The Lessons I Learned from My Pastor

I never dreamed of becoming a pastor as a child. My father owned several trucks, tractors, and a host of other machines, which helped his business thrive.  My childhood was filled with pretending to be old enough to use these machines and become just like my Dad.  As I became older, I envisioned myself working with large animals as a veterinarian, working alongside farmers providing care for their animals. However, my plans were interrupted by the gospel of Jesus.

I can clearly remember His divine calling on my life and how the Scriptures began to mold and shape my heart into one of a Shepherd.  God called me not to look after literal sheep, but to care for the souls of people, pointing them back to the heart of the Father through the death, burial, and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ.  I found myself working part-time in a local church and helping with their student ministry while sorting through God’s plan for my life.  On a cold December night after driving home from college, I surrendered my life to the ministry of the Gospel of Jesus, as I read Galatians 1:11-12, “For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.” That moment happened 26 years ago to the day as I write these words. 

The Lord has allowed me to serve five churches in four states since that day. He allowed me to find a wife, become a father to two wonderful children, and meet some of the most wonderful brothers and sisters in these local churches and across the globe.  I have served under some of the best leaders and pastors during this time.  These men have walked with me as I developed as a pastor, praying for my family and me along the way.  Yet, the one pastor who has influenced my life the most is my current pastor.  He has taught me lessons I would have never learned in ministry that have served my ministry well.  This month, I wanted to share some of those lessons.

Ministry is about people.

One would assume a pastor would understand this principle well. But if one is not careful, the sheep that a pastor has been called to shepherd can take a back seat.  Unless pastors are intentional, programs, personal advancement, pursuits, promotions, buildings, growth, budgets, daily tasks, and a host of other urgent needs can take over our schedules, habits, and daily routines.  The ministry is busy, and there is much to accomplish, but God has called us to shepherd His people. You can’t shepherd His people if you don’t want to be around them. A shepherd is not made for the stage, and while some of his most important work will be from the stage, he is also made for other areas of life. He is made for the counseling room, the lobby, the hospital bed, the funeral home, and the delivery room.  He walks among the people celebrating, encouraging, and teaching them through all stages of life. My pastor has been an example of walking among the sheep he loves by sharing this life with his sheep and caring for them as they experience life together.

Don’t neglect your own walk with Jesus.

One of the dangers of serving in ministry can be that a shepherd becomes more concerned with his congregation’s walk and neglect his own walk with Christ. In John 15:4, Jesus instructs His disciples to “abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.”  I can testify to numerous times I have given in to the temptation to try to bear fruit in my own strength. Often I have relied on my knowledge, experience, creativity, and limited abilities instead of abiding in my Lord and allowing His Spirit to fill me. If we want to be used by Jesus, we have to come to Him with a posture of humility.  Jesus told His followers in Matthew 6:24, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other.” I have watched many men enter the ministry passionately in love with Christ, only to allow the toil of ministry to transform them into a grumpy, pessimistic, and cynical person.  How does this change happen? It’s certainly not overnight, but somewhere along the way, the shepherd forgot his first love.  I have known my current pastor for around nine years, and he is constantly aware of his need to be in the Word, humbly approach the throne of grace in his time of need, and abide with the Lord consistently.  A shepherd needs to abide with the Good Shepherd daily to be effective in the ministry.

You can go further with a team than on your own.

Many pastors today are characterized more by their individual talents than the collective body they serve.  One of the temptations of ministry is to allow one’s personality to shape the church they serve, rather than equip the body for the ministry’s work.  This temptation is subtle, but if not kept in check by the abiding presence of the Spirit, a pastor can isolate himself from the people and team he works with to carry out the Great Commission. Christianity is not a solo hike or journey; it is not about what one person can accomplish. Rather it’s based on the accomplishment of one person, Jesus.  Hebrews 10:12-14 states, “But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those being sanctified.”

Jesus is the only one who can accomplish the work of the ministry on his own. He is the ONLY one who has redeemed humanity for Himself and made way for salvation. Every other person who desires to do a “good work” in the Father’s name depends on the believers’ community.  My pastor has allowed me and others to come alongside God’s vision to accomplish the Great Commission in our local context.

On January 1, 2021, I will take the leadership chair from my pastor and become the Lead Pastor at Fellowship Community Church.  For twenty years, he has led the church to carry out the Great Commission in humility and service to our community. Our region has benefited greatly from his leadership.  My prayer for FCC and myself is twofold. I pray we never get past the power of the gospel and that Jesus will always be the center of everything we do, say, and believe. Ken, my pastor, has led the church to stay focused on the mission. I pray, I do the same.