Advice for a 20-year-old preparing for pastoral ministry: balance seminary education with active local church service, and remove ego.

Winger warns that seminary education can puff a person up — making them think they know more than they do. He recommends staying in active local church ministry (hospitality, ushering, teaching, evangelism) even during training, because theory without practice is incomplete. He also stresses removing ego and competitive comparisons with peers, and instead viewing other gifted ministers as resources for the body of Christ.