Save array from drop-down menu in Wordpress - arrays

Question

I have successfully pulled a custom post type through into a drop-down that is in a custom meta box. However, when displaying it on the front end I would like to also provide a link to the actual post, not just the name of the post. So I am guessing I need to save this as an array? Is this possible through a drop-down? Confused on how I should approach this. Any help is greatly appreciated.
Here is what I have so far:
// Add Meta Box To Select Overseeing Pastor
add_action('admin_init', 'ministry_select_add_meta');
function ministry_select_add_meta(){
add_meta_box('ministry_select_post', __('Overseeing Pastor'), 'ministry_select_meta', 'ministry', 'side');
}
function ministry_select_meta( $post ) {
$values = get_post_custom( $post->ID );
$selected = isset( $values['pastor_select'] ) ? esc_attr( $values['pastor_select'][0] ) : '';
wp_nonce_field( 'my_meta_box_nonce', 'meta_box_nonce' );
?>
<select name="pastor_select">
<?php
$args = array(
'post_type' => 'employee',
'position' => 'pastor'
);
$pastorList = new WP_Query($args); while ($pastorList->have_posts()) : $pastorList->the_post();
$is_selected = (get_the_title() == $selected) ? 'selected="selected"' : '';
echo '<option value="'.get_the_title().'" '.$is_selected.'>'.get_the_title().'</option>';
endwhile; wp_reset_postdata();
?>
</select>
<?php
}
add_action( 'save_post', 'ministry_select_save' );
function ministry_select_save( $post_id )
{
// Stop If Autosaving
if( defined( 'DOING_AUTOSAVE' ) && DOING_AUTOSAVE ) return;
// Stop If Nonce Can't Be Verified
if( !isset( $_POST['meta_box_nonce'] ) || !wp_verify_nonce( $_POST['meta_box_nonce'], 'my_meta_box_nonce' ) ) return;
// Stop If Unauthorized User
if( !current_user_can( 'edit_post' ) ) return;
// Make Sure Data Is Set Then Save
if( isset( $_POST['pastor_select'] ) )
update_post_meta( $post_id, 'pastor_select', esc_attr( $_POST['pastor_select'] ) );
}

Answer 1

To get the link of a Post you can use the get_permalink function
<?php $permalink = get_permalink( ); ?>
or like this if you are outside the Loop
<?php $permalink = get_permalink( $post->ID ); ?>
You can use that to print it in any place on your HTML code.
If what you want is go to the Post URL when the Post Title is selected in the Drop Down you can use JavaScript code to do that, doing something like:
<select name="pastor_select" onchange='location=this.options[this.selectedIndex].value;'>
<?php
$args = array(
'post_type' => 'employee',
'position' => 'pastor'
);
$pastorList = new WP_Query($args); while ($pastorList->have_posts()) : $pastorList->the_post();
$is_selected = (get_the_title() == $selected) ? 'selected="selected"' : '';
echo '<option value="'.get_permalink( ).'" '.$is_selected.'>'.get_the_title().'</option>';
endwhile; wp_reset_postdata();
?>
</select>
If what you want is save some POST information, is recommended save the ID of the POST, so later you can retrieve any data for that POST, what if you want to store permalink and title you can combine the functions get_permalink( ); and get_the_title(); in the select "value" attribute.

Answer 2

So I came up with a different solution. Instead of trying to save an array, I just saved the post ID which would allow me access to the title of the post as well as the permalink.
This is my modified code
<select name="pastor_select">
<?php
$args = array(
'post_type' => 'employee',
'position' => 'pastor'
);
$pastorList = new WP_Query($args); while ($pastorList->have_posts()) : $pastorList->the_post();
$employeeID = get_the_ID(); // THIS FIXED THE PROBLEM
$is_selected = ($employeeID == $selected) ? 'selected="selected"' : '';
echo '<option value="'.$employeeID.'" '.$is_selected.'>'.get_the_title().'</option>';
endwhile; wp_reset_postdata();
?>
</select>
And this is how I am calling it on the front end
<?php
$id = $post_meta_data['pastor_select'][0];
echo '<a href="'.get_permalink($id).'">';
echo get_the_title($id);
echo '</a>';
?>