Free the Pastors!
Acts 6:2-4
So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”
It was the new pastor’s first deacon board meeting. One of the deacons said, “The previous pastor used to mow the lawn on Saturdays.”
“Okay,” said the new pastor. At the next month’s board meeting a different deacon said, “The previous pastor used to mow the lawn on Saturdays.”
“Cool,” said the new pastor.
The following month a different deacon said, “The previous pastor used to mow the lawn on Saturdays.”
The new pastor smiled and said, “I know, I called him. He doesn’t want to do it anymore…”
When you are the pastor of a church a lot can be expected of you. I once followed a pastor who went a few days a week and took some of the elderly women grocery shopping. The church expected the same of me.
The problem is that as a pastor, I had other, more pressing duties that needed to be attended to. You know, simple things like preparing three sermons for that week, getting out into the community and meeting people so we could grow the church and impact the community God gave us to reach. You know, little things like the ministry God called me to do.
The thing is, there were plenty of people in the church who could take those ladies shopping and fulfill the calling of service that God gave them. Their calling released me to do my calling. And the church grew, just like it did in our passage today.
What gifts do you have that can benefit your church and your pastor? What simple tasks can you do that would free your pastor from the lawnmower or the shopping cart? You may never be called to preach, but your gifts put into action can have a huge impact on the ministry of your church!
Free the pastors!
Today’s Readings: Exodus 25-27; Acts 6
For more posts, or to receive these daily via email, go to jerrygodsey.substack.com or jerrygodsey.com