The Blessings of Pastoral Ministry

I have been blessed to serve in a variety of pastoral settings: multichurch, solo pastor, and multistaff. Even during my tenure as a full-time university professor, I considered it a privilege to serve as a pastor to my students. As I reflect on these years, the blessings of pastoral ministry have been too numerous to count.

My first district, after completing my seminary studies, consisted of three small churches in northeastern Pennsylvania. While there, I discovered that the saints had little interest in my grade point average from Andrews University. What mattered to them was my connection with God.

I learned a lot about preaching (having preached in all three churches every week), but I didn’t know much about intentional sermon planning. The article by Rodlie Ortiz in this issue of Ministry, on planning a preaching calendar, would have been very helpful for this young pastor, who knew more about panic than purpose. I would also have been blessed if Murray Miller had served as a pastor in a neighboring district—for I desperately needed a mentor. Miller’s practical counsel about staying on course in one’s district would have helped me to serve more productively.

When I moved to my first solo pastor assignment, I became more aware of politics in the church. I probably did not use that terminology, but I was certainly mindful of influential groups within the church, and learned to identify the patriarchs and matriarchs. I reminded myself that I was pastor to all of my church members and not just a chosen few. The transformation that occurred in the life of one of our elders, who had a reputation for being cold and critical, will long be remembered. As he saw the moving of God’s Spirit in our midst, his heart was changed; and we witnessed tears of joy that replaced angry scowls. That transformation marked a breakthrough, not only for that elder, but for the church as a whole. In this issue, Jon Paulien challenges us to process church politics in a humble, empathetic, and God-honoring way. What transformations might occur within our circles of influence if we heed Paulien’s appeal!

My last full-time pastoral position was that of lead pastor in a multistaff setting. I still remember the day that the chairman of the board called and invited me to consider this new ministry assignment. His appeal touched my heart as he explained, “We need someone who will point us to Jesus.” Isn’t that what we all need? Hopefully, you will find many resources in Ministry that will both point you to Jesus and help you point others to Him. We are fully convinced that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Kayle de Waal reminds us, in part 2 of his series, that we are called to be disciples of the Way, a vibrant Spirit-filled community fully devoted to Jesus as Savior and Lord. The writings of Dr. Luke challenge us, not only to accept the One who came “ ‘to seek and to save that which was lost’ ” (Luke 19:10), but also to be His witnesses “ ‘in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth’ ” (Acts 1:8).*

I recently returned from a ministerial conference in Brazil attended by 4,000 congregational pastors. While conversing with one young pastor who cares for 12 congregations along the Amazon River, I found myself moved by his spirit of sacrifice and devotion. Also, I heard testimonies of challenge and heartache and was reminded, once again, that pastoral ministry does not come as an easy assignment, for there are many easier ways to make a living.

The apostle Paul reminds us that he endured many challenges in his ministry: “Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness” (2 Cor. 11:25–27).

You might ask, “Paul, why did you continue since your ministry was so challenging?” Paul answers that question in the verse that follows: “my deep concern for all the churches” (v. 28). Pastoral ministry cannot be defined as a job; pastoral ministry comes to us as a calling—a sacred and blessed calling. I pray that every pastor will always remember the joys of pastoral ministry. As we count those blessings and name them one by one, it may surprise us what the Lord has done.