Tag: Ministry

Wanted: The Perfect Pastor

Let’s look at what it takes to be a perfect pastor or minister.

  1. He pleases everyone.
  2. Preaches exactly twenty minutes and follows it with an invitation in which everyone is convicted but no one is offended.
  3. Works from 7 AM to midnight in every aspect of work from counseling to janitorial work.
  4. 27 years old with 30 years of experience.
  5. Tall and short.
  6. Thin and heavy set.
  7. Handsome but not overpowering.
  8. One brown eye and one blue.
  9. Hair parted in the middle and straight on one side and wavy on the other, with a balding spot on top revealing his maturity.
  10. Has a burning desire to work with teenagers and spends all his time with senior citizens.
  11. He smiles constantly with a straight face because he has a sense of humor that keeps him seriously at his work.
  12. Invests 25 hours a week in sermon preparation, 20 hours in pastoral counseling, 10 hours in meetings, 5 hours in emergencies, 20 hours in visitation and evangelism, 6 hours in funerals and weddings, 30 hours in prayer, 12 hours in correspondence, and 10 hours in creative thinking.
  13. Is always available in his office.
  14. He always has time for all committees and activities of the church. He never misses the meeting of any church organization and is always busy evangelizing the un-churched.
  15. Has perfect kids.
  16. Spouse plays the keyboard.
  17. The perfect pastor is always the next town over.
  18. He is talented, gifted, scholarly, practical, popular, compassionate, understanding, patient, level-headed, dependable, loving, caring, neat, organized, cheerful, and above all, humble.
  19. Many versions of this are found on the Internet and several have this added “If your pastors does not measure up, simply send this notice to six other churches that are tired of their pastor too. Then bundle up your pastor and send him to the church at the top of your list. If everyone cooperates, in one week you will receive 1,643 pastors. One of them should be perfect. Have faith in this letter. One church broke the chain and got its’ old pastor back in less than three months.”
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The Honeymoon is Over!

I recently had the privilege of speaking at a ministry family retreat in the Atlantic District. It was light-hearted. Sometimes, laughter is the medicine the doctor orders. Here is one of the stories I found on the Web that speaks to some of the pressures of ministry.

How does a pastor know when the pastoral honeymoon is over? Here goes:

When the flood of dinner invitations is reduced to a trickle and the menus switch from sirloin to burgers, you know the honeymoon between you and your congregation is over.

In the beginning you reign from your pedestal, feeling invincible. The first tremors are so subtle that you ask, ‘Did I imagine that?’ Then the pedestal begins to rock as enthusiastic handshakes and vigorous pats on the back are replaced by cordial smiles and forced praise for the ‘fine’ sermon you preached.

You tiptoe, you dance, you flail your arms, but you eventually topple. And the worse part is, you never saw it coming – just like the last time. See if you have overlooked these warning signs from a disgruntled congregation.

  • You return from vacation to find the visiting preacher’s name on your mailbox.
  • Your church is about to split, and neither group wants you.
  • Shut-ins pull the window shades and pretend that they aren’t home when you come to visit.
  • Mom moves her membership letter to another church.
  • You’re told that God is calling you to the mission field – now!
  • You are cast as a donkey in the Christmas cantata.
  • Your wife moves her membership letter to another church.
  • The trustees have been marching around your house the last six days praying and carrying lanterns.
  • Your secretary starts sending out your resume’.
  • The congregation forces members of the pulpit committee to wear sackcloth and make a public apology.
  • Church members start referring to you in the past tense.
  • Your ‘love offering’ is a two-for-one coupon at Ponderosa.
  • You show up at church on Monday morning to discover that the locks have been changed.
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Elements of Church Growth in the Local Church – Part Two

Part One

The church is designed to be a world-wide force for evangelism and impact in society. How can this be done? We cannot have realistic church growth without preaching the message of the Early Church (Acts 2:38). Preaching from our pulpit is Word-centered, anointed, and also relevant and practical to the people.

Consider five elements of church growth based on Acts 2:41-47. In order for the church to grow, each of these principles must be operating in the church and they must be in balance. There is not one that is considered to be more important than another and each are necessary.

4. Ministry

This is expressing our love for others and meeting their needs. If we are not meeting people’s needs then we are not ministering. The church ministers to different types of people (ladies, men, children, youth, prisons, hospitals) with different types of needs. These needs fall into the four categories that make up a man: spiritual, physical, social, and emotional. Our ministry is often enriched through prayer. It has been said, “A prayerful church is a powerful church.” We anticipate God moving in every service; at home and collectively when we all come together. We create the environment through our prayer (bringing down the power of God) and praise (bringing down the presence of God). In Acts they ministered from “house to house.” We need to effectively endeavor to build faith at home. Our combined faith is explosive when we all meet together at church.

5. Evangelism

If we do not try to witness and evangelize, people will not come into the church. We cannot expect people to walk in off the streets but we must go to where the people are. When we make an effort to evangelize we are showing the world we are a reaching body. We are reaching for those outside of our church who are in need with a desire to provide hope and help.

If we are able to have all five elements operating in our church, and give them proper attention, the direct result will be: “And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved” (Acts 2:47).

So, if you are looking for me, I’m not lost, but can be found at church.

Putting it into practice:

  1. Be faithful to church.
  2. Make sure your children are in Sunday school.
  3. Invite someone to church. Do it again. And again!
  4. Have church at home.
  5. Pray for the church. Come early for services and prepare for God to move.
  6. Continually thank God for the church.
  7. Always talk positively about the church. It’s what we want people to be part of.
  8. Faithfully support the church.
  9. Implement and encapsulate the five principles highlighted in this blog.
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In and Out of Ministry

“Ministry” is a Greek word diakoneo meaning “to serve” or to “serve as a slave.” Effective ministers operate within their calling serve God, His Gospel, and others. Ministry stems from a devotion and love for God (the first greatest commandment) and a love for others (the second greatest commandment). Desiring to make a difference in this world, and in the lives of others, they give everything of themselves expecting little in return. Love is foundational in ministry. Eastwood Anaba in the Pastor & His Love stated, “A loveless life is a burdensome life. A pastor’s life and ministry without love is a difficult one. The ministry is becoming increasingly difficult for many ministers because of the lack of love in their hearts….The potential of believers can be maximized when pastors walk in love. We cannot seek the well-being of people we don’t love.”

Warren W. Wiersbe and David W. Wiersbe in their book 10 Power Principles for Christian Service: Ministry Dynamics for a New Century give ten pivotal, foundational principles or guidelines for ministry.

  • The Foundation of ministry is Character
  • The Nature of ministry is Service
  • The Motive of ministry is Love
  • The Measure of ministry is Sacrifice
  • The Authority of ministry is Submission
  • The Purpose of ministry is the Glory of God
  • The Tools for ministry are the Word of God and Prayer
  • The Privilege of ministry is Growth
  • The Power of ministry is the Holy Spirit
  • The Model for ministry is Jesus Christ

In another great book, On Being a Servant of God, Warren Wiersbe describes and defines “ministry.” “Ministry takes place when divine resources meet human needs through loving channels to the glory of God.”

“The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet” (Frederick Buechner).

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord, and not for men. Knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord, Christ” (Colossians 3:23-24).

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