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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!

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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
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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