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A discernment guide for Christian veterans thinking about ministry. Answer a few questions about your service, your church and your life now, and get a Readiness Brief to take to your pastor.

This isn’t a spiritual gifts test, and it won’t tell you whether you’re called. That’s a question for prayer, Scripture, time and the people who know you. What it can do is help you put into words what your service formed in you, what may need translating for ministry, and what a next faithful step might look like.

Most questions take a tap. The story questions are optional: answer only the quick ones in about 12 minutes, or take half an hour and write. At the end you’ll give your name and email, and your brief appears right away.

Your answers save on this device as you go. When you finish, we keep them so you can come back to your brief and invite people to add their view; you can delete them any time. Built on Bart Denny’s book Reassigned: Military Lessons for Ministry Leadership. Privacy

Before you start

Getting oriented

A few facts about your service and where you are now.

Which branch did you serve in? (check any)
How many years did you serve, and how? And what’s your age range?

Years of service

How you served

Age

When did you leave the service?
Where are you with a church right now?
What church tradition are you part of?
What’s on your mind? Check any that fit.
Before we start: how are you doing, honestly?

Part 1 of 6

What service formed

Write as much or as little as you like. A few sentences is plenty, and you can skip any of these.

“Ask for a story instead.” Chapter 2

1.6Which of these were a regular part of your job? (check any)

Part 2 of 6

Where you already serve

Gifts tend to show up in real service, and other people usually see them before we do.

“Give people somewhere faithful to begin. … Then pay attention.” Chapter 18

2.1What do you do at church now, if anything? (check any)
2.4Has a pastor, elder or mature Christian told you they see ministry gifts in you?
2.5In the past year, how often have you served in something small or unseen, with no title?

Part 3 of 6

Strengths and shadow sides

Each strength below has a shadow side. Pick the answer that fits you most of the time.

“Often, the same experience leaves something in both columns.” Chapter 3

3.1Decisiveness or Impatience with people who haven’t caught up
3.2Clear, direct speech or Words that land harder than I meant
3.3Steady under pressure or Hiding how I’m really doing
3.4Endurance or Not knowing when to stop and rest
3.5Standards and accountability or Control
3.6Mission focus or Treating people as a means of getting things done
3.7Fixing broken systems or Treating every problem as a system to fix

Part 4 of 6

Calling and motives

No answer here rules anyone in or out. Mixed motives are normal; naming them helps.

“Calling, restlessness, ambition, regret, and obedience don’t always arrive in separate packages.” Introduction

4.1How long have you sensed this?
4.2What’s drawing you? Check everything that’s honestly part of it.
4.4If the role turned out smaller or less visible than you picture, or never came with a title, would you still serve?
4.5How do you feel about being a beginner again: school, supervision, correction from people younger than you?
4.6Who knows you’re thinking about this? (check any)

Part 5 of 6

Character and spiritual life

These answers are private. They are never scored, and they only shape the questions your brief suggests you take to your pastor.

Paul’s qualifications “aren’t a list of impressive assignments or measurable successes.” Chapter 1

5.1How has your time in Scripture and prayer been over the past year?
5.2Is there someone who tells you the truth about yourself, and do you let them?
5.3Would the people who live with you say you’re the same person at home as in public?
5.4Is there anything, such as anger, alcohol, spending or another habit, that you know has a hold on you?
5.6Have you explained a passage of Scripture or the faith to someone and seen it help?
5.7How long have you been following Christ?

Part 6 of 6

Counting the cost

The people who live with you will carry part of any new assignment.

“A husband doesn’t become more obedient by spiritualizing a decision that everyone else in the family must pay for.” Chapter 1

6.1If you’re married, where is your spouse on this?
6.2Are there children at home?
6.3Could your household handle a real drop in income?
6.4What theological training do you have, and do you have education benefits left?

Theological training

Education benefits (GI Bill and similar)

6.5Could you move for ministry?
6.6Is there anything from service you’re still carrying, such as grief, injury, guilt, anger or memories, that you’d want care for alongside this?

Last step

Get your Readiness Brief

Your brief appears on the next page. We’ll also email you a private link to it once you confirm your address.

Giving your email adds you to the Reassigned list: a few emails over the next month for veterans thinking about ministry, and occasional news after that. Every email has a link to leave the list, and leaving doesn’t delete your brief. We never share your address or your answers. Privacy