The time will come when you’ll need to step away from being the lead pastor of a local church. Are you prepared? Have you been preparing? Who have you discipled for this position? Will he come from your current congregation?
Over ten years ago, my son-in-law came to serve at Boones Creek Bible Church as youth leader. From there he became the youth/assistant pastor. As of July 30, 2023, he was voted to officially become the associate pastor waiting to be the lead pastor on January 7, 2024.
When I became pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, Graysville, TN, in the spring of 1983, the question of who would “fill my shoes” was not on my mind. I had a lifetime of ministry in front of me!!
Monday’s Ministry Encouragement: Written to encourage you, my friend in ministry, to be refreshed and renewed as we live for Christ and look toward the Bema.
“She’s the pastor’s wife!”
Being married to a pastor comes with a multitude of blessings and challenges from every direction. Today’s blog post was written by my wife, Denise. I share it here today in hopes it will encourage the wives of pastors.
Monday’s Ministry Encouragement: Written to encourage you, my friend in ministry, to be refreshed and renewed as we live for Christ and look toward the Bema.
You studied all week. You exegeted the passage, prayed over it and through it. You mulled it over in your mind throughout the week. You changed the outline several times. Even on Sunday morning, something new came to mind and you added it to your notes.
Sunday arrives and you mount the pulpit ready to deliver the goods. God in His grace and the power of the Holy Spirit enable you to speak the Words of Life.
The final “Amen” is said and now it’s time to speak with folks on their way home, and you will be headed that way shortly.
What are your thoughts about the sermon as you drive home; as you gather with your family at home for dinner or a group of folk at the restaurant? Did you succeed or fail? Was it too long or too short? Was it true to the text? Was the sentence sermon clearly given and articulated throughout the message?
Monday’s Ministry Encouragement: Written to encourage you, my friend in ministry, to be refreshed and renewed as we live for Christ and look toward the Bema.
He has been in ill health for awhile. Recently, he has been battling mini-strokes which has hospitalized him again.
Standing by this bedside I ask, “How are you doing spiritually?” He struggled to answer.
“Do you doubt God’s love for you?” “No.”
“Do you wonder if He’s forsaken you?” “No.”
“Do you know He loves and cares for you?” “Yes.”
As I read Psalm 34, his countenance displayed he was connecting with . . .
15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry.
17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles. 18 The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all.
Continuing to struggle to verbalize his thoughts, I began to sing, “He Is Able to Deliver Thee” and he joined in.
From there we sang, “He Touched Me,” “Blessed Assurance,” “It Is Well With My Soul,” “Are Ye Able Said the Master?, and “In the Garden.” Amazing how he works so hard to express his thoughts, yet he hardly misses a word of song.
After prayer, he took his right hand from beneath the covers and reached for mine for a handshake. As I took his hand, he pulled me to him. I hugged him, and he held onto my hand. From one brother in Christ to another, I said, “I love you, friend. You are very dear to me. I’m cheering you on! Your church family is praying for you.” As best he could he said, “I know. They sent me some cards.”
I have heard it said so often, “one of the best ways to get the focus off of your own pain/cares/discouragement, etc., is to go be a blessing to someone else.”
Ministry friend, are you down-hearted today? Does the Monday Ministry Blues have you in its grip? Are you weighed down with ministry burdens? How about making a visit to a dear saint of God? Read Scripture to them. Sing some of their favorites with them. When you leave, your vision of Christ will be clearer and your heart will lifted with joy and blessing.
On this Sunday, our morning gathering was a blessing in so many, many wonderful ways. This afternoon visit was the “icing on the cake.”
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. (2 Corinthians 1:3-6)
“Pastor, do you know that you have been my pastor all my life?”
Last weekend, I had the privilege of attending two high school graduations of two young ladies who I held in the hospital at birth and have now watched receive their diplomas. That’s one of the many joys of longevity in ministry in one location!
Monday’s Ministry Encouragement: Written to encourage you, my friend in ministry, to be refreshed and renewed as we live for Christ and look toward the Bema.
Pastor, are you ready to quit? Are you tempted to to “throw in the towel?”
You have some company in your misery. You may not know who they are or maybe you do, nevertheless they are all over the country.
Every pastor who is a faithful shepherd of the flock, a dedicated proclaimer of the Truth, a man of passionate prayer and a caring, compassionate friend will face times like these.
Monday’s Ministry Encouragement: Written to encourage you, my friend in ministry, to be refreshed and renewed as we live for Christ and look toward the Bema.
And when He had sent them away, He departed to the mountain to pray. (Mark 6:46)
In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. (Luke 6:12)
Every once-in-awhile, I have to literally go to the mountain and get along with the Lord. Living in East Tennessee, there are many wonderful locations from which to choose.
Due to various ministry demands, the recent death of my father-in-law, a bit of a spiritual empty tank, and just needing the solitude, I made my way to one of my favorite areas along the Appalachian Trail.
Monday’s Ministry Encouragement: Written to encourage you, my friend in ministry, to be refreshed and renewed as we live for Christ and look toward the Bema.
“Pastor, do you have a busy week ahead of you?” was the question offered by a caring church member headed home after a great day of worship and ministry.
Busy week? Always!
But the question for me is, “Will I get it all done?”
Monday’s Ministry Encouragement: Written to encourage you, my friend in ministry, to be refreshed and renewed as we live for Christ and look toward the Bema.
Before men’s prayer breakfast on Saturday morning, a real concern gripped my heart. The men arrived, filled their plates, and gathered around the firepit. On this cloudy, 34 degree morning, the roaring fire felt really good!!
Several years ago, I found the following from Pastor Bob Kelley who went Home to Glory on October 28, 2006. I believe these practical lessons wrought out of forty-three years of ministry will be of great help and encouragement to you as you begin 2023, a new year of living out the Christ-life in His ministry.
fromapastorsheart.com 