A couple of years ago I was having a conversation with a pastor who was tired, VERY tired…his eyes were sagging, his moral was low, his passion level was struggling and he confessed he had thoughts of just getting out of the ministry.
I told him, “dude, sounds like you need to take a couple of weeks off from speaking and recharge your batteries.”
What he said to me after that has remained burned in my memory ever since…because it is the lie that so many pastors believe…and causes so many of us to absolutely burn out doing something that, at one time, we claimed we enjoyed and felt called to do.
He said, “Perry, I can’t take a week off from preaching. My church depends on me and would not survive without me…and my people won’t show up if I’m not there.”
(If you are a pastor…please read that sentence again…because you either believe that lie OR will be tempted to in the future. What’s sad is that it is really just a form of pride that many of us mask under “calling!” Too many pastors need to be needed…which leads to an inevitable downfall!)
One of the things I would LOVE to do right now is thank every staff member and volunteer at NewSpring Church who understand this simple concept…a church is not effective when the pastor ministers to the people but rather when the BODY ministers to the BODY! When the church becomes a one man show…and that “one man” isn’t JESUS…problems are sure to arise.
Church members are not called to merely receive ministry…but OWN IT! There are times we NEED ministry…and then there are times that ministry needs us to use the gifts God so generously gave us through His Holy Spirit. AND…I love serving in a church where people are continually understanding that when WE work together, using OUR gifts for HIS glory…WE ARE UNSTOPPABLE!
I am saying this because…I wasn’t at NewSpring Church today…in fact, I wasn’t even in the state of South Carolina…and we had an absolutely awesome day. We saw around 100 people receive Jesus…we baptized between 100-150 people…Jesus was exalted, hope was given, the excluded became included and people moved closer to Jesus…all without me being there!
Pastors…leadership DOES matter…and…I also feel that if we are the pastor of the church that we should be the primary communicator. However, the BEST thing you can do for the church you lead for the LONG HAUL is actually pace yourself and make sure to take adequate time off so that when your on…you’re on!
THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS YOUR CHURCH BECOMING HEALTHY IS YOU GETTING HEALTHY!
NewSpring Church…I really do feel like our best days are ahead of us. I am SUPER excited about this family series we are beginning next weekend…and I can honestly say that I feel like THIS FALL is going to be one of the most amazing times in the history of our church. God is doing something special around this place…and I feel a few of the many reasons are that so many of you guys are stepping up by stepping into ministry so that we all together are doing our part…
You guys are praying fearlessly…serving unselfishly…giving generously…inviting others regularly…and as we continue to do these things over time our communities WILL be transformed right before our eyes.
I love you guys…I love this church…and I love the fact that so many of you are passionate about church OWNERSHIP and not just showing up, sitting down then turning around and coming back three weeks later.
Keep up the GREAT work…and I promise to continue to try my best to pace myself so that the next 20 years are the most amazing years in the church that the world has ever seen!
AND…for the pastor out there thinking he’s indispensable…uh…you’re not. The church has existed 2,000 years before us…and will be around LONG after we’re gone. Catch your breath man…your church will be better for it!