I often wondered how people coming out of Bible College without the real life ministry experience view what they are about to do. Growing up in a pastor's home and being in ministry throughout my years of Bible College meant that I was not going blindly into it. I knew exactly what I was getting into, and yes I wondered the whole four years why I was doing it.
I heard so many comments and ideals of ministry in Bible College. I wondered why they were teaching the stuff they did if it only really happened once or twice in some cases. I read papers by other students thinking, 'you seriously think that this is going to happen one day?' It's like when I hear all those preachers at conference telling us that our secretary should stick around when we're counseling a 'female'. My first reaction is always, ahhh.. so I should definitely be alone with a male! And then I say.. wait, you really think I have a secretary!!
Ministry is not what they tell us it is. You don't always have the opportunity to live close to family. You don't always have a chance to have the nicest things. You don't always have another pastor to share the burdens of the church with and you barely ever have a secretary to do all your paper work.
But that doesn't make it terrible. I'm just being realistic here.You know, it bothers me that because a pastor has a multi-staff / large congregation church that he gets to be the big shot. It bothers me that that's what I am supposed to aspire to. I have nothing against those in such positions and I do know that they have worked real hard to get there and God has often times placed them there. But, I would also like people to understand that pastor's are where God wants them to be even if their church has 40 people. Even if they have to work alone at developing plans for the years and visions and liturgies schedules and all that.
You learn to work with what you have. But, don't be disapointed when you end up in a church on the tip of the country somewhere without another staff member. It's part of the work. But, instead, learn to work with what you have. Learn to develop leaders where God has placed you. Learn to be the pastor you're supposed to be where you are.
I'm not saying it's an easy task. It's hard and lonely and even depressing at times. But, then you remember why you do it, you see people change and it's all worth it.
4 comments:
One word of advice I've always provided to mission teams, and would be applicable to pastors as well, is not to be discouraged if you DON'T see people change. You're in the seed planting/watering business, not everyone gets to harvest the crop, and that fruit is only ready when God says it is.
A friend of mine witnessed for 15 years to someone, only to have them confess their belief to someone else 15 minutes after meeting them.
You will not always see people change. You will see seeds planted, and like the farmer, have to wait to see if it takes hold: however that may not happen during your time in a location.
If you're in this to see results, I would suggest you're in it for the wrong reason.
I understand what you are saying, and I agree that results often take a long time to come. Most times we won't even see it first hand, like you said.
However, if we aren't in it for the results, than why are we in it for? If we don't long to see people change, people come to faith and mature in their faith, than what are we longing for? What are we working for?
I definitely don't want to see the results to boost my own ego or be my only source of encouragement. But, I do want to see people change because that is why I do what I do. To see people come to know and understand Christ better. That in turn should create change and if it isn't, than I need to re-evaluate what I'm doing.
Yes, it is always worth it to simply work for Christ, but we also need to see fruit produced in our ministry. Or else, what is the point?
If I understand Rebecca correctly, she is contrasting 'ministry idealized' vs. 'ministry in reality': not everyone is going to have a big church, a secretary, or live in the center of everything. So then why do we talk about and teach ministry as such? Regardless, God has called 'so-and-so' to be in the place that they are in, and that is all that should matter. (This is how I've understood Rebecca.)
This talk of 'results' seems to stem from the last sentence: "you see people change and it's all worth it". 'Anonymous', you seem to be equivocating 'change' with 'salvation', whereas Rebecca - in her reply - has clarified 'change' to mean "an improvement in one's relationship with Christ". Anonymous, your assumption may have led the conversation to one side that wasn't all that important. I don't believe 'results' was even the point of this post, so I don't know why it was mentioned.
It's obviously wrong to be in ministry for the sake of results only (results for the sake of results, not because of whatever change may have been accomplished). At the same time there's nothing wrong with wanting to see results and being overjoyed when those results are realized.
Hi Rebecca,
I agree with you. And I believe that not only is there truth in what youn have shared, but also that it is a timely truth. Thanks for these words. May you and Jeremy be blessed ans you serve our Lord! I posted as anonymous because the other options didnt apply. Blessings!
Curtis
Post a Comment