All About GOD - Growing Relationships with Jesus and Others
Ministering to pastors or maybe just the true God seekers
Ministering to pastors or maybe just the true God seekers
"Obey your leaders and submit to them,
for they are keeping watch over your souls,
as those who will have to give an account.
Let them do this with joy and not with groaning,
for that would be of no advantage to you."
—Hebrews 13:17
Sit back and think about it - you want the best spiritual direction possible, but
are you taking that person for granted?
This article began with an e-mail from Curt Hendley, a dear friend in
ministry. Curt has developed a burden for encouraging ministers and he sent
this e-mail to 50 blogging ministers asking them to write something on how
congregants can encourage their ministers. Curt has now set up a permanent
page on his blog where he is compiling and linking to replies.
The fact that someone cares enough to ask pastors what would encourage them
is, in and of itself, a great encouragement. With that in mind, I sent the
following suggestions to Curt and offer them to you.
Take your own spiritual growth seriously
"Nice sermon pastor" and "you're a good pastor" are wonderful to hear but
what we really want to hear is that you are growing in your walk with Christ.
This is why we are in ministry, we want to see people come to Christ and grow
in Christ. We take your spiritual growth seriously and one of the greatest
encouragements to us is to see you taking it as seriously as we do.
Several years ago a group I was working with a group from our church that
was painting our rented facility. The pastor joined me in the room I was
working in and made the comment that he really enjoyed doing this painting
because he could see the results of his work immediately. He explained that in
ministry we don't really see the results of our work unless the numbers are
growing and budgets are increasing. Yet, ministers also know that increasing
numbers and budgets aren't the best measure of effectiveness and we know that
a lot of significant ministry can be going on where the growth is minimal.
But again, even where growth may be happening we don't often see it and
many of us struggle with whether or not we are really making a difference in
the lives of our folks. By taking your spiritual growth seriously you encourage
your minister that he is making a difference.
I’m writing to you and other blogging pastors because I have a question only a
pastor can answer. I’ve been growing increasingly aware of how difficult the
job of pastor can be. I know that pastors often receive a lot more criticism than
encouragement, and that can lead to all sorts of bad feelings. I think, though,
that most congregations truly love their pastors but don’t understand how
much encouragement is needed or how to practically provide that
encouragement. I also think that pastors are generally and understandably
reluctant to ask for such encouragement or display any human weakness at all.
I personally love my pastor, and I’m keenly aware of many things that beat
him down in his ministry. Most of those things are entirely out of my control
or influence. I would like to provide encouragement to him myself and incite
others to do so as well. But I know enough to know that I have no idea exactly
what issues a pastor faces that members of the congregation could alleviate. I
just don’t know what to do or how to go about providing the most effective
encouragement for him.
My request to you is that you respond with a blog post (or a link to a post if
you’ve already written one) listing some practical ways a congregation can
encourage their pastor. If you’re reticent about revealing that sort of thing on
your own blog, I would be happy to post something you write on my blog and
remove your name from it–sort of an "advice from an anonymous pastor" kind
of thing. I really want to know this, and I want the flock to stop being unaware
of their shepherd’s humanity and needs.
If you decide to write a post about this, please let me know so I can read it and
link to it.
Sincerely,
Curt Hendley
The Happy Husband
http://www.thehappyhusband.com
Being a Godly pastor must be the most difficult job in the world. CEOs of
corporations must weather attacks from competitors, and leaders of countries
must deal with other countries’ leaders as well as politicians within their own
countries, but pastors have to protect themselves, their families, and their
churches from attacks by Satan himself. The fact that so many pastors get little
love and support from their congregations goes a long way toward explaining
why so many pastors resign every day.
