Tag: shepherd

  • Letter #21–Rest

    Dear Small Church Pastor,

         Rest, ah, rest.  What an elusive term for the small church pastor.  As the one person who is tasked with making sure the congregation moves forward, you are often placed in the position of never getting any rest.  Or at least that seems to be the case.  However, I assure you that rest is possible, and I also assure you that it is necessary if you want to maintain your health—physically, mentally, emotionally and especially, spiritually.

         I know the temptation to not stop.  I completely understand the pressures that come from all sides.  I have already been down that street and have long ago used that t-shirt for a grease rag.

         Your personal rest is probably more important to the health of your congregation than you realize.  If the shepherd is exhausted, the sheep will not be cared for as much as they should be.  The best pasture or safest watering hole may be overlooked.  The wolves might even begin to draw near to the sheepfold because the shepherd is not as alert as possible and may not be completely aware of what’s happening in the surroundings of the flock.

         You know about and have probably taught your people the need for the Sabbath’s rest in their lives.  I admonish you to walk your own talk in this matter.  You must—YOU MUST—get regular rest.  You need it just as much as they do.  Just like your congregants, if you are tired all the time, you will not be at the top of your game as their pastor.  Again–You must get regular rest.

         Now, how can you accomplish that?  First, go back and re-read Letter #1.  Next, make up your mind that you are going to get some regular rest.  (You won’t take action unless you decide to take action.)  Then, with all the love and grace you can muster, tell your congregation which day of the week you have chosen for your day of rest.  Finally, take it!

         Arrange for one or two of your leaders to handle necessary items on your day of rest.  Let the people know who they should call on your day of rest, and place your trust in them to be leaders that day.  I promise you, the church will not disintegrate if you take a day off.  If an emergency arises, deal with it if you absolutely have to, and then go back to your rest.  (Even an ox that had fallen into a ditch was rescued on the Sabbath.) 

         Let your day of rest be a special day when you relax, refresh your own relationship with God and enjoy the simple pleasures of family and friends.  Take a nap or two.  Turn off the screens—all of them—and sit in the yard or on your porch with a glass of tea or a cup of coffee and let the ice melt and the cup get cold as you take in all the majesty of the world God has created. 

         Open your mind to listen to the Holy Spirit as He speaks to you in the silence.  Pick up that book you’ve been meaning to start and start it.  If you’re a fast reader, you might even finish it in one day.  Listen to some good music without answering the phone.  Make some homemade ice cream and gather your family to enjoy your creation. 

         As you enjoy this day of rest, focus on doing things you know will calm your mental, emotional and spiritual self.  Avoid things that make you feel more physically tired at the end of the day than they are worth.  Remember, this is a day to rejuvenate yourself in every area of your life.

         You may be saying to yourself that you don’t see how it is possible you could take a Sabbath’s rest during the week.  You’re wrong in that thought.  My friend, you are not the one who is in ultimate control of this universe.  If your church falls apart because you are not present for one day a week, then the place you call “church” is not being built by Jesus.  I don’t mean to sound hard here, but no one person is completely indispensable to a congregation every day of the week. 

         You can set aside a day, and you need to do so, because you won’t last in ministry if you don’t get the rest you need.  You’ll burn out.  You’ll be consumed by the responsibilities and pressures.  You’ll find yourself resenting the phone calls and texts.  You’ll begin to wonder if you really were called into ministry as you become more and more exhausted from all the activities and questions and crises and problems and meetings—all that everything stuff.

         This letter is a little longer than most, but you need to understand just how important getting a day of rest is to your ministry.  Your enthusiasm will be re-energized.  Your clarity in thought will become focused again.  Your commitment to God’s work will be renewed.  Your emotions will come under control.  Your spirit will be built up by God’s spirit.  Your body will not feel as worn out.  Your whole self will be a better person for the people who follow your guidance as their shepherd.

         “Remember the Sabbath day.”  Rest.

    Sincerely,

    A Small Church Pastor

  • Letter #10–Family

    Dear Small Church Pastor,

          Let’s take a look at one of the great blessings found in a small congregation.  They usually all know each other and may even be related through family ties.  I’ve discovered this “family feeling” is quite common in a small church setting.  Although it sometimes proves to have its downfalls, having a close relationship with each other can be utilized by a pastor to strengthen a congregation’s commitment to the Lord and to each other.

         It will take some time for a congregation to trust a new pastor, but when the pastor demonstrates a willingness to accept everyone and their families, that trust can be achieved, and it will enable the pastor to become more than a weekend evangelist who visits them in the hospital when they’re sick. 

         Remember to forego comparing anyone in the congregation to people in another location.  They want to talk about people they know.  Talk with the people who attend, ask questions about their families and friends and listen attentively to what they say.  Take an interest in all their relationships, even the ones they don’t talk about much.

         When the opportunity avails itself, work on projects with the people in your congregation.  Set work days at your facility and enlist as many people as possible to join in.  If they talk about working on some project at home, volunteer to help them.  Bring your spouse and children, if you have any still at home, and involve them in what’s going on at the church house and the members’ houses.  Go to their family reunions if invited.  Invite them to yours.  Attend their children’s ballgames or birthday parties when you are available.  Demonstrate to the people that you are willing to become part of their lives.

         People who work together, eat together and experience life together grow together.  They learn from each other as they learn about each other.  Those times of informally gaining personal information about each other will bring people to the point of being able to trust each other.  (Remember Letter #5 on Relationships) Allow me to give an example about learning and trusting from my own ministry.

         One of my former congregants was a cattle farmer.  He mentioned one day that he was going to run some new fencing to separate a field for grazing.  I volunteered to come help him install the fence.  As we met early the next day, I asked how he usually laid out the fence line, how he spaced his fence posts and how many runs of barbed wire he was going to put up.  He responded with the information needed to do the job, and we began.

          As we were attaching the wire strands to the posts, he commented that I was the first pastor he had met who knew anything about manual labor, especially farm fencing.  I related how I had grown up on a small farm that had livestock and understood the concept of needing good fences.  He learned I had much in common with him and his way of life.  He had also learned that if I said I was going to do something, I did it.  I learned to trust him, and he learned to trust me.  Every time I see him now, he gives me a firm handshake and a brotherly hug. 

         Remember to keep your word when you tell someone you will do something.  If you have to, write down your promises or put them on your calendar so you can remember what you promised. 

         Speaking of calendars, put birthdays and anniversaries on your own calendar, as well as on the church calendar.  If there is not already a church calendar, create one with the help of someone in the congregation who is interested in this type of activity.  (This is a good way to involve others in producing something useful for the entire congregation.) 

          After acquiring their permission, include the attenders in groups in your social media accounts.  Do everything you can to communicate about daily life with as many people as possible in as many ways as possible.  Let the congregation know you consider all of them as integral parts of your own life.

         You are their shepherd, their pastor.  You are part of their spiritual family and the diverse physical family that makes up the congregation.  Build up the physical family ties, and you will discover that you will be able to better build up the spiritual family under your care.  That “family feeling” is one of the best blessings your small church will possess.

    Sincerely,

    A Small Church Pastor