Persevering as a Pastor
How do we persevere in pastoral ministry? Churches should want pastors who persevere till they go on to glory or retire – and even if retired, continue to serve in some capacity until they can no longer do so. As pastors, what can we do now to ensure we persevere to the end?
Guard spiritual disciplines
Make sure you are meditating on God’s Word, praying, fasting, and finding time alone with your Father in Heaven. Use office hours if you must. Your congregation needs you spiritually refreshed, as the young Robert Murray McCheyne said, “My people’s greatest need is my personal holiness”. The pastor who is spiritually dry is in danger of burnout, quitting, or falling into moral failure. Prioritize abiding with Christ. Think about it, would you want a pastor who doesn’t pray?
Enjoy your sabbaths
For my first couple years of ministry, I didn’t take a vacation. That was foolish. You and your family need it. Don’t work seven days; even the secular world recognizes the importance of work-life balance. Work smarter, not just harder or longer hours. Attend conferences from time to time. You aren’t running a sprint, but a marathon. At the very least, your hobbies will provide illustrations for ministry that will make you less boring!
Find good pastor friends
I realize this is very difficult for many, as they are serving faithfully in small towns with few fellow pastors nearby. Many drive miles to meet up with a clerical confidante. That should only make the rest of us all the more grateful to be closer to other pastoral colleagues. The emotional and spiritual encouragement from walking with others in similar circumstances is invaluable. Don’t be afraid to cross denominational lines to do this, but find like-minded pastors to meet with regularly.
Meet with pastoral mentors
Talk to pastors who are persevering, or better yet those who have already persevered until retirement and are still actively serving. There is no better way to learn how to persevere than from those who have actually done it. Buy them lunch (often they will insist on buying yours), and pick their minds about specific pastoral issues you are facing. I have received advice from such mentors that may have literally saved my ministry.
Take a sabbatical at least once
Pastors are one of the few vocations that take sabbaticals. Some in the church may criticize you for doing so, “I don’t get a sabbatical at my job! Why do you need a break that long?” Don’t let them determine what is necessary for you to stay refreshed for long-term ministry. If you are known as a hardworking and honest pastor, most in your church will likely be overjoyed for you. While each church setting is different, my advice is not to take more than a couple of months at a time, and only once about every ten to fifteen years.
Don’t try to be a superstar
Just be a faithful pastor. The world has enough so-called celebrity pastors; the last thing it needs is one more. The pressure of trying to be the exception to the rule has ruined many-a-minister. The rule (as opposed to the exception) is being a relatively unknown pastor laboring away in a town few even know exists. If God gives you extraordinary influence, praise Him for it. Barring that, don’t even concern yourself with it. Just seek to be faithful throughout your pastoral tenure. Let Heaven record the credit.
Stay put at your church
Unless God makes it clear that you are called to move on, plan on staying put. The amount of energy, emotional wear-and-tear, and resources that come with transitioning from one church to another is exorbitantly taxing on a pastor and on churches. There will always be bigger churches, higher salaries and seemingly more influential roles no matter how many times you transition. Until the Holy Spirit clearly tells you, keep your nose to the grind and shepherd the flock of God entrusted to your care.
As we come to the end of our final pastoral tenure, looking back at perhaps decades of faithful pastoral service, we can count it a win for the kingdom, a well-done service for King Jesus.
Rick Harrington is a pastor at First Baptist Church - Haverhill in Massachusetts and the Provost of the (upcoming) BCNE Multiplication Center. He is the author of the books "How to Find a Church: Seven Steps to Becoming Part of a Spiritual Family" and "The Weight of Preaching: Heralding the Gospel of Grace".
