PASTORS SERVE OTHERS
THROUGHOUT THE WORLD
By Bill Ellis
Friday, September 30, 2005
SCOTT DEPOT, WV (ANS) -- Pastors
are everywhere. You will find them in every nation on earth. They are
God’s ambassadors. They represent Him in every arena of human
experience. They may serve very small congregations of less than a
dozen people. Some will lead a multiple staff of hundreds in large
churches of thousands of people. The average church size in the United
States is less than 100.
Pastors vary in their abilities, education and God-given gifts. Some
are young, in their twenties. Many are still taking college and
seminary classes. Most will continue their educational pursuits as long
as they remain in the pastorate. They will spend a lot of money on
quality books, conferences and seminars each year to equip themselves
for the most demanding job on earth.
There is a growing shortage of pastors who are adequately trained for
the parish ministry. Pastors face numerous tasks each week. They are
expected to be skilled in many areas.
It is not easy being a pastor. It is a life that requires discipline
and dedication 24 hours each day and seven days each week. An older
church leader named Paul was a theologian, missionary and writer of the
first century. In one of his popular letters, addressed to young
Timothy, he wrote: "Work hard so God can say to you, ‘Well done.’ Be a
good workman, one who does not need to be ashamed when God examines
your work. Know what his Word says and means" (2 Timothy 2:15 TLB).
Church leaders, college ministries departments and seminaries are doing
their best to recruit and train men and women for the pastoral
ministry. It seems to be something like this: "If God calls you to
preach, we will do our best to give you every opportunity for all the
training and higher education you will need."
The more I learn about pastors, I find myself developing a deepening
appreciation for what is called a bi-vocational minister. That means he
has a second job that may supply much of the income for himself and his
family so he will be able to lead a smaller and less affluent
congregation. They serve at a disadvantage and often put in more hours
than anyone else. It can be like working two fulltime jobs. Ministers
who work at another job for necessary financial support may be
salesmen, doctors, miners, teachers, administrators, bankers, nurses,
mechanics, carpenters, truck drivers, coaches and just about anything
else.
If you have a pastor take time during this October, the nationally
designated month for "Pastor Appreciation", to do something special to
let him know how much he is genuinely appreciated. Some of the most
talented pastors are women. Whether your pastor is a woman or a man
find a lot of ways to be generous and gracious in showing them that
they are really appreciated. If married, the pastor’s spouse should
also be included. If there is any job tougher than being a pastor, it
is being married to one.
It is "Pastor Appreciation Month" for all of October or whatever month
you choose to show special recognition. Include all the pastoral staff
members of your church. Pastors are often the most important people in
our lives. I am not aware of a more significant job. Think about it for
a minute and you may come to the same conclusion. Let your pastor know,
in a variety of ways, that he is genuinely loved and deeply appreciated.
Bill Ellis is a syndicated
columnist, and convention and conference speaker on every continent. He
is the writer of more than 1600 columns and widely known as a motivator
utilizing enjoyment of life and just plain fun and laughter while
speaking to high school, university and professional sports teams as
well as to business and professional groups of all kinds. His keen
understanding of human problems make him a favorite speaker for youth,
parent, and senior adult meetings. He is accompanied by Kitty, his
wife, favorite singer, editor and publisher.
For information on becoming a subscriber to the Ellis Column for your
newspaper or magazine, you may contact him at: BILL ELLIS, P.O.Box 345,
Scott Depot, WV 25560 or by calling: 304-757-6089. |
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