During September, our church read the book, I Am A Church Member, by Thom S. Rainer. Chapter Four is I Will Pray For My Church Leaders. In this section, Rainer gives an example of a typical day in the life of a pastor. I've had a couple of people approach me at church, telling me that they had no idea what all was involved in being a pastor.
Since this month is Clergy Appreciation Month, I want to outline here a few areas that Rainer says church members should pray for in regards to their pastor.
"A pastor's day is filled with mountaintops and valleys."
As a pastor's wife, I can attest to this. My hubby has been called to the hospital for an emergency, then had to rush back to do counseling he has set up for the day - which is normally more than one appointment. He will also have phone calls mixed into that as well as people who drop in.
"Serving and leading a church well expends all of a pastor's energy. He is on call every day and every hour. Because the demands are so great on him, the pastor often neglects his own health and well-being."
Pray for your pastor's health.
Pray for his sermons.
"It is an incredible task to speak and preach the Word of God every week again and again."
Pray for him and his family.
"Few families face the kinds of pressures and expectations as the families of pastors."
Pray for your pastor's protection.
"It means that the devil sees the pastor as a threat, and one of his highest priorities is to take him down and take him out."
These are hard days to be a pastor. It is a hard world to try to minister in.
Please, try to set a time each day to lift your pastor up in prayer. Let him know you are praying for him - maybe even ask if there is any specific prayer he would want you to pray for him. Let him know you appreciate him - compliment him. I can assure you, he hears the negative stuff but hardly ever gets the positive things.
I thank God that even with all of the demands, pastors are obediently answering the call everyday to minister to their flock. Thank you to all of the under-shepherds on God's ministry team.
2 comments:
What a wonderful blog. Preachers are so often taken for granted.
Forget astronauts, preachers and their families are the ones with the "right stuff."
My husband is also a pastor. He cares so much for the flock and it's a 24/7 job. He rarely takes a day off...even a day away from the church. I understand what you are saying. And praying for the pastors wife is good too! You know how it is...we have to be very supportive.
Post a Comment