Pastoral Roundtable

The hard parts of being a pastor is being obedient to God The Father no matter what. Your obedience may require you to give when it is not comfortable to give, to relocate when you don’t understand why, to leave your job and depend on God The Father to take care of you and provide for you, and when you realize that everyone is not going to like or Love you anymore.

The hardest aspect of ministry comes down to three things. First, the demands of the ministry. Ministry is 24/7. A preacher has to be very disciplined, compassionate, loving and thick-skinned to survive ministry. The second is the great expectations parishioners place on a pastor. They want you to be the pastor, preacher, problem solver, manager, visionary, human and always available to meet their needs. Finally, the sacrifice; the unexpected sacrifice that comes with ministry. You sacrifice your family/ friendship for the time, energy and emotion that it takes to fully support your ministry … it takes a lot to work to continually lead others to do and live better for Christ.

The most difficult part of the ministry of a Senior Pastor is comforting those who are experiencing grief and loss because of the passing of a loved one. Death interrupts the continuity of our relationships with each other as it forces us to adjust to a new normal. As a Senior Pastor, guiding families through these delicate moments takes an emotional toll that becomes apart of the natural ebb and flow of ministry.

I suspect that the “hard part” for me is different than most pastors. I am what we call a bi-vocational pastor, meaning I work a non-church job in addition to my work at the church. Truthfully, the “bi” part would suggest that I make money at the church. I do not. I do not take a salary or housing allowance or anything from our church. I don’t feel like the size of our church justifies a full-time salary and we are not large enough for my partner (co-pastor) and I to pay ourselves part-time. The only person that gets paid in the church is our worship pastor. Everyone else is a volunteer.

I am a church planter meaning that I started a new church. We just launched Easter weekend 2018 after more than a year of active planning and preparation.

I feel burnt out now mainly because I am bi-vocational. Working my regular job, being present at home with my wife and 3 kids, and running a church is very taxing. Though our church is small, the responsibility is still there.

The most fulfilling part is witnessing people lives changing for the better, to see their prayer answered, to see the power of The Gospel of The Lord Jesus Christ operating in your life to be a Blessing to others, to experience miracles in your life and the lives of others that are connected to you, and to know that you are doing the Will of The Lord Jesus.

The most fulfilling part of the ministry of a Senior Pastor is to see the impact made on congregants’ lives from the messages preached and ministries shaped for Gospel transformation. I love helping people see their full potential and purpose in God; empowering and energizing them to be better people in Christ. To know that one’s labor wasn’t in vain and has been a motivating force in someone’s life makes every sacrifice worth it all. Every day is different. Every day is both challenging and fulfilling.

The most rewarding aspect of ministry is knowing that, “many are called, but few are chosen”. God called us (me) to do a great task on HIS behalf which is a great honor. So when you trust in God, trust the process, go through what you have to go through the rewards are endless and truly fulfilling.

The most fulfilling part is the relationships. I absolutely love walking with the people of my church and watching them grow. Seeing what God is doing in their lives day after day and week after week is what keeps me going. We do a thing at my church called, “What’s Your Story” where members are free to share their stories of victory, defeat, hope, or even just something they learned in their reading or study that week. Hearing those stories, celebrating victories and comforting each other during setbacks is what ministry is all about.

I don’t think all pastors need a bachelor’s degree or a Masters because when God The Father calls or chooses someone to be a pastor, He will prepare, empower, and anoint him or her according to His will, plans, and desire.

I just graduated with a Bachelor’s in Religion from Vanguard University in May. I didn’t think that a pastor needed formal education before becoming a pastor, but in my early days of ministry the Lord put it on my heart to go back to school and really learn the Word, so I did. I learned so much when I was in school that I cannot imagine being a pastor without this foundation. I’m sure it can be done but I don’t recommend it.

I plan to get my Master’s someday, but when I look at the coursework I feel like my undergrad training was very similar. I know that most pastors study something secular in their undergrad before pursuing a religion-based master’s degree, but having a Bachelor’s in Religion and then headed to a Master’s in the same field seems a bit redundant for me right now. I know that I will grow in a Master’s program which is why I plan to do it, but I am taking a break right now. However you do it, whether Bachelor’s or Master’s, I think that education in this field is a must.

I do feel pastors need advanced degrees and/or teaching now more than ever due to technology, the internet and how fast the world operates. A preacher, especially one who seeks to become a pastor, will find that congregations are looking for them to not only have a bachelor’s degree but also a Masters. Churches are demanding, like the world, for pastors to be educated and professional. They are holding pastors to the academic standards of a lawyer, doctor and any profession that requires a well-balanced education. A formally educated preacher/pastor will go much further than one who doesn’t seek to further their education. Non-formally educated preachers nowadays will be limited in their vocation.

I am a strong proponent of theological education. I believe the call to ministry is initially a call to prepare. If one has the opportunity to pursue a bachelor’s or Master’s degree, they should take advantage of it. Since no one retains a lawyer or is under the care of a physician who has not had formal training, churches should not allow their souls to be cared for by someone who has not sought to “love God with their mind” in the pursuit of higher education. With all of that said, there is no substitute for immersing one’s self in the discipline of study throughout life and spiritual disciplines that empower the intellect to be able to touch the heart and hurts of humanity.

Yes, I have experienced burnout, and I get weary mentally at times, and the attacks from the devil could sometimes be intense.

I feel burnt out now mainly because I am bi-vocational. Working my regular job, being present at home with my wife and 3 kids, and running a church is very taxing. Though our church is small, the responsibility is still there.

I think we all tend to feel the burn out of ministry. There are a few things that contribute to this… it takes a lot to be so much for so many, serving the people/congregation will wear you down, no matter what and we all have to learn to rest often and accurately to recover and recuperate. Two, we burn out because we often depend on ourselves, our ability versus God’s power and ability. Thusly, it wears us thin. All preachers hit a brick wall.

I have not experienced burn out in its most extreme forms but there is a certain reoccurring ministry fatigue that happens when significant breaks and sufficient rest are not the norm. Since I have served as a Senior Pastor for over twelve years (between two churches) I have discovered what my rhythm of work and rest is. I aim to take one day each week and one week each quarter to refuel and refocus.