The Church of Scotland has recruited 19 people to train as new ministers.
A further 34 people will be eligible to be considered this autumn and Kirk officials hope this year’s intake could prove be the largest for some time.
Recruiting new ministers is one of the biggest challenges facing Scotland’s national church because a large number of the 800 ministers currently in post are due to retire in the next 10 years.
The number of Church of Scotland congregations dropped by 75 in six years to 1,379 and there are currently 215 vacancies with 118 people completing ministry training courses between 2009 and 2014.
Of the 19 recruits, thirteen of them have been accepted to full-time ministry and five to ordained local ministry – an unpaid, voluntary role.
One person is joining the diaconate which comprises ordained ministers who work in professional supportive roles in a parish or elsewhere.
One of the new recruits is David Nicolson from Stornoway who is joining the Kirk following a career making television programmes.
The 29-year-old married father of one, who will be studying full-time at Highland Theological College in Dingwall, said he was confident that working in the media had provided a good training ground for full time ministry.
Mr Nicholson said: “Now I have discerned my call to serve God, I cannot imagine a more exciting prospect.
“Getting to satisfy that itch, that inner voice that asks ‘what was I put on earth to do?, is thrilling.
“The church today faces real challenges and that’s no secret.
“And I don’t think, I, in any way have all the answers to make the future bright and prosperous.
“But with God’s help and grace I would hope he could use me to lead healthy, thriving churches that are passionate about the Bible.
“My hope is to get alongside fellow leaders and work as a team – utilising everyone’s strengths, gifts and callings within the Church to maximum potential.”
The Kirk launched a social media recruitment campaign last month called Tomorrow’s Calling and a recruitment conference being held at Queen’s Cross Church in Aberdeen on Saturday is practically a sell-out.
The Rev Neil Glover, convener of the Kirk’s ministries council, said: “Being a minister is a remarkable job, indeed more than a job, a remarkable calling.”