MINISTERS MATTER

TWITTER THOUGHTS ON PASTORAL APPRECIATION

Throughout the month of October, I will be in France, the UK and Ukraine. I will simply post my daily thoughts about how much I appreciate my pastoral peers.

Please stop by at: http://twitter.com/bboucher

CLERGY APPRECIATION MONTH - October

I will post thoughts on Twitter throughout the month of October describing my appreciation for pastors everywhere. You are my heros!!!

You can find my Twitter page at: http://twitter.com/bboucher

WE APPRECIATE AND HONOUR OUR PASTORS!

Why is it appropriate to set aside a special time each year to give recognition and affirmation to our clergy and their families? How are their needs and circumstances different from those of carpenters, grocers or dentists?

One distinction lies in the nature of the service these leaders provide. God has entrusted to them one of the most precious of assignments—the spiritual well-being of His flock. When a pastor becomes ineffective, the very souls of his or her parishioners are endangered. When eternity is in the balance, we should all be concerned.

Another problem lies in the expectations placed on pastors. Numerous surveys have found that a very high percentage of pastors feel pressure to be the ideal role model of a Christian family—which is impossible, of course. As a result, four out of five pastors feel their families are negatively impacted by unrealistic expectations—whether self-imposed or congregation-imposed—and that ministry is an outright hazard to the health of their families. Indeed, the “pedestal” is not all it’s cracked up to be.

As pastors and their families try to please the God who called them to ministry while also trying to meet the expectations of their congregations, one result is dangerous stress. In fact, 75 percent of those surveyed reported experiencing a significant stress-related crisis at least once in their ministry.

Then, of course, there is the “fishbowl” aspect of ministry, whereby the entire lives of pastoral families seem to be on public display. Every private family situation quickly seems to become a congregational or community issue. This anxiety can only be heightened when financial pressures also come to bear, which is common since pastors typically make substantially less each year than their own board members and deacons. Nearly 70 percent of pastoral spouses work outside the home, most often due to financial need.

No one would choose to live life under these conditions unless they felt obliged to a higher, divine directive. Unfortunately, all too often, these are exactly the conditions under which pastoral families serve.

The good news is that we can make a difference! Clergy Appreciation Month is an attempt to counter the negative erosion in the lives of our spiritual leaders with positive affirmation.

PASTOR, YOU ARE APPRECIATED!

Why is clergy appreciation month necessary?

The nature of the service provided by pastors and their families is unique. God has entrusted to them one of the most precious of assignments — the spiritual well-being of His flock.

When a pastor becomes ineffective, the very souls of his or her parishioners are endangered.

When eternity is in the balance, we should all be concerned.

Pastors and their families live under incredible pressures. Their lives are played out in a fishbowl, with the entire congregation and community watching their every move. They are expected to have ideal families, to be perfect people, to always be available, to never be down and to have all the answers we need to keep our own lives stable and moving forward. Those are unrealistic expectations to place on anyone, yet most of us are disappointed when a pastor becomes overwhelmed, seems depressed, lets us down or completely burns out.

That's why God has instructed us to recognize His servants.

"The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honour, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching" 1 Timothy 5:17.

The good news is that we can make a difference!

Clergy Appreciation Month is one way we can counter the negative erosion in the lives of our spiritual leaders with the positive affirmation they need.

Over the month of October, I encourage you to consider how you can show appreciation to your pastor.

THE OFFICE OF A PASTOR - Qualifications

Another great talk by Ed Stetzer on the qualifications of a pastor. Watch and enjoy!

What's a Pastor to Do? from Ed Stetzer on Vimeo.

DO YOU ENCOURAGE YOUR PASTOR?

Have you ever wanted to say an encouraging word to your pastor but decided not to because you doubt he/she will care what you have to say? 

( the rest of the blog will have he for pastor but just for ease of writing - no gender bias going on here)

I know I have and I’m sure a lot of you out there have too. I think it’s important to realize that our pastors are regular people just like you and me and they need to hear our encouraging words. Believe me when I say they hear plenty about what they are not doing well.