I’m collecting all the responses I get on this page. Please check out these links
and see how you can serve your pastor:
•Peter Bogert: "To me, the greatest encouragement in ministry takes place
when people connect with what I am preaching or teaching. Seeing a group of
people who are interested, alert, attentive—these things are what encourage a
pastor the most.…That being said, here are a few tangible and non-tangible
ways to encourage.…"
•Tod Bolsinger: "If you ask any of my executive staff, they will tell you of how
many people have come along side them, joined them in ministry and cared for
them personally. And it is my confidence in this community of people that
allows me to promise my staff that together we will all aim to have ‘a great
ministry and a great life.…‘
•Glenn Buzbee: "Churches can be like middle school. Or like playgrounds beset
by a handful of bullies. It only takes one or two kids on the playground to stand
up to the bullies and say ‘Stop! No more!’ God just may be calling you to be one
of those kids to stand up and speak out; but while it is scary to defy a bully in
your congregation (and even a best friend could be one) if you don’t, then who
will?…"
•Jason Dollar: "I do not want to come across as moaning about how neglected
the pastor is. But I do understand that pastors need encouragement, too. And
the more a pastor is encouraged, given that he is laboring for the glory of God
and not self, the better he will carry out his duties.…"
•Byron Harvey: "1) Be a friend to your pastor. 2) Ask me how I’m doing
sometime. 3) 3. Once in awhile, tell me how something I’ve done has made a
difference.…"
•Noel Heikkinen: "For me, [this question] takes more the form of ‘Things I Wish
People Knew.’ I think if these things were realized, more encouragement could
happen organically. …"
•Bowden McElroy: "For me, the no-agenda, our-treat, we-just-want-to-hang-
out-doing-what-you-like dinner and a ball game was the best. I think too many
pastors simply don’t have friends.…"
McElroy, part 2: "I said, "Be a friend". Now, Curt wants to know: how?…"
McElroy, part 3: "Forget it’s the pastor, is this someone you would invite for
coffee? Or, to play golf? Or, to just ‘hang out’? If yes, then pursue that
friendship like any other.…"
•Pat Morley: "If you want to connect with your pastor, the overarching idea is
don’t put demands on him. Instead, help him accomplish his mission. In that
way, you will be part of his ministry instead of the object of his ministry.…"
•Steve Pedersen: "My Pastors’ Prayer Group met today on a 30 foot sailboat.…I
asked the guys a question to start off our conversation: How can a
congregation encourage their pastor? The guys on the boat responded with
these ideas…"
•Pastor Russ: "Your pastor loves you. He cares about you. He prays for you. He
works hard for you. Reciprocate those things and you will find that even as he
ministers to you, that you are ministering to him.…"
•Mark Van Der Hurst: "What has my church done to encourage me? I have
shared this with several pastor friends and have had a blogger ask for some
ideas to encourage his pastor. So, here is my experience/feeble attempt at
talking about a time OUT.…"
•David Wayne (aka Jollyblogger): "1. Take your own spiritual growth seriously.
2. Give your best to the church, not your leftovers. 3. Remind him that you are
for him.…"
•Craig Williams: "Begin here, trust and respect, until we prove untrustworthy
or unreliable.…"
It's not the size of the congregation, numbers either reflect God in the
study of gemetria, or in most churches today, reflect the feather on ears effect
Big churches with big programs serve what Godly purpose? For the most part,
in any church I have gone to visit or minister in; their groups serve only as a
gathering house for gossip or some form of money making personal agenda,
leaving God's way outside the door to the facility. Do you suppose that's why
Jesus said, Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear
my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and
he with me. Drive by any big or small church today and with spiritual eyes
ask God to show you which name is over the door. If He shows you Ichabod,
then His glory has been removed from that congregation, He has labled this so,
because he is not ans has for a long time, never been welcome there. If you
have a hunger for more of God in your life and you find this sign over your
door, then it's time to ask God where He wants you to be that you can grow
and experience His presence!
"Obey your leaders and submit to them,
for they are keeping watch over your souls,
as those who will have to give an account.
Let them do this with joy and not with groaning,
for that would be of no advantage to you."
—Hebrews 13:17
Sit back and think about it - you want the best spiritual direction possible, but
are you taking that person for granted?
