So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
Acts 14:23

What is meant by appointing elders with “prayer and fasting”? It means that this matter is given serious spiritual consideration. Prayer is an essential component to all Christian decision making. But when it comes to appointing elders, much prayer is needed because the stakes are so high and the consequences of a wrong decision can be catastrophic. Fasting, whether literally or not, underscores the seriousness of the decision even more.

It is much better to be overly cautious than to later realize than an elder cannot serve and has to be removed.

The serious prayer that goes into the decision to appointing elders is not the responsibility of the elders alone. The congregation should be praying for the Lord to raise up elders, and that only those God raises up become elders. Are you praying about this for our church?

May I encourage you to pray for more elders. Pray especially for the Lord to raise up younger men. While the term “elder” does refer to a man’s experience, churches are blessed when young men aspire to become elders. As 1 Timothy 3:1 says:

This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work.

As a footnote, observe that Acts 14:23 ends with these words: they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.” The elders and the congregation do not make anyone an elder. Only God does that. But we appoint elders “believing / trusting” the Lord to use the men He has called.