Advance Cohort: Alen Andrews

The Advance Initiative National Cohort exists to empower, equip, and encourage ministry-minded men who are exploring a calling to pastor or plant gospel-centered, multiethnic churches as or among Indian Americans. Our current Cohort has gathered five men from around the country who are exploring church planting together. We have been meeting together since September of 2016. Our hope is to give you the opportunity to meet these five men over the next several months and to hear their thoughts and prayers.

Tell us a little about yourself. 

My name is Alen Andrews and I currently live in Minneapolis, MN. I am an intern for Cities Church and currently work in Operations for The Gospel Coalition.

Describe your desire for ministry.

My desire for ministry began when I was in my teens. I wanted to do something to advance God’s kingdom and felt a pull towards it. How I am discerning my calling to ministry is by surrounding myself with pastors, leaders, and peers who can give me honest feedback. One of the things I had to struggle with (and realize) is that I am not called to have a ministry like John Piper, Francis Chan, or Matt Chandler (etc). Instead, the ministry that I am called to have is the one that God has prepared for me beforehand (Ephesians 2:10). If that means that I may never be a pastor– I have to be willing to trust God in his providential guidance.

What lead you to participate in the Advance Cohort?

There were two things that really guided me to participate in the cohort: desire and opportunity. I desired to be connected with a group of likeminded Indian men and women who want to impact all peoples (all the while: not neglecting their own heritage). Since I grew up connected to the Indian community (for better and for worse), I am convinced more and more that while we were made to know God, we were not called to abandon our God-given cultural heritage. Convicted and convinced, I jumped at the chance of being a part of this cohort.

What is the most important thing that you have learned or been challenged by within Cohort so far?

We need more Indian people to consider entering into ministry. Not so that we can make a cultural name for ourselves, but so that we can impact and encourage other Indians to know Jesus and share this good news to all peoples. What this calls for is risk and that is where rubber meets the road. Are we willing to risk it all for the sake of the kingdom?

What is one word of encouragement you would give to someone considering ministry? 

There are two things to think about when it comes to “ministry”: there is lay-ministry and vocational ministry. For both I would point to these four questions:

1. Do you want to enter into ministry?
2. Does your faithful, biblically-grounded community think it is a good idea?
3. Is there an opportunity to enter into ministry?
4. What promises of God are you leaning on?

If you’re looking to enter into vocational ministry, specifically as a pastor/elder, I would encourage men to read 1 Timothy 3 and ask God to make you into that kind of man and leader.

How can we pray for you?

1. To continue to believe and trust that God is God in all things and circumstances.
2. Faithfulness to His Word and in the places that God has placed me now
3. Wisdom. Lots of wisdom.