Tag: Ministry

The Dreaded MMBs

by Dale, posted in Ministry, Monday Ministry Encouragement, Pastoring, Uncategorized

Pastor, do you experience a case of MMBs on Mondays?

“What are MMBs you ask? According to an unknown source, MMBs is “Monday Morning Ministry Blues.” This speaks of the mental battles, feelings of regret and failure, emotional exhaustion, and discouragement that can come to a pastor on Monday after Sunday.

How can you overcome the MMBs? Here’s a few thoughts.

  1. Begin your Monday by giving every “win” and every “loss” from Sunday to God. Now, reality is, we do not know all the wins and losses on Sunday because we are not omniscient, therefore our win/loss meter is faulty at best. No matter, cast it all at Jesus’ feet. He’s the Head of the Church. By the way, success is not “buildings, bodies, and bucks,” as one of my mentors, Jim Binney” noted. Success is “obedience to the revealed, known will of God found in His Word” (John Hunter).
  2. Get some rest. You gave your all during the week getting ready for Sunday. Then you expended much spiritual, physical, and mental energy in greeting people, listening to needs, preaching the Word, surviving multiple expectations, leading meetings, etc.The plane landed Sunday night and is in the hanger for clean up and repairs. Warren Wiersbe said it well, “Sometimes the most spiritual thing we can do is rest.” Pastor, let your body and mind rest. You were not created to have at it seven days a week, 24 hours a day. May I encourage you, if you truly can, to take the whole day off, not just half.
  3. Do not mask the MMBs by putting on a happy ministry face. If you are struggling, talk to your wife. Share your heart with her. Phone a friend or meet for coffee so he can listen to you, speak the truth in love to your heart, help you with your blind spots and then have prayer with you. It’s okay. Blessing from the hand of God often comes through failure and struggles.

All of us pastors know about the MMBs in some form or fashion. Soak your soul in Romans 8:28-39, and look forward to Tuesday!

A Weekend On The Road With D&D

by Dale, posted in D & D Ministries, God's Word, Gods' Will, Joy, Ministry, Uncategorized

What does a weekend journey with D & D look like? You have the opportunity to live out, on the spot, the subject of your messages. In this case, My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect (maturing) work, that you may be perfect (mature) and complete, lacking nothing (James 1:2-4).

Come along with us as I recap last weekend’s travel journeys.

Continue reading “A Weekend On The Road With D&D” →

What the Church Needs

by Dale, posted in Church, D & D Ministries, Pastoring

Pastor, what does your church need?

Ask any local church pastor, and you will hear, “Our church needs ____________________.” There are many words that could fill that blank, and every pastor really believes he knows what it is from revival, another building, two AM services, another staff member, etc.

After 40 years of being a senior pastor and now in an associate role, I have come to this conclusion . . . I don’t know what our church needs nor do I know what your church needs. Only my omniscient Heavenly Father and the Head of the Church, the Lord Jesus Christ knows what Boones Creek Bible Church needs. My limited, short-sighted, not able to discern the hearts of the people knowledge is totally incapable of discerning what any church needs.

Continue reading “What the Church Needs” →

For The Pastor Who Is Too Busy To Take A Day Off

by Dale, posted in Health, Ministry, Pastoring, Renewal, Rest, Uncategorized

“When do you take a day off?”

“I try to take Mondays off . . . whenever I can.”

Interpretation: I’m too busy with ministry to take a day off.

Pastor, have you ever said anything like that? If so, here’s a warning: you are too busy.

Continue reading “For The Pastor Who Is Too Busy To Take A Day Off” →

MS, Lupus & Life

by Dale, posted in D & D Ministries, Discipleship, Evangelism, Uncategorized

“Everything! I have many things for which I need prayer! My husband has been diagnosed with MS, two of my children have lupus, and my job.”

This was the response from our server at a Mexican restaurant recently when we ask if we could pray for her when we thanked the Lord for our meal.

People everywhere are hurting, needy, struggling, fearful, anxious, lonely, and despondent just like this server who was discouraged about life and having to work so hard for her family.

The greatest crisis for everyone without a personal relationship with God through Christ alone (John 14:6) is their inability to save themselves from an eternity in hell.

Last week, while watching the Barna Group webcast, 2024 The State of Pastors Summit, one set of statistics particularly grabbed my attention.

