Yesterday for lunch Rose and I walked into a restaurant with few patrons. We tend to eat lunch late so we are used to nearly empty places. Sitting near us were two young men. One of them was on the phone. It soon became clear that they were youth pastors and were talking to someone at a destination they were intending to visit with their youth group. They were discussing many aspects of the upcoming trip.
I was amazed by the detail that went into the conversation, which lasted the entire time Rose and I studied the unfamiliar menu, placed our order and ate our meal. At one point I thought how happy I would be to have one of my grand kids in the youth group led by these two. Their concern, attention to detail and sense of responsibility was obvious in the phone call.
I think sometimes we don’t consider all that goes into being in full time ministry. Most of us see our Pastors and their staff on Sunday and maybe one other time during the week. I think in the back of our minds we think, “What a great job. They just work one day a week.” We know it’s not true but we don’t consider and honor these folks for all they do, not so much the obvious stuff on Sunday, but the little stuff on Tuesdays.
This morning I came across and article by Ron Edmondson entitled “Ten Things You may not Know about your senior Pastor.” Consider these:
- Leading from the number one position is overwhelming at times. We know Christ is ultimately in charge, but we also know it seems everyone looks to us to have all the answers.
- People tell the senior pastor all kinds of things about what is happening in their life or in the lives of others…many we would rather not know sometimes…and sometimes the weight of others problems we carry is enormous.
- Most pastors walk with uncertainty and insecurity. Depression is common for many senior pastors.
- Fear of failure is the number one fear of men…and senior pastors are not immune.
- Sometimes we allow fear to cause us to get protective. We protect ourselves, our territory, and our position.
- We face the same temptations and occasional spiritual dryness everyone else faces and know we need accountability.
- We have issues and struggles like people do, (in fact, we are people too) because of past failures or present fears.
- There is a loneliness of leadership and many pastors suffer from it.
- We seldom know who we can trust, which is why we become guarded. Most senior pastors have been burned by someone once trusted.
- We know the staff talks about us like they would any boss.
Consider these things when grilling or chilling tomorrow. Say a little prayer for those who work and struggle behind the scenes for you during the week. When you see these guys next maybe say “Thanks for all you do.” Don’t be surprised if they are shocked. They really don’t hear it enough.
Be blessed.
Nick
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