Let me encourage you to watch this video. The length is only 4 minutes, 42 seconds. The content is outstanding!
This video is a continuation of the interview I recently did with Lynn Anderson. (These are being posted each Monday.) Lynn has spent many years encouraging, coaching, and counseling people who are in a variety of roles in ministry. He has talked with many, many people about marriage and family. (You can find more of his thinking, on a variety of ministry concerns, at his website Mentornetwork.org.)
In this video, Lynn speaks candidly regarding the condition of some families today and some of the particular struggles of those who serve churches in various ministry roles.
Jim,Thanks for posting this. There is nothing here that I wasn’t already acutely aware of, but I can’t tell you how spot on the timing of this is for me. We’ve recently begun to think about making some radical life changes precisely in order to get out of this kind of situation. I have to ask another question, though: for those of us who genuinely do feel the call of God to serve in some kind of ministry associated with the local church, especially in a leadership capacity, how do you square the circle? There seem to be so few leaders who actually manage to pull this off and keep their family as first priority rather than the church. Or maybe it’s that there are so few churches that understand why this is important. I remember saying to our senior pastor a year or two back that I would always put family above church. His reponse was fairly muted; maybe I should have read that as a warning at the time.Rob
This has been an excellent series every Monday – short but to the point.
Karin–Thanks very much. I believe that the discussion on these videos is very important.
Rob,I am so thankful that the timing of this post has been on target for where you are in life.I appreciate your comments, Rob. I suspect that at least in many situations, the problem exists on the part of both the minister and the church. I recall coming to a point in my ministry where I began to have these thoughts:My children have one daddy. Years from now, it may not matter that I missed a meeting at chuch this week. But— it may make a huge difference that I was not at a significant event involving my daughter.I would love to have known what was going through your senior pastors mind when you asked that question.Thanks Rob, Jim
Jim,Thanks for your kind and thoughtful reply. I don’t hold anything against my senior pastor. We’re in a pioneering-type context in northern France where it’s a tough battle and our pastor is a tender-hearted guy who’s been hurt and disappointed many times over the years. I think he maybe therefore read my comment as being just another potential excuse for lack of commitment. Two years later, the truth is that, on the one hand, no amount of commitment will ever be enough – the church is a very demanding mistress that way – and on the other hand, just as you said, your children only get one childhood. What’s the point of a "successful" public ministry when your first ministry – to your family – is a failure?Thanks again for what you’re doing here.Peace,Rob
This one was needed and the best; but it makes me very sad.
Thanks Jim for having these sessions with Lynn Anderson. This is a message that every congregation needs to listen to so they try and understand the point of view from a minister’s perspective. This was a little eye opening for me as I am sure it would be for most memebers of any church congregation. I will try to be little easier on my minister from now on, and more aware of this particular subject.
Thank you for this weeks video. These are great.
I’m so thankful for these videos and don’t want them to end. Thank you for setting up and conducting the interviews and getting them onto your blog, etc. We do appreciate the effort, Jim.
Rob,Thanks for your reply. I appreciate your honesty and candor. I have been thinking about your comment about your senior pastor. You describe his as someone who has been hurt and disappointed over the years. I have been thinking about how many people would describe their lives in much the same way. That hurt and disappointment can be very powerful and debilitating.Your work sounds demanding. I wish you the very best in your ministry, Rob.
Darryl,Thanks very much. Lynn did so well with these videos.
Dale,I appreciate what you said–very much. In fact, I can think of