The mandate for the local church and its pastors in this age remains: Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen. (Matthew 28:19-20). We are continuing the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 1:1-11), the One Who came to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10).

Pastor, . . .

  • Have ministry demands caused you to be so busy that you have forgotten people, especially those without Christ?
  • Have you been tempted to believe the lies of the devil and flesh that have dampen your heart for the Great Commission?
  • Are you possibly so discouraged and burdened down with care of the church and/or the current conflict that your eyes have grown dim to the plight of lost souls around you, maybe even next door?

Pastor, how about inviting another brother in Christ to lunch. Read the Scriptures or a book together. Then, when the server comes along, ask them how you can pray for them. This is discipleship that Jesus spoke about in the Great Commission.

Perhaps make a coffee shop your place to prepare your message for Sunday. (Just a gentle reminder, obedience has no excuses.)

One of the best ways to get the focus off yourself and perhaps your deep dive into discouragement is to go be a blessing to someone else. Christ that dwells in you endured great contradiction/hostility/insults from others (Hebrews 12:3). He is your life, your strength, your Shepherd. You are crucified (Galatians 2:20), so go live in and through Him!

Pastor, there’s a server and millions of others out there that need the gospel; that need you to just care for them. As the Lord continues to seek and to save, you follow His initiative as He lives His life out of you.

Enjoy the journey! As He leads, you follow!

Take 3

by Dale, posted in Ministry, Pastoring

This week I was able to watch the Barna Group’s 2024 The State of Pastors Summit. The first session began with asking some key questions. I would like to share those questions with the pastors who read this blog.

  1. What are the biggest struggles you face today?
  2. What are you most hopeful about today leading into the future of the church?
  3. How can we be praying for you as a pastor?

Would you be so kind to answer the questions using the following email address: danddmin@gmail.com? I will not disclose your name in a blog post or on social media.

My heart is to encourage pastors. I want to help you, cheer you on. That’s the purpose of this blog and one of the purposes of D & D Ministry. Having grown up in a pastor’s home and just ending my 40th year of being a senior pastor, I know the struggles, heartaches, disappointment and sorrows of ministry as well as the joys, victories, and fulfillment. I desire to be your friend, to encourage you to finish well.

Thank you for reading and taking your time to share your answers!!

Wherever you are in ministry today, soak your soul in Romans 8:18, 26-39.

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The Discouraged Pastor

by Dale, posted in D & D Ministries, Ministry, Pastoring, Uncategorized

He had experienced a long, difficult week. Struggling to preach, his mind was tired, and his body was weak. By God’s grace he was giving it his all, but by the end of the service, his heart was weak and discouraged.

Discouragement comes in waves like low and high tides.

Discouragement attacks at weak moments.

Discouragement is the unwanted companion of most pastors.

As my wife and I have travelled here-and-yon the past six months, and I have spoken with many pastors on the phone, discouragement in the ministry is an ever-present temptation to which many succumb.

Continue reading “The Discouraged Pastor” →

Power to Burn!

by Dale, posted in D & D Ministries, Ministry, Pastoring, Uncategorized

The country road in front of my house begs for any power-stroked truck to manifest its prowess in an ever-increasing, swift, thunderous, exhaust smoke-billowing fashion!

Power! When needed to winch-out another vehicle stuck in the mud, a 2023 Ram 2500 truck with 410 horsepower would get the job done! Indeed, power to burn!

Continue reading “Power to Burn!” →

Contentment On the Mountain and In the Valley

by Dale, posted in D & D Ministries, Ministry, Pastoring, Uncategorized

The church auditorium was 3/4 empty on Sunday . . . . Christ is enough.

The church auditorium was packed to overflow . . . . Christ is enough.

Sunday’s sermon was a failure . . . . Christ is enough.

Sunday’s sermon was theologically, exegetically, practically sound . . . . Christ is enough.

Continue reading “Contentment On the Mountain and In the Valley” →

Pastor, What Do You See?

by Dale, posted in Ministry, Pastoring

“How have you seen God at work in your life today?”

This is a question that I’ve posed to many believers over the years. The goal is not to put anyone on-the-spot but simply to acknowledge that God is always at work around us inviting us to join Him in His work (John 15:5). Watching God at work as well as joining Him in His work at His invitation is an adventure (John 14:21; Hebrews 12)!

As God works, it is always in unison with His character, His names and His word.

Continue reading “Pastor, What Do You See?” →