by Stacy Long

American Family Association

October, 2015 (reposted)

A pastor is the most noticed person in a congregation, but likely the most lonely. A pastor’s struggles may not be known unless he suffers an obvious moral or spiritual failure. Then, all too often, the bad fruit will be addressed while the root is ignored. The secret cancer that surfaces in burnout or depression, marriage problems, or grievous sin is small but deadly. In a conversation with AFA Journal, three pastors, each in ministry to other pastors, concurred on one point: Pastors are often far too alone – in relationships, in accountability, and in spiritual battles.

Cues for a cure
Michael Lewis, director of pastoral care at the North American Mission Board, noted that relational alienation is typically first apparent in a pastor’s marriage. But before problems arise there or in relation to the church body, the dearth starts with the minister’s personal walk with God.

“Pastors strive to fulfill the Great Commission, but sometimes neglect the Great Commandment, and that begins with love for the Lord,” Lewis said.

He described a scheme of five concentric circles for a minister’s relationships. The starting point is loving the Lord, followed by loving the spouse, children, church, and community, in that order.

When pastors experience relational disconnect, they tend to exert more effort into outward relationships where deficits and results are most tangible. Particularly, this is true of the two outermost circles of serving the church and witnessing to the community, leading to prioritizing ministry above the wife and family while the pastor is left feeling overworked and spiritually exhausted.

“If we miss the inner circle of loving the Lord, the outer circles are not effective,” Lewis concluded.

Another relational connection crucial for a minister is one of accountability before peers. John Neihof, president of Wesley Biblical Seminary (wbs.edu) in Jackson, Mississippi, explained to AFAJ the vital need for a pastor to have accountability, whether before a superior in the denominational hierarchy, with another member of the church staff, or in discipleship from an external source.

“A minister desperately needs someone who asks hard questions,” Neihof said. “Questions about thought life and entertainment and lust, the whole range of common temptations for every human. Leaders have to be intentional about building this structure, inviting somebody into their lives to ask the hard questions.”

Transparency is not easy for a minister, especially before those he leads. Yet, without someone who can be safely trusted, a pastor is left alone to face the pressures of ministry, personal conflicts, and temptations of society.

Read the rest of this article at http://www.afajournal.org/

by Daniel Henderson

[re-posted]

When it comes to church leaders, the rare negative exceptions tend to make the most sensational news. Rarely do the faithful, godly pastors receive the recognition they deserve; recognition that would help us all keep a balanced and grateful perspective on the landscape of pastoral ministry.

The headlines are all-too-frequently sprinkled with reports of high-profile pastors who have been unfaithful to their marriage vows. Stories of financial scandal surface occasionally. One might begin to think that all pastors are immoral, dishonest, or otherwise unworthy of our trust.

The ratings-addicted media always milks these situations for all they are worth. Sadly, the credibility of the Christian message, the integrity of pastoral ministry, and the name of Christ is soiled in connection with the news of spiritual leaders behaving badly.

Tough Times for Ministry Leaders

Apart from the sizzling headlines of the exceptional scandal, we know that those in pastoral ministry face tough times overall. According to Focus on the Family, 1,500 U.S. pastors leave the ministry every month because of church conflict, family problems, marriage challenges and, in some cases, moral failure.

A recent New York Times article reported that members of the clergy now suffer from obesity, hypertension, and depression at rates higher than most Americans.[i] Studies also indicated that, in the last decade, their use of antidepressants has risen, while their life expectancy has fallen. Many would change jobs if they could.

The Good News

Yet, there is good news amidst the scandals and risks. As a matter of perspective, there are roughly 320,000 churches in the United States.[ii] Many of these are small churches, served by a bi-vocational pastor, or no pastor at all. Some larger churches employ a team of pastors. Estimates tell us there are 600,000 clergy in the United States.

It is good to remember that for every high-profile negative news story there are hundreds of thousands of pastors who are walking in integrity, loving their spouses, caring for their families, sacrificing for their congregations, preaching the Word, and faithfully fulfilling their calling.

