It Takes One. Or More

The other night, at a small Christmas party, a friend of mine and I had a few minutes that we were able to step outside and catch up, away from the group. It was only 15 minutes or so, but enough to be able to share a few of life's struggles over the past couple of weeks and encourage one another... even if it was as simple as knowing someone else had a similar experience.

Later that same night, I put on a movie on Netflix as I went to bed. The younger brother was in some serious trouble and the older brother had to make a deal in exchange for his life. But the brother was going to need some help.  And so the calls began in hopes of recruiting his old friends, from another time in his life

Depending on the numbers you look at, some statistics regarding pastors have them at around 70% as NOT having any close friends. A whopping 7 out of 10 pastors, do not have at least one, or a few people in their lives that they would consider close enough to share life and ministry and the struggles between the two. This is both bad and easy to fix.

On this #associatePastorTuesday, pray God will divinely place the right people in the right places to establish the kinds of friends and friendship that pastors need. Pray people, both in the congregation and community will not be so quick to judge and condemn pastors and their families for personal or professional situations or statements that they may disagree with. May tension and conflict decrease in frequency. May patience and understanding increase, as Pastors are working out their own faith and the struggles of life just as much as those not in ministry, yet with the weight of the eternal responsibility they carry, that comes with the office of Pastor.

May they be strengthened and encouraged, that they are not alone. That there is help. That there are people who care and are praying. May the church rise up and show themselves the love of Christ to pastors, just as they would their neighbors.

For the glory of God. For the cause of Jesus Christ. For what good does it do for a church to reach the lost if it destroys a pastor in the process.

-PNC

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