Reflections on 5 years of pastoral ministry

I accepted my first pastoral position on September 29, 2019. This weekend makes 5 years of pastoral ministry.

It’s not a long time, I know. But as I reflect on the past 5 years, 5 thoughts come to mind.

A pastor is a person first.

People have different perceptions of pastors. But at the end of the day, I’m a person. Like any other Christian, I’m a sinner saved by grace. My personal pursuit of God is more important than my ministry. I’ve found myself running on empty at times—reading and praying as a pastor but not as a person. Like a doctor focused on caring for his patients without caring for himself.

Paul says in Acts 20:28, “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.”

In 1 Corinthians 9:27 Paul writes, “But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”

The longer I serve in pastoral ministry, the more I realize how weak I am. I need the Spirit of God to empower me and produce fruit in my life. I am a man, a husband, and a dad. If my personal relationship with God and my family is neglected, my ministry will not last.

Best friends can be hard to find.

It’s not hard to find people who show an interest in you and want to spend time with you. But finding someone who just wants to be your friend is much harder. This person doesn’t talk bad about you behind your back. This person doesn’t pry you for information. This person loves you for who you are—not the role you have. This person is emotionally stable, socially secure, and spiritually mature.

Proverbs 27:9 says, “Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.”

Finding best friends as a pastor—and especially as a pastor’s wife—is a sweet grace. In the past 5 years, God has provided trustworthy friends for me and Jordon. But we’ve experienced some hurt along the way.

Beware of bitterness and resentment.

Speaking of hurt, it’s inevitable. There are some things Jordon and I have experienced in the past 5 years that we’ll never forget. We’ve shed some tears. We’ve been tempted to quit. And we’ve had some difficult conversations. Bitterness and resentment are like invisible, deadly poison. Pastors must guard against it.

Hebrews 12:15 says, “See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no ‘root of bitterness’ springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled.”

I’m ashamed to say that I know what it’s like to be bitter and resentful towards a brother or sister in Christ. And it’s a debilitating reality—not only as a pastor but as a person. The way of the gospel is repentance and reconciliation. It’s forgiveness. Effective ministry cannot take place where there is bitterness and resentment.

Preferences can be put aside when there’s good leadership.

I’ve yet to be in a church that meets all of my preferences. And I don’t want to be. But when there’s good leadership taking a church in a good direction, most things can be overlooked—even if temporarily.

The look of the sanctuary, the sound of the music, and the way people dress are common preferences. Some people like a traditional look. Some people like a modern look. Some people like hymns. Some people like contemporary worship songs. Some people like suits. Some people like jeans. But at the end of the day, what matters more than preferences is leadership.

This is especially true for churches going through revitalization or replanting. A lot of times, those churches get overlooked because someone isn’t willing to put aside his preferences (some for only a season) to give the church a vision for what is possible. I’m not talking about toxic churches that aren’t willing to change. I’m talking about churches that are ready to move forward but don’t look the way you want.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote about the “wish-dream” a pastor has for his church. It’s easy to fall more in love with our idea of church than the church that exists. God often calls pastors to churches they didn’t dream about to lead their churches to places they never dreamed possible.

Paul writes in Ephesians 3:20-21, “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

Culture and strategy matter a lot.

Both churches I’ve served have a missional culture and effective strategy. For that, I’m thankful.

In the past 5 years, I’ve come to value evangelism and discipleship like never before. I’ve come to embrace the Great Commission and the clear call we have to make disciples and multiply churches.

Jesus says in Acts 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

In my first book, Multiply, I share a gospel-shaped model for discipleship: know God, share your life, find your place, live on mission. In my second book, REACH, I share an everyday strategy for reaching people with the gospel, holding new believers accountable in discipleship, and releasing them to REACH even more.

Not only have I come to love the Great Commission locally, but I’ve come to understand it better globally. I’ve served in Lima, Peru, a couple of times. And next month, Jordon and I plan to serve on mission in Europe with a team from our church.

Conclusion

So, those are my reflections on 5 years of pastoral ministry. I know I haven’t been at it as long as others, but I’m thankful for how God has brought me and my family this far.

I pray God keeps my eyes on Jesus, makes me more like Him, and guides me by His Spirit. I want to learn more. I know it won’t be easy. Some of my biggest challenges are likely ahead, but the God who has been with me these past 5 years will be with me then.

All praise to Him!