Of the estimated 1,500 pastors who leave ministry every month, there are hundreds of thousands who endure and even thrive. There are multiplied thousands every year who enter ministry for the first time and also return to ministry after a break from the grind.

Our Role of Positive Support

More importantly, we can all make a positive difference by supporting and encouraging our pastoral leaders. This is great news – and something every believer can embrace because we know how vital it is and how much is at stake. We can each do something to help stem the fallout and failure among church leaders.

Of course, October is Clergy Appreciation Month and provides a great opportunity to do the right thing. In reality, our leaders are worthy of appreciation 12 months out of the year. First Thessalonians 5:12-13 tells us, “…honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and warn you against all that is wrong. Think highly of them and give them your wholehearted love because of their work” (NLT). Hebrews 13:7 also says, “Remember your leaders who first taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives…” (NLT).

Here are five key ideas to implement in October and all year round:

Pray for Your Leaders – The Apostle Paul often asked for prayer (2 Corinthians 1:8-11; also Ephesians 6:18&19; Colossians 4:2-4; 1 Thessalonians 5:25; 2 Thessalonians 3:1). Charles Spurgeon said, “I know of no greater encouragement than that my people would pray for me.” Our prayers are a gift that God uses to provide power and protection for our church leaders. Prayer also keeps our attitudes aligned with the heart of God. It is hard to be a prayer warrior and critic at the same time.

Give Practical Encouragement – The squeaky wheels in the church tend to get the “grease” of attention and energy from leaders. One negative letter can easily outweigh the impact of five positive ones. Take time to let your leaders know, via notes, e-mails, and phone calls, of your deep appreciation for their life and ministry. Be specific. Encourage others to do the same.

Provide Tangible Blessings – Most pastors live on a limited budget. Special tokens of kindness that provide memorable experiences are always appreciated. A gift certificate for a nice meal, an overnight get- away, a visit to the bookstore, or a mini-vacation is always a blessing beyond words.

Protect Their Reputation – Proverbs 22:1 says, “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches; Loving favor rather than silver and gold.” A pastor’s reputation is valuable beyond calculation. One of the great gifts you can give your pastors is to counteract the typical gossips and critics found in every church. Whenever there is some juicy tidbit of “news” circulating in the church, you can either add water or gasoline to the fire. Become known as one who supports and protects your pastor and his family.

Don’t Forget Their Families – The spouse and children are the unsung heroes of pastoral ministry. Often they are forgotten. Consider all of the above expressions of support, and apply these ideas in thoughtful and specific ways to each family member.

Fueling Their Joy and Endurance

When our leaders don’t stay in the fight, it makes it hard for us to win our imperative spiritual war. Discouraged pastors cannot serve to their full potential. Each of us can offer great encouragement to help them thrive and endure. Hebrews 13:17 challenges us to follow and support our spiritual leaders because they watch out for our souls, as those who must give account to God. Then the passage adds, “Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.”

Let’s fuel the joy of our leaders. It is profitable for them, their families, our churches, and our Christ-honoring mission in this world.

Copyright © 2015 Daniel Henderson. All rights reserved.

Strategic Renewal Intl. | 720-627-5932 | office@strategicrenewal.com | http://www.strategicrenewal.com
PO Box 370233, Denver, CO 80237

By Dr. Lewis Gregory,

Labor Day, in the United States, has traditionally been a day to cease from one’s labors and rest. God offers a lifetime of rest to all who will cease from their fleshly labors and enter His rest. Easier said than done! It is very difficult for most of us to give up on all our “so-called good works.” I know it was for me. My thinking went something like this. “I’m trying as hard as I can, doing all that I can, the best that I can. It may not be the greatest (admittedly I was defeated), but I’m giving it all I’ve got. If all my hard work has only gotten me this far, just think what would happen if I gave up. Why, it would be a disaster, and I would become passive.

Passivity or Divine Activity

Since then, I’ve discovered this kind of thinking to be all too common among Christians. Ceasing from our fleshly efforts, in order to enter God’s rest, is actually shifting from a works-oriented approach, to a grace-oriented approach to living. Ironically, many people have mistakenly thought that an emphasis on grace will lead to a life of passivity. The concern is a strong emphasis on grace—which declares the responsibility for our lives belongs to Christ, and that He will take care of everything for us—will cause many to become passive. Nothing could be further from the truth.

