiritual maturity needed will vary with the particular ministry. For example, it will take more maturity to be a church planter than some other ministries.
We are not looking for perfection, but we are looking for enough spiritual maturity to know that they will be growing through the experience and not overwhelmed by it.
 We look for the spiritual gifts needed to carry out the ministry the individual is seeking to do. That requires much more than just a spiritual gifts inventory. They will have to have already demonstrated their gift or gifts in ministry.
 We also assess social maturity to be able to work with others. In a sense this is just a particular aspect of spiritual maturity. Do you have the ability to work well enough with other people so that you will be an asset to the ministry? Again, the maturity needed in this area will vary with the particular ministry that will be done, but it is an important area to look at.
The discernment of the leading of the Holy Spirit is not something that is left to mystical feelings for He will operate consistent with the Scriptures. For that reason we not only pray diligently, but we also ask many questions, check out references and seek as much personal interaction as possible before approving someone for ministry.?
Barnabas and Saul had already gained the experience and passed the tests in these areas so that the church leaders could be confident that it was the Holy Spirits leading to set them apart for a new ministry. Both men had solid testimonies of faith and lives that reflected their beliefs, so much so they had been persecuted for them. Both men had demonstrated their spiritual gifts for a long time. Both men had proven their ability to go to new areas to minister. Both men had proven themselves capable of working as a team and getting along with others. It was obvious by both the present divine revelation and the gifts, skills and experiences these men had already had that they were well prepared for a new ministry of taking the gospel to the Gentile lands.
You must meet the qualifications of 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1.
You must also be called by the Holy Spirit and have that confirmed by Godly leaders.
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