On a recent trip to Ireland, my wife and I traveled to County Tipperary and visited a castle named the Rock of Cashel. What remains of this stone fort today points to ancient history where kings ruled in southern Ireland. It is said that in AD 450, Patrick arrived at the Rock of Cashel to evangelize King Aengus of Munster. After hearing the truth that Jesus paid for his sins on the cross, the king repented and believed in Jesus. To show the world Aengus was a new man in Christ, he wanted to be baptized. During his baptism, Patrick accidentally jabbed the foot of Aengus with his bishop’s staff. The king believed that Patrick stabbing his foot was part of the ceremony. If Jesus’ feet were nailed to the cross, then surely Aengus could endure a little prick on his foot. With blood running from his foot, the king remained silent and reverent. Many saw this as a testimony to King Aengus’ faith and commitment to his new Savior.
Maybe something like this should happen to men who God calls to shepherd the Body of Christ. What if, when sitting before an ordination committee, the lead questioner gets up and jabs the foot of the candidate and then says, “If you think that hurts, wait until the pokes and prods you receive when you begin to pastor a church!” If he endures the jab without crying out, then he would be declared ready for whatever ministry may hurl at him. Perhaps some of the candidates would say, “No, thank you. I did not understand that is part of the deal!” In either case, the commitment to the task of ministry would be revealed: faithfulness under fire.
While my suggestion for jabbing candidates desiring to minister is not a serious one, the difficulty and pain one encounters in ministry is a real and sobering truth. That struggle can temp a called man to give up. The pain sometimes feels too great to bear. How does one remain faithful in serving the Risen King of Glory when navigating a divisive and combative culture, both in and out of the church?
Here are a few suggestions I have found which have helped me weather the turbulent times of ministry when quitting seemed easier than carrying on.
Shared Leadership
When Moses’ father-in-law saw the streams of people who needed Moses to settle a dispute, Jethro was good enough to point out the error. “What you are doing is not good! You will surely wear out, both you and these people who are with you, for this is too heavy a burden for you; you are not able to do it by yourself.” (Exodus 18:17b-18, NET) This was not a criticism of Moses’ ability as much as it was warning him of his capacity. Even those pastors God has endowed with incredible ability have only so much capacity for all that ministry requires. Endurance in the ministry requires the pastor having godly men serving beside him to spread the load of ministry around. When you find a pastor who has a long tenure at a church, more often than not you will find a man who knows how to share leadership well and has men stepping up to minister together with him.
Do you have someone whom you can share the burden of ministry? If not, who could you train up to be that person?
A Coach’s Influence
A coach stands outside the current activity and examines the actions and attitudes of the one he is coaching. During practice, the coach examines if the player leads with the correct foot, they watch the form and pattern exhibited, and they provide correction and encouragement when needed. This is like what a ministry coach does.
Despite looking for a coach at the beginning of my ministry, I was able to find men who were willing to invest time and effort into me only later in life. Nevertheless, time spent with these coaches has transformed me and thereby transformed my ministry. They have challenged me, pushed me to evaluate myself and my ministry, and they have done what coaches do – they made me better! Instead of coasting through the next couple of decades of ministry, I now look forward to new challenges and new changes God will bring because these men poured into me.
Who do you have in your life who is pouring into you? Do you have someone who can coach you, push you, challenge you, and encourage you to become what God has called you to be?
Deliberate Time Away
The Creator and Sustainer of Life created this world with patterns and cycles. When He finished speaking the entire known universe into existence, “He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done.” (Genesis 2:2b, NASB95) We know that the Almighty God did not rest because He was tired. He rested so that we would know that He, “blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work.” (Genesis 2:3, NASB95) It seems that rest for humanity is blessed and sacred. This is true, pastor, for us as well!
Each of us in ministry need to spend time doing something that refreshes our body and soul. This is especially difficult for those who must split their time between ministry and other work, but it is even more important for them to deliberately get some time away. For me, there is nothing so refreshing, nothing so peaceful, there is nothing that recharges my batteries more than hearing that lure plop in the water and seeing those ripples in the water while the fish avoid my line (It’s even better on the rare occasion when I catch something!). Fishing has been a valuable time to recharge my spiritual batteries. Fishing is good for my soul.
Speak to your church about this needed time. Work with your Regional Director if you need coverage on a particular Sunday. Spend time with your spouse and family to intentionally schedule this time when it is best for all. Make it a sacred time of needed rest. Having the freedom to step away for a few moments and engage in something that relaxes you and refreshes you is an important factor in continuing in ministry.
When was the last time you took some more than a minute to do something that refreshes your soul?
Rest in the Call of God
If you are in ministry, you have had one of those days. Someone “needs” to speak to the pastor. They sit across the table from you with a cup of coffee and tell you why they are leaving. The sermon was too pointed, or the sermon was not pointed enough. The sermon was too political, or it was not political enough. The sermon was too long, or it was too short (granted, we rarely hear the latter, but I would guess some poor pastor has endured this criticism).
When you have faithfully preached the Word of God, when you are supported by leadership in doctrine and practice, when God is moving in the life of people in the church, someone will find something to be unhappy about. It is as these times it is imperative to remember to focus on pleasing the Lord and not men. You must rest in the call God has given you. Pastor, He did not call you to give motivational speeches. He did not call you please the crowds of men. As a preacher of the Word of God, the Lord has called you to herald the Good News that “Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.” (1 Timothy 1:15, NASB95)
When did you last take some time to reflect and remember the call God has placed on your life?
Conclusion
There are a host of other principles and suggestions one could provide to help the struggling pastor “not grow weary of doing good.” (Galatians 6:9, ESV) In my ministry, these four have been the most transformative for me and I believe they can be for you as well. Pastor, we share the highest call a man can have. We are given stewardship to care for the Bride of Jesus Christ. Faithfulness to that call provides us with one of the greatest joys of being a Christ-follower. The Father calls us, the Son redeems us, and the Spirit empowers us, and we get to join God in what He is doing in this world. May you find encouragement, hope, and refreshment in your ministry.
Rolland Kenneson is pastor of Rosemont Baptist Church in Montrose and is the author of the book Flawed to Fruitful: Hope for Men. He and his wife, Rhonda, have ministered throughout Colorado over the last 30 years and love greatly enjoy living in Western Colorado.