When you truly realize your union with Christ, you are not about to sit back and do nothing. Passivity is the last thing on your mind. Once you have discovered what it means to be a new creation in Christ, you are finally ready to do something of eternal consequence. As you begin to realize your true identity in Christ, it actually liberates you to an even greater level of activity—Divine activity. You are fully equipped for godly living. At last, you’re free to do what God has put in your heart to do.

Paul, the chief proponent of this truth, was no slouch. In fact, he was one of the most active Christians on biblical record. Here is what he wrote, “By the grace of God I am what I am . . . I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God” (1 Cor. 15:10).

Did you notice he said that he labored much more than everyone else? He is not bragging—far from it. It is merely a statement of fact. Yet, in a sense, it is bragging, though not about himself. Who did Paul credit for such fervent activity? He emphatically stated that it was God who made him who he was, and enabled him to do what he did. He described this remarkable phenomenon as the grace of God. Paul declared that his labors were a result of God and God alone. He was bragging alright—on God!

The grace of God does not result in passivity. Paul made it very clear that this life of grace, as a new creation, is anything but passive. He told the Colossians, “I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily” (Col. 1:29). Paul declared that such a lifestyle is a labor, which involves striving, and results in work being accomplished.
IOM AMERICA RESOURCES | P.O. Box 71, Sterling, KS 67579 | ChristAsLife

What was the source of Paul’s labor? The energizing source of his dynamic labor was none other than the indwelling Christ! He also asserted that everything he did was a result of God’s work in his life. It was Christ who did the work. Christ chose (and chooses) to do it in and through human personalities. That’s you and me. We have been granted the marvelous privilege of being co-laborers with Christ. We are the human instruments through whom He has chosen to accomplish His Divine purposes. Divine activity is to be the order of the day, for those believers who are living by the grace of God as new creations in Christ.

On one hand, you don’t do anything; yet, on the other, you do everything. You, in your human strength, are not to do anything. However, you, in the strength of the Lord, are now able to do all things! In Philippians 4:13, Paul wrote, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” This is now your motto.

Once a young Christian told me this was her favorite verse. When I asked her why, she answered, “It gives me hope and confidence. I am hopeful that things will be different for me as a Christian. I also have a new self-confidence, because God has made me a new person in Christ. Therefore, I am confident of what I can do through Christ, who is now my strength.” May God grant you this same outlook on life!
Once, a friend met a young man who said that he had been a Christian for a few years. After determining that the young man had truly met the Lord, he began to quiz him about his Christian walk. As they became better acquainted, several interesting things emerged.

It became evident that the young man’s life was stagnant. In fact, he seemed to just be going in circles. To make matters worse, he blamed others for his dilemma.

When my friend realized the young man was stuck in a rut, he exclaimed, “Man, you’re sitting on a gold mine, and you’re just letting it go to waste. As a Christian, God has endowed you with a brand new life. Are you telling me that you have Christ inside of you, and yet you are not allowing Him to live His life through you? That’s just not right. It’s time for you to get with the program!”

The same is true for you. If you feel as though your life is going nowhere, then it’s time to get with the program. The transforming truth of the new creation made it possible for the apostle Paul to do God’s work. Likewise, you must be about your Father’s business!

May this Labor Day be the beginning of a lifetime of resting in the Lord. As you do, you will find His grace sufficient for all your labors. And you can rest assured that your labor will never be in vain in the Lord!

