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영어

This study aims to discover factors detrimental to the sense of pastoral calling and suggest measures to overcome this problem. Pastors have been selected to called to Him by God and are given special gifts necessary for this work. If a calling is related to a mutual relationship with God, a gift is something that is given to individuals. This can be differentiated between an intrinsic calling and an extrinsic calling. A calling has a profound influence on the life of a pastor. The factors detrimental to a pastor’s sense of calling is first, a tendency for a pastor to be dominated by thoughts of success and advancement so that he becomes engrossed with building up his own career. Next is overlooking the spiritual guidance of his congregation to treat them as consumers and introducing marketing method to the ministry. And, when a pastor strays from the presence of God, his sense of calling becomes weakened. The condition for recovering his sense of calling is for God to force the pastor to experience a desperate situation similar to that of encountering a storm or being put in a prison. This is because only when one is put under duress of a desperate situation will he debase himself and seek God in earnest. A pastor needs to be earnest in his prayers. It is the means for him to recover his sense of calling. Only when a pastor view his ministry field from the perspective of his calling and serve his ministrial subjects with devotion will he get closer to his calling. The change in the pastoral paradigm is also an important factor in the recovery of the ministrial sense of calling. This is because a pastor’s role is defined in accordance to the paradigm.