In The Middle...

Being in the middle can be a difficult place.

Sure, there's an element of safety to it at times... such as traveling a multi-lane bridge or not wanting to fall out of bed. Otherwise, it can be... unnerving, depending on what's going happening.

When between warring parties...
When between opposing sides of the argument...
When between decisions taking different directions...
When involved in the process, but you are neither the decision-maker, nor the one affected by the outcome...

Let's not forget the obvious... one's place in the line-up of their siblings.

Associate Pastors play important roles in church operations and ministry. Their contributions are invaluable. Sure, the super-hero's of the movie are well-known, applauded and looked up to, but to each of them, there is a side-kick. An important, even critical relationship; that without it's existence, would result in a much different outcome... many of them, in fact. At a minimum, the dynamics and nature of how things unfolded in whatever circumstance was transpiring would shift, were the associates not in the picture.

Yet, as we've all witnessed, the main character and the associate have their differences, their disagreements and their fall-outs even. In reality, their relationship needs to be stable and healthy; an unshakable foundation that inspires confidence as the move forward as a team.

Pray, this #associatePastorTuesday, for the teams of pastors experiencing places of difficult. Whether in personal matters or ministry matters, pray for a calming in relationships and environments. Pray hostility and toxicity would flee and that the peace of God and the presence of the Holy Spirit would infiltrate the places in which they find themselves. May their be a grace extended by all parties, as they work through differences and seek to understand and find common ground. Pray for wisdom, insight and discernment as they talk out their perspectives and experiences. May the come together to seek the face of God.

May they accomplish more together,
Than they would working apart
For the power of a 3-strand cord
Used for the glory of God.

- PNC

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