What kind of spiritual upbringing do pastors have? Are they well educated? Do they find anything lacking in their ministry training? When did they start their first ministry job and what did they do? The latest Christianity Today International research has some answers.

SPIRITUAL BEGINNINGS

The typical pastor was converted to Christ just before the age of 13. This is significantly earlier than the typical evangelical Protestant who came to faith at the age of 17.

Two-thirds of pastors (67%) in the study were raised by at least one Christian parent. The vast majority of these, five in six, were raised by two Christian parents.

Twelve percent of today's pastors come from a home where one of the parents was employed in ministry.

INFLUENCES IN CHOOSING MINISTRY AS A CAREER

Strong sense of God's call = 87%
Pastor or mentor who modeled ministry favorably = 58%
Parents = 27%
Other family or friends = 25%
Crisis event in life = 11%
Spouse = 9%