Dear Small Church Pastor,
Have you noticed that many people seem to dress alike when they go to the same places regularly? Or when they belong to a specialized group? Or at work? Or if they belong to a particular clique or social circle?
There exists in our societies today that thing called peer pressure. We tend to succumb to that pressure when it comes to our clothes. But something that disturbs me when it comes to peer pressure is that we also tend to succumb to that pressure when it comes to our calling as pastors. We subconsciously, or maybe even consciously, attempt to talk, act and even think like other pastors we know.
We find ourselves doing what other pastors are doing. We find ourselves preaching similar sermons and leading our congregations in similar ways. We might even realize one day that we are guiding our people to be just like other congregations in our areas without making sure from our source that we should be leading them in that direction. (Remember Letter #27?)
There’s something I discovered while pastoring—every congregation is different. They may have similar heritages in a general geographic area or ethnic background, but they will be different. They’ll have different individual needs and those needs will require different approaches. They’ll have special circumstances and special emergencies and special, different, physical, mental, emotional and spiritual fears, pressures, and uncertainties.
They also have a multitude of varying dreams and goals and experiences. They have different abilities, understanding and knowledge. They have different spiritual gifts and varying discernment about life and its demands.
Because your congregation will be different, you need to be different, too. Earnestly seek guidance from God on how to lead your individual group of people. Pray for discernment on how to address their special needs. Seek to establish strong relationships with them and learn as much as you can about those little nuances in their voices and body language that speak volumes that the words don’t say when they talk to you.
They need you to be different. They need you to lead them to their own solutions, not someone else’s. They need you to be their pastor to their congregation, not another group down the road.
For these reasons, I encourage you to be different. Fast, pray, read your Word and spend time alone with your source in order to discover who you need to be for God’s glory. Don’t try to do what other pastors do unless the Holy Spirit leads you in that direction. Go in the direction your sheep need.
Additionally, I challenge you to dare to be different because your own ministry is not going to be just like everyone else’s ministry. I dare you to be different when it comes to how much you fast, pray, study and preach the messages the Holy Spirit directs you to prepare. I dare you to not do what every other church in your area is doing.
Dare to be different about who is called to speak at your congregation’s homecoming. Dare to be different about the structure of your worship services. Dare to be different when it comes to how many times a year you have a missions speaker. Dare to be different as you plan out next year’s emphasis. Dare to stop maintaining the status quo.
Abram was different and left his father and family behind. Joshua didn’t use military strategy against Jericho; he used God strategy. David demonstrated a different kind of faith in the God of Israel in order to kill the giant. Peter dared to speak boldly in the name of Jesus and thousands were saved. Paul and Silas weren’t normal prisoners; they sang songs of worship in the middle of the night. These people dared to be different and accomplished the deeds God had set before them.
What will God use you to do if you will dare to be different?
Sincerely,
A Small Church Pastor