Prayer request
March 17, 2010 - 9:47am
re: Prayer request
Pastor Jim,
From my side of things (as a church member and volunteer servant leader) I've seen friendship for pastors as a challenging thing. I believe that pastors can have some good, close friends in their church. My own pastor has strong friendships with other pastors, and he also has some very strong friendships within our local church, as well.
I had a close friendship with the pastor of my former church. At times I needed him to bring correction as a pastor, but he wouldn't because of our friendship. I'm now pretty close with our worship pastor, and he does not have that problem. I respect them both, but for different reasons.
If you make friends with the people, you may lose the right to boss them around, but if you lead your friends in a Godly and loving manner, their loyalty could be unparalleled. In The 360 Degree Leader, John Maxwell said, "Success is having those closest to me love and respect me the most." (page 92)
Once a church gets large enough, it's impossible for anyone in that church to be friends with everyone, but it seems to me that it takes healthy relationships to build the kind of unity that helps grow a small church into a larger one.
Maxwell also reminds us that "those closest to the leader will determine the success level of that leader." (The Maxwell Daily Reader, page 84) Jesus poured into the multitudes, into the 72, into the twelve, the three, and the one (Peter) to varying degrees. I looked up your John 15:15 reference in context and noticed that Jesus put some conditions on that friendship. He counted those who laid down their lives and bore fruit for the Kingdom as friends.
As I think about your church, I think about a place where a congregation might learn to serve in love and turn that love outward to the community that needs to know Jesus and His love. I pray that this will happen for you.
Micah
March 17, 2010 - 10:10pm
don't give up
PJ,
Don't ever let go of that heart of yours. That is God speaking through you - that desire to love and care. The last thing this world needs is a Pastor who is unapproachable and no one really knows.
Not slamming him, but let's use Joel Oesteen as an example. Megachurch with about 8 trillion people attending. Sure, he may care deeply for them, but do any of those folks have any clue about him? other than from the TV or books? There is no way that congregation can feel attached or a sense of belonging or community as compared to a church like yours where the Pastor is trying desperately to reach out and know people - their fears, concerns, hopes, etc. A church with a Pastor like you is going to have members who not only support you, but each other. They will have a sense of belonging and fellowship that is lead by you.
So, I will pray for you my friend. And please, do not stop.
tb
Brethren,
I need prayer for my church. I am the pastor of a very underfunded and under-populated church in the North County of San Diego CA. The LORD has put it on my heart to pray for people who should be a part of our church but are not.
We have become a society that needs real fellowship in it’s original meaning. For example: I have always made it a point to be friends with everyone in my church as I see that pattern in Scripture (John 15:15). I have also been advised by other pastors of larger churches in the area: “You can not be friends with people in your church. They will not respect you”. While I have found this to be true sometimes, I seem to care too much to be in the position of turning people away emotionally. –I just can not be anything different than who GOD made me to be…
Please pray that people that need to fellowship with us do. …and please pray that GOD will place it on people’s hearts to want to be involved in the lives of others for HIS Glory.