Spiritual Vitality— Life-on-Life
TERRY SHANAHAN, NE REGIONAL PASTOR
Recent articles in Christianity Today and in Leadership Journal refer to Lifeway Research surveys which address a call to ministry as a “Brutal Job”. Their results say that:
- 84% of pastors say they are on call 24 hours a day,
- 80% expect conflict in a church,
- 45% find the role of pastor frequently overwhelming
- 48% often feel the demands of ministry are more then they can handle.
In light of all those grim realities, the New England Congregational Christian Fellowship has just finished a Ministry Encouragement Retreat, where we heard from three seasoned pastors and spouses about their ministry experiences. Ministry can be a hard calling and there wouldn’t be any one of these couples who would say they weren’t involved in conflict, disappointments and overwhelming challenges at times. But in our time together they shared how they not only persevered, but thrived in these years of ministry. Surely ministry is challenging, but it is also a rich blessing to serve the King of Kings.
Our combined panel of three couples have been married a total of 153 years. These three couples represented 143 years of ministry experience. Combined they had served 33 churches over those years. They had experience in church planting, settled pastorates and 20 interim ministries.
The time together was an opportunity for life on life. Our focus was to talk about the past, the present and the future and how they were able to adapt and address the changes in our churches and our culture. They shared their personal stories including their education, marriage and family and call to ministry. They were asked questions about their biggest challenges, their greatest joys and the advice they would give others in ministry.
We heard moving stories about their ministry experiences as well as humorous tales and times of struggle. Each couple was so transparent in their sharing and not afraid to be vulnerable in talking about how ministry impacted their marriage. They shared as well about which challenges were most difficult and what aspects of ministry for which they were least prepared.
For those of us on the receiving end it was a wealth of blessings. We could relate, we were encouraged, we grew closer together in our common experiences. The time away was structured so that we could spend time in large group, small group discussion and times of corporate prayer. And there was lots of good food and time for life on life fellowship.
Certainly it was demonstrated that there is much hardship in the ministry and at times it can be a “brutal calling” but the fruit produced through sacrificial obedience brings blessings that far outweigh our efforts.
This Ministry Encouragement Retreat reminds me and I hope will remind you of the significant benefit we have by sharing our lives with one another. We do indeed lift each other up when we come together in His name to glorify Him and share in the work He has for us. Seek every opportunity to share life with one another, where very grief is cut in half and each joy is doubled.