This article began with an e-mail from Curt Hendley, a dear friend in
ministry. Curt has developed a burden for encouraging ministers and he sent
this e-mail to 50 blogging ministers asking them to write something on how
congregants can encourage their ministers. Curt has now set up a permanent
page on his blog where he is compiling and linking to replies.
The fact that someone cares enough to ask pastors what would encourage them
is, in and of itself, a great encouragement. With that in mind, I sent the
following suggestions to Curt and offer them to you.
Take your own spiritual growth seriously
"Nice sermon pastor" and "you're a good pastor" are wonderful to hear but
what we really want to hear is that you are growing in your walk with Christ.
This is why we are in ministry, we want to see people come to Christ and grow
in Christ. We take your spiritual growth seriously and one of the greatest
encouragements to us is to see you taking it as seriously as we do.
Several years ago a group I was working with a group from our church that
was painting our rented facility. The pastor joined me in the room I was
working in and made the comment that he really enjoyed doing this painting
because he could see the results of his work immediately. He explained that in
ministry we don't really see the results of our work unless the numbers are
growing and budgets are increasing. Yet, ministers also know that increasing
numbers and budgets aren't the best measure of effectiveness and we know that
a lot of significant ministry can be going on where the growth is minimal.
But again, even where growth may be happening we don't often see it and
many of us struggle with whether or not we are really making a difference in
the lives of our folks. By taking your spiritual growth seriously you encourage
your minister that he is making a difference.
I’m writing to you and other blogging pastors because I have a question only a
pastor can answer. I’ve been growing increasingly aware of how difficult the
job of pastor can be. I know that pastors often receive a lot more criticism than
encouragement, and that can lead to all sorts of bad feelings. I think, though,
that most congregations truly love their pastors but don’t understand how
much encouragement is needed or how to practically provide that
encouragement. I also think that pastors are generally and understandably
reluctant to ask for such encouragement or display any human weakness at all.
I personally love my pastor, and I’m keenly aware of many things that beat
him down in his ministry. Most of those things are entirely out of my control
or influence. I would like to provide encouragement to him myself and incite
others to do so as well. But I know enough to know that I have no idea exactly
what issues a pastor faces that members of the congregation could alleviate. I
just don’t know what to do or how to go about providing the most effective
encouragement for him.
My request to you is that you respond with a blog post (or a link to a post if
you’ve already written one) listing some practical ways a congregation can
encourage their pastor. If you’re reticent about revealing that sort of thing on
your own blog, I would be happy to post something you write on my blog and
remove your name from it–sort of an "advice from an anonymous pastor" kind
of thing. I really want to know this, and I want the flock to stop being unaware
of their shepherd’s humanity and needs.
If you decide to write a post about this, please let me know so I can read it and
link to it.
Sincerely,
Curt Hendley
The Happy Husband
http://www.thehappyhusband.com
Being a Godly pastor must be the most difficult job in the world. CEOs of
corporations must weather attacks from competitors, and leaders of countries
must deal with other countries’ leaders as well as politicians within their own
countries, but pastors have to protect themselves, their families, and their
churches from attacks by Satan himself. The fact that so many pastors get little
love and support from their congregations goes a long way toward explaining
why so many pastors resign every day.
