Pastor, do you get it? November 6th, 2009
The other day I read a blog post by a former pastor. He is now out of full time pastoral ministry and in business for himself. He listed some of the lessons he had learned in the short few months that he has been in the secular world. Among some of his observations was the following:
I had NO clue the kind of financial, job, and family pressure most of our people were living with.
Getting up and preaching what people should do is easy. Living it out is not.
I worked less than the people I pastored. Ministry was my job yet I asked our people to serve, volunteer, etc. AFTER they have worked 50-60 hour work weeks.
There are a lot of hurting people in the real world. As a pastor I preached this but I had lost touch with how true it was.
Criticism makes me better. I had shielded myself from criticism to the point that I couldn’t see my flaws. In the “real world” I don’t have that luxury.
He summed up his observations with this comment, “Overall, it is just amazing how out of touch I was with what was going on around me. God had to knock me down, humble me, and let me hit rock bottom where I can be more effective for Him in the future.” Could the same be said of you?
In the over eleven years since I left pastoring to be in the stewardship ministry I have had the honor to work with scores of pastors. I have literally been in every kind of context you can imagine. From traditional to ultra contemporary to super mega churches to emerging churches. I would have to say that what amazes me is how little pastors understand real life. If we are not careful we will be lumped with politicians as those totally devoid of understanding what our constituents are feeling.
How does this impact stewardship? As my old boss John Maxwell says, “You first must win their hearts before you ask for their hand.” With unemployment now over 10% our country is nervous about the future. Do you understand those fears? Can you relate? As a small business owner I can tell you my perspective is much different than when I was a Senior Pastor. Can you relate to the business owners of your congregation?
At a time when finances are tight you will have to work even harder to gain the confidence of those in your ministry. However when you do show you care, that you truly understand, they will rise up and support the work of ministry God has called you to.
Do you truly get what you people are feeling? If not it could be a long hard year for you and your ministry!
Mark Brooks
Founder and President
The Charis Group