I’ve spent enough time in church to know both sides of the equation. Members of the church have a tendency to tell their pastor about all the things they should do better or that they don’t do well. 

We all have strong opinions and when we see something we don’t like we feel like it’s important that we tell the pastor about it. I think there are many valid reasons for letting the church leadership know when you see something you disagree with or when you find a place for improvement.

The problem is that pastors do not get enough encouragement. 

They are often beat down from discouraging comments and attacks. Remember, your pastor is a human being just like you! He needs to be encouraged in the things he is doing well. If you are praying for him and his family you should mention that to him. If you aren’t praying for him… well you should. Just remember that even though he is your pastor he is a man just like you (or woman) and he will be blessed by your kind and encouraging words.

MEGA CHURCH PASTORS - 10 things you might not know about them.

Once again the Leadership Network provides some interesting information that helps deflate the myths that often surround ministry.

10 Things You Might Not Know About Mega-church Pastors

Leadership Network surveyed 232 pastors of churches with an average weekend worship attendance of at least 2,000.

Here are 10 things you might not know about mega-church pastors.

1. They think of themselves more as teachers and directional leaders than as pastors.
2. Preaching tops the list of things they do best.
3. They haven't always worked in churches.
4. Being an extrovert isn't mandatory.
5. Family stays at the top of mind when it comes to prayers.
6. They usually like the people they work with.
7. They believe their top gift is leadership.
8. They are actively involved in sports.
9. They find worship at their church helpful for personal spiritual growth.
10. They're not thinking about quitting.

SPIRITUAL POWERLESSNESS - from the guilt of sexual sin.

Spent today in Cornwall with area pastors talking about spiritual powerlessness. It is the outcome of the church's failure to teach people how to deal with the guilt associated with sin but especially sexual sin.

Sexual issues in the church are a serious problem. We live in an age of declining purity and low moral standards - and that is amongst believers. The consequence is a lowering of passion to serve the Lord resulting in spiritual powerlessness.

No matter what pastors do, and God knows they are trying many things to lead their congregations, it feels like pushing a train up a hill.

Believers, unable to deal with guilt, settle for the status quo in their walk rather than the high calling of God in Christ. They are reduced to being ineffective in the cause of Christ. They have little passion for spiritual things and very rarely offer to serve in and through their local church.

Pastors not only deal with sexual issues amongst the members of their churches in counselling situations, but also in their own lives. How can we all walk in the freedom Jesus has provided for us?

The church needs to preach all that Jesus accomplished for us at the cross. He took upon Himself the full punishment of our sin against a holy, just, and unimpeachable God. Jesus bore the wrath of God against sin. Wrath that we should have received.

The beauty of the cross is the biblical fact that our sin was nailed to the cross and God sets us free. Colossians 2:14-15 reminds us that God made an open show of the rulers, principalities and powers and took away Satan's weapon of making us think we are not worthy to represent God. He camps on our guilt and lies to us that we are not forgiven, or acceptable to serve God.

The cross dealt a once and for all death blow to the lies of the devil.

Enjoy your freedom in Christ!

PRAYING FOR THE PASTOR'S FAMILY

We must never forget the pastor's family comes first in his/her life. Even before ministry. So let us hold them up in scriptural prayer.