I’m collecting all the responses I get on this page. Please check out these links
and see how you can serve your pastor:
•Peter Bogert: "To me, the greatest encouragement in ministry takes place
when people connect with what I am preaching or teaching. Seeing a group of
people who are interested, alert, attentive—these things are what encourage a
pastor the most.…That being said, here are a few tangible and non-tangible
ways to encourage.…"
•Tod Bolsinger: "If you ask any of my executive staff, they will tell you of how
many people have come along side them, joined them in ministry and cared for
them personally. And it is my confidence in this community of people that
allows me to promise my staff that together we will all aim to have ‘a great
ministry and a great life.…‘
•Glenn Buzbee: "Churches can be like middle school. Or like playgrounds beset
by a handful of bullies. It only takes one or two kids on the playground to stand
up to the bullies and say ‘Stop! No more!’ God just may be calling you to be one
of those kids to stand up and speak out; but while it is scary to defy a bully in
your congregation (and even a best friend could be one) if you don’t, then who
will?…"
•Jason Dollar: "I do not want to come across as moaning about how neglected
the pastor is. But I do understand that pastors need encouragement, too. And
the more a pastor is encouraged, given that he is laboring for the glory of God
and not self, the better he will carry out his duties.…"
•Byron Harvey: "1) Be a friend to your pastor. 2) Ask me how I’m doing
sometime. 3) 3. Once in awhile, tell me how something I’ve done has made a
difference.…"
•Noel Heikkinen: "For me, [this question] takes more the form of ‘Things I Wish
People Knew.’ I think if these things were realized, more encouragement could
happen organically. …"
•Bowden McElroy: "For me, the no-agenda, our-treat, we-just-want-to-hang-
out-doing-what-you-like dinner and a ball game was the best. I think too many
pastors simply don’t have friends.…"
McElroy, part 2: "I said, "Be a friend". Now, Curt wants to know: how?…"
McElroy, part 3: "Forget it’s the pastor, is this someone you would invite for
coffee? Or, to play golf? Or, to just ‘hang out’? If yes, then pursue that
friendship like any other.…"
•Pat Morley: "If you want to connect with your pastor, the overarching idea is
don’t put demands on him. Instead, help him accomplish his mission. In that
way, you will be part of his ministry instead of the object of his ministry.…"
•Steve Pedersen: "My Pastors’ Prayer Group met today on a 30 foot sailboat.…I
asked the guys a question to start off our conversation: How can a
congregation encourage their pastor? The guys on the boat responded with
these ideas…"
•Pastor Russ: "Your pastor loves you. He cares about you. He prays for you. He
works hard for you. Reciprocate those things and you will find that even as he
ministers to you, that you are ministering to him.…"
•Mark Van Der Hurst: "What has my church done to encourage me? I have
shared this with several pastor friends and have had a blogger ask for some
ideas to encourage his pastor. So, here is my experience/feeble attempt at
talking about a time OUT.…"
•David Wayne (aka Jollyblogger): "1. Take your own spiritual growth seriously.
2. Give your best to the church, not your leftovers. 3. Remind him that you are
for him.…"
•Craig Williams: "Begin here, trust and respect, until we prove untrustworthy
or unreliable.…"
It's not the size of the congregation, numbers either reflect God in the
study of gemetria, or in most churches today, reflect the feather on ears effect
Big churches with big programs serve what Godly purpose? For the most part,
in any church I have gone to visit or minister in; their groups serve only as a
gathering house for gossip or some form of money making personal agenda,
leaving God's way outside the door to the facility. Do you suppose that's why
Jesus said, Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear
my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and
he with me. Drive by any big or small church today and with spiritual eyes
ask God to show you which name is over the door. If He shows you Ichabod,
then His glory has been removed from that congregation, He has labled this so,
because he is not ans has for a long time, never been welcome there. If you
have a hunger for more of God in your life and you find this sign over your
door, then it's time to ask God where He wants you to be that you can grow
and experience His presence!
Views: 25
Comment
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Comment by Leonard T on January 21, 2010 at 7:05pm
-
Hey Jeff,
I read your testimony and simply say Praise God!!!
Nice post. I am a pastor and would like to add to your post my two cents. The are two things that stand out the most for me.
1) That there is a spirit of love in the congregation. Love for God, one another (including me :-) and for the stranger we come across.
2) That lives are being affected and changed. That the life I live for God is making a difference for Him and others as He works through me.
Lord Bless,
LT
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Comment by maggie hancox on January 21, 2010 at 6:44pm
-
I just am so greatful that someone thought of this idea, I would love to know how to encourage my Pastor and leadership.
Please, keep it comming.
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