Dr. Lewis Gregory (Georgia, USA) is a contributing writer for IOM America – Transformational Biblical Worldview & Exchange Life Development.
Permission obtained from writer to republish Labor Day for the Rest of Your Life. © 2011 Dr. Lewis Gregory. http://www.sourceministries.net/go/2011/03/labor-day-for-the-rest-of-your-life/ [Adapted from The New You. © 2005 Dr. Lewis Gregory.] Articles, or portions of articles, may be used without written permission, as long as credit is given to the author. Editorial changes by IOM America approved by author.
Scripture note: Changes made to original verses [i.e. bold, indent, underline, parenthetical contents…] are by this article’s author for emphasis and/or clarification.
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

In most cases, when a church needs a lawyer, it hires a lawyer. When it needs a plumber, it hires a plumber. But when it comes to making business decisions, most churches convene well-meaning but often inexperienced volunteers to form a committee, then they take a month and vote on the color to paint a door in the nursery. Conducting business this way kills the vision and drains the passion out of right-brained, creative, relational pastors and ministry leaders.

The modern church is being poorly managed and does not know it. The level of inefficiency and waste in today’s churches is staggering. The church is not a business but it conducts business, and in most cases, the people conducting church business are not trained and/or experienced in business.

This book was written to convey basic business wisdom, management principles, and best practices to right-brained, creative, relational people (i.e. pastors). Unlike intimidating business textbooks, it is written in forty short vignettes designed to be read like a daily devotional. Each chapter deals with everyday challenges and offers real-life examples derived from more than thirty years of experience that show how to (and sometimes how not to) handle each situation.

anchordistributors.com

from GFI associates, Hans and Elly Timmermans:

We had a fundraiser at our house last night. About 20 attended. Inflation is eating away in Malawi, Africa. When I first went there the US $ would buy KW160.00. Now it is US $ 1.00 = KW 475.00.

God is doing amazing things in Malawi. The Dynamic Churches model Life Groups are reproducing! The Grace Life teaching is part of every discipling situation and makes a lot of difference in the lives of the Malawians. Pastors begin to see a different side to their teaching. Also we teach the motivational gifts from Romans 12 and that sets people free to serve and makes pastors see their true role in the church. They now set people free to serve, not just attend. This all together makes an enormous difference in the effectiveness of the discipling process…

For more on their ministry, visit http://northernmalawinews.wordpress.com/

A video testimony is here: https://vimeo.com/89324634

THE WORD IS:“. . . as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:20-21
THE POINT IS: The Apostle Paul lived a most extraordinary life. How did he live such a life? In these verses, Paul declared the source of his living to be Jesus Christ. This is not about imitation, far from it; it’s about a total transformation! That is exactly what had occurred in Paul’s life. Paul said that the reason Christ was so evident in his life was because itactually was Christ; Christ was doing the living through Paul. He had been transformed! According to Paul, the only way for him to live was by means of Christ. Christ is The Life—the one and only life (John 14:6). That is why only Christ can do the living. Living is simply not possible apart from Christ. Existing, yes, but living—no way. Real living is Christ living!

THE APPLICATION IS: Are you living or just existing? If you’re allowing Christ to live His life in you, as you, and through you, then you’re living. Otherwise, you’re just existing. As you allow Christ to do the living, He will be magnified in your body: through life, as well as death. When something is magnified, it becomes evident for all to see. You will see the difference and so will everyone else: a positive, constructive, productive difference! But, you must let Christ do the living and then you will become a magnifying glass for the Lord so that Christ will be evident in everything you say and do. Others will be able to see Christ—His character and His conduct—expressed through you. And the beauty of it is, you get to enjoy His life! Now that’s living . . . living an extraordinary life!

– Dr. Lewis Gregory

http://www.sourceministries.net/

The preceding message is provided as a service of Source Ministries © 2015. If you have a comment about this teaching material, would like more information about SOURCE MINISTRIES, or want to be added or removed from this mailing list, please contact us with your name and email address at: source@integrity.com or call 770-979-9804. It is a pleasure to serve you!

by Bob & Joan Galasso

“Looking Unto Jesus” – powerful, life-giving words! Used as a title of a sermon by Theodore Monod, a Reformed pastor and theologian, Monod was considered the foremost Protestant preacher in 19th-century France.[1] He based his sermon, Looking Unto Jesus, on the verse from Hebrews 12:2. We have been greatly impacted by this truth.