1Pet 4:8...........pray that their family members love one another.
1Pet 4:9...........that they are hospitable to one another without complaint.
1Pet 4:11......... serving by the strength that You supply,
1Pet 4:11..........so that in all things You may be glorified.
1Thes 5:11........pray that they encourage one another, comfort, edify,
Acts 20:32.........and build one another up.
Mt 18:19..........that they stand in agreement in every area of their lives,
Neh 8:10..........letting the joy of the Lord be their strength,
Col 3:15...........with the peace of God ruling in their hearts.
Ps 138:8..........father, I thank You that You're perfecting
Ps 138:8..........everything concerning them.
Ps 92:10..........anoint them with fresh oil.
Ps 103:5..........satisfy them with good things,
Ps 103:5..........so that their youth is renewed like the eagle's.
Ps 92:14......... in old age they shall still bear fruit,
Ps 92:14..........and be fresh and flourishing.
Ps 91:16..........with a long life You will satisfy them.
Job 1:10..........father, place a hedge of protection
Job 1:10..........around them, around their household,
Job 1:10..........and around all that they have on every side.
Ps 34:7............I thank You that the angel of the Lord encamps
Ps 34:7............round about them and delivers them from all evil,
Ps 91:3............from the snare of the fowler, from every pestilence,
Ps 91:10...........and that no plague will come near their dwelling.
Prov 3:24..........they shall lie down and their sleep shall be sweet.
Prov 16:7..........because their ways please You Lord,
Prov 16:7..........you make their enemies to be at peace with them.
Deut 29:9..........they keep Your word and do it,
Deut 29:9..........therefore, they prosper in all that they do.
Jn 15:4.............because they abide in You and delight them selves in You,
Ps 37:4.............you give them the desires of their heart.
1Pet 5:6...........and because they humble themselves, exalt them in due season.
1Pet 4:19..........I thank You Father that they are committed to You, to doing good,
1Pet 5:7...........casting all their cares upon You, for You care for them.
1Pet 5:8...........that they are sober, vigilant, continually resisting the devil,
1Pet 5:9...........and steadfast in their faith.
1Pet 5:10..........establish, strengthen, and settle them in Jesus' name.

SCRIPTURAL PRAYER FOR PASTORS

Praying for pastors can be done via the scriptures. Just add the name of your pastor and release your faith in God for their success in God, in their family life, church and communities.

Ps 31:23..........thank You that our pastors are faithful,
Ps 31:23..........and that You preserve them.
Prov 28:20........that they abound with blessings,
Gal 6:9.............and do not grow weary in well doing.
Phil 1:6.............that You who began a good work in them will perfect it.
Eph 2:10...........they are Your workmanship created in Christ Jesus,
Heb 13:21.........and equipped in every good thing to do Your will.
Heb 13:21..........work in them that which is well-pleasing in Your sight.
2Cor 9:8............grace abound toward them, having sufficiency in all things,
2Cor 9:8...........and an abundance for every good work.
2Cor 9:6...........because they have sowed bountifully, they will reap bountifully,
1Cor 3:6...........and whether they plant or water, Father, You give the increase.
2Cor 2:14..........I pray that they continually triumph in Christ,
2Cor 2:14..........diffusing the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.
Deut 28:2..........that all blessings come upon them and overtake them,
Deut 28:2..........because they obey the voice of their God.
Ps 32:8.............instruct them and teach them in the way they should go;
1Cor 2:10..........reveal the deeper things of God to them by Your Spirit.
2Tim 2:21..........let them be vessels of honor, sanctified and useful for the Master,
2Tim 2:21..........prepared for every good work.
1Pet 5:2............shepherd the flock willingly and being an example to them.
1Cor 2:4............speech and preaching is in demonstration of the Spirit and power.
2Tim 4:2...........instant in season and out of season to preach the Word.
Josh 1:3............the soles of their feet tread upon has been given to them.
Deut 31:6..........they are strong and of good courage for You, Lord, go with them.
Ps 27:14............they wait on You, and You strengthen them in their heart.
Titus 1:5............help them set in order things that are lacking,
Titus 1:5............and appoint elders in every city.
2Cor 10:4...........I tear down the strongholds over the pulpit.
Ex 17:11............I lift up our pastors and cover them
Heb 12:24..........with the blood of Jesus.
Deut 28.............sickness and disease shall in no way come near them,
Gal 3:13............for they are redeemed from the curse of the law.
Isa 54:17...........I say that no weapon formed against them will prosper,
Isa 54:17...........tongue rising against them shall be shown to be in the wrong.
Cor 12:11..........let the gifts and anointings on their lives come forth.
Luke 1:45..........birth the things that You have spoken to them in their hearts,
Acts 6:4............as they continually give themselves to prayer
Acts 6:4............and the ministry of the Word.