I Wonder...

Many of you who follow Serving Strong are either pastors or ministry leaders. In thinking about you, I'm wondering...

1. Do rainy days make you sad?
2. Have you ever struggled on Monday following an incredibly powerful Sunday with your church?
3. How do you recover from a biting comment from someone you lead?
4. What are we to measure, attendance or life stories?
5. Where do you get your inspiration to lead others?
6. What do you do to renew your energy?
7. Why do you stay in the ministry?

You're invited to answer any one of these questions  ...if you do, please indicate which number(s) you are answering.

May your comments be a source of insight for other pastors and ministry leaders reading along.

photo credit

Comments

[AC]

1. Not so much, unless you string a bunch of em together in a row.
2. Yeah, I have actually. And why do we let ourselves do that? And I'm guessing I'm not alone. We had a killer Sunday, but man Monday morning sure was hard getting going. (But here's the thing, tho; being a minister still means you have those days you don't feel like going in, esp after really bringing it on a Sunday morning.)
3. Easily, really, b/c you just remind yourself again and again -- don't take it personally. (Still, you play the conversation back in yr head just like anyone, wishing you would've had a zinger of a comeback.)
4. Life stories. And if you focus on that, on helping people intertwine their stories with God, guess what? Attendance seems to pick up (or else it has been in my congregation).
5. This blog, of course, and the Bible.
6. Wife, first of all. Then music, movies, and books. Oh, and on a particularly rough day, by playing middle linebacker in Madden.
7. Because I truly love what I'm doing, and I think I'll go a long way by allowing myself three concessions: a) there is no perfect church; b) there is no perfect pastor; and c) sometimes it is okay for it to feel just like any other job. Still, it's the best job out there in my opinion.

Great questions!

[Scott Couchenour]

AC - these are great insights. Thanks for your vulnerability. I'm particularly interested in what you said about #4. Life stories can be quite motivating. Also, #7 - I like what keeps you in the ministry. Those 3 realities are so true (no perfect church, no perfect pastor, it's okay for it to feel like any other job at times). Every job has its days. But nice perspective.

[AC]

As far as #4, whenever we talk abt attendance, which IS important, we always try to do so in terms of why ... why do we want more people to come to our church? To bring them closer to God. (Not that we don't have to remind ourselves constantly of this.)

And #7 is absolutely a help for me. I mean, I totally am called to be a minister, I know that, but that doesn't mean sometimes it feels like a job. But that's okay. I think ministers don't allow themselves to TGIF, or loathe a few Mondays like other people do b/c it's supposed to be a call.

The imperfection thing is huge for me. If congregation's don't expect their pastors to be perfect, and vice versa, the relationship goes -- in my opinion -- a lot better; at least it has for me.

New subscriber, but thnx for the blog. I've done some coaching training in my ministry thru our Presbytery & think it's valuable stuff, esp for pastors, not just on the coaching end of things but the receiving, too.

[Scott Couchenour]

You bring up a very relevant matter in ministry: the ongoing relationship between pastor and congregation. I know of horror stories where a congregation's expectations lead pastors to burnout. I also, thankfully, know of encouraging stories where congregations understand the rightful role of the pastor and work with the pastor them (and even demand that the pastor make time to refresh and rest!)

Plus, acceptance of imperfection (as you have aptly pointed out) goes a LOOOONG way to staying strong. Not acceptance in a "oh well, I'm not perfect so sorry I can't change and grow" way, but acceptance in a "because of my imperfection, I am made whole in Christ. Therefore I will do my best" kind of way.

Coaching is a low-lying, consistent, life-changing process over time with the occasional "aha" moment of quantum growth. I believe in it completely.

Thanks for the conversation....