Keeping our focus is vital to living well as Paul writes in Philippians 3: 12-14 to “press on toward the goal” and finishing well as Paul shares in 2 Timothy 4:7-8 that he has finished the race, he has kept the faith… Theodore Monod states in his sermon these words, “Looking unto Jesus…”

“only three words, but in those three words is the whole secret of life! ” He goes on to say, “Looking Unto Jesus… in the Scriptures, to learn there what He is, what He has done, what He gives, what He desires; to find in His character our pattern, in His teachings our instruction, in His pre-cepts our laws, in His promises our support, in His person and in His work a full satisfaction provided for every need of our souls.”

Keeping our focus is looking unto Jesus. Do you need refreshing? Do you need new insight? Are you struggling with perseverance or joy in the midst of difficulty? Look unto Jesus. He is the only One who can meet the deep needs of your soul. Trust Him to lift you up and open the way. Sometimes, the answer may not come as you think. Sometimes the answer comes in the form of hardship or loss. But if you keep your focus, persevere in Him, trust Him, He will bring you out on the other side and you will see He has always been making a way for you. And He just may be using the painful circumstance (a blessing in disguise) to bring you what you need, heading you in the direction you need to go that you would not have realized otherwise.

There was a young mother who came to us in great distress. She was in a hard place having to leave her husband and find a quiet, safe place for awhile. As we spoke to her and encouraged her through God’s Word and prayer, she left with a renewed heart. She purposed in herself to fully rely upon her Father God. To this day, she remains focused, looking unto Jesus, to give her the support and instruction she needs, and to make His character her pattern for living. She did not immediately know the way she should go but she purposed in her heart to trust her Lord God and He continues to direct her to this day as she leans on Him.

May each of us keep our eyes fixed on our Lord no matter what the situations we face, for He alone is able to do what is impossible for us to accomplish. After all, He has promised to be with us in all things at all times in our lives. Keep your eyes fixed – looking unto Jesus. Remember, He will give you what you need when you need it!

Let us finish with the words of that Scripture in Hebrews 12: 2b & 3: “who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that YOU will not grow weary and lose heart.” So with great joy, let us fix our eyes on Jesus!

Your Partners in Ministry,
Bob & Joan Galasso
(alumni of Grace Fellowship Intl)

(repost)

by Ross Gilbert

We live in a broken world. You don’t have to look far to see that things are not what God made them to be in the Garden of Eden. It could be a terminal or debilitating illness, loss of loved ones, difficulties with those around you, inability to find a job, or haunted by your past from the sin and failures of yourself or others towards you, we all face troubles and trials in this world.

And how you deal with those trials depends less on the trial itself and more on how you approach them. Put another way, it is not what you face, but how you face it that matters most. That’s because regardless of the size and difficulty of the trial – Jesus is always bigger. That means that the battle is not won and lost in dealing with the trial itself, but in whether we will turn to and trust Jesus in us to handle the trial. And while that is a simple explanation, the application is anything but.

Depending on the trial, my first reaction is not always turning to Jesus, especially if the trial is somehow related to things in my past that have left a wound on my soul. But it is in these moments where Jesus is doing His greatest miracle of healing – He is sanctifying me.

We often think of sanctification as the process where we sin less and live more upright lives. And while that will happen as a result of Jesus’ work in our soul, that is not His primary goal. It is something much greater. His goal of sanctification is to bring healing to my soul, which has been damaged by this broken world. The damage being the lies and mistrust that our enemy bombards us with. Lies that I believe to be true as a result of the disappointments and hurts that I have and am experiencing. It is from these lies that our enemy provokes us to choosing to live out of the flesh, to try and find comfort and strength somewhere other than God.

So Jesus, after exposing the lies to be just that, lies, He begins to tell us the truth. The truth about Himself, that He is a God that loves us fully, deeply and completely with a love that never changes regardless of my behaviour, either good or bad. It is a love that already knows about every single one of my past and future mistakes, but accepts me and wants me anyways.

He tells me the truth about myself, that while I may not yet live as I want to, I am still His beloved, holy and righteous child. That the old me was crucified with Him and now I am a brand new creation that has been forever united to Father, Son and Holy Spirit. That He is proud of me and nothing can ever change that. Absolutely nothing, not even me.

He tells me the truth that while the circumstances that I face are difficult, challenging and would cause many brave souls to lose hope, He lives in me to face it alongside me. That I do not have to battle with trouble in my own strength, but with the strength of God who has proven to be stronger and greater than giants, lions, entire armies and even death itself.

Armed with the truth, I can begin to make better choices in life, the best and most important of all is to trust the One who loves me. This is the work of sanctification and healing that Jesus is doing inside of me and you right now. And notice that it is His work. (see Philippians 1:6 and 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24) My work is to believe Him, to listen to Him, to trust Him. And as He works in me, my trust in Him grows.

In Christ who is our Life,

Ross

original online version: http://www.crosswaystolife.org/Jun_2015_Sanctification_and_Healing.html

By Bob Hostelter

You are a pastor. You preach and teach, care and console. You manage and maneuver, love and lead. You pour yourself out. You “shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you” (1 Peter 5:2, ESV).

You also need a pastor.

Every pastor needs a pastor. Every pastor needs someone who does the things the pastor is doing for others—encourage, equip, coach, console, support, love and lead. Unfortunately, very few pastors have that kind of relationship, which helps to explain why so many burn out or drop out—and why many others say they would leave the ministry if they thought they could.

Few denominations and church staff systems allow or encourage the establishment and maintenance of a pastor-to-a-pastor relationship. Unless you’re in a very rare situation, the chances are good that you will have to take the initiative and do the work of filling that need in your life. But it is a need, make no mistake. It is not an option, if you plan to not just survive but also thrive in ministry.

So what can you do? Where do you go? Here are a few suggestions to help you do what (of course) you encourage your flock to do—have a caring, capable pastor in your life to lead, teach, encourage and equip you:

• Approach someone you already know. Someone who is already in your circle of relationships. It may be a retired pastor or someone in an entirely different field. It shouldn’t be someone in your church but could be someone you’ve crossed paths with. Someone who impressed you, maybe. Or someone who reached out to you. If such a person comes to mind, consider asking him or her to meet regularly with you, perhaps just as a sounding board at first. Let the relationship develop from there.
• Consult a spiritual director. Spiritual direction may be a new concept for you, but it can be a transforming experience to have someone to meet with regularly who will listen—not only to you but also to the Holy Spirit—and offer sensitive wisdom and guidance. My friend Kasey is a fine example of this kind of ministry. Christian spiritual directors in your area can be found through Spiritual Directors International.
• Find a good Christian counselor. Years ago, my church planting coach would ask me and my co-pastor every time we met, “Do you have a shrink yet?” He clearly considered it not only important but also urgent. So I started meeting regularly with a counselor, and boy was I glad I did. A good Christian counselor can often be like a pastor to a pastor; mine was to me. If the first person you consult isn’t quite a “match,” don’t give up. Keep trying. Ask others for recommendations or start here.
• Use available resources. I can’t emphasize enough the importance of an actual, on-site, flesh-and-blood person to pour into you as you are pouring into others. But in rare circumstances, that may not be possible for you. If that is the case, make sure to utilize all available resources, such as:

• “Thriving Pastor,” the ministry to pastors of Focus on the Family. They also provide a Facebook page, Twitter account and pastoral care line (844-4PASTOR).
• Podcasts. I have been fed and encouraged over the years by the podcasts of various pastors—some that provide encouragement specifically to those in ministry, and others, like Erwin McManus or James MacDonald, that podcast sermons or Bible studies. Here is a helpful listing.
• Retreats. I’ve posted previously on this blog about retreat centers and getaways that are offered specifically for pastors (here). While some hosts at such places leave you alone, others make themselves available for those who want to talk. Such encounters may lead to a more enduring relationship, magnifying the benefit of the retreat.

These are just a few ideas. But please believe me when I say you need a pastor. What’s good for the sheep is good for the shepherd. It will strengthen you and your ministry, making you even more of an example to the flock.

More from Bob Hostelter or visit Bob at http://desperatepastor.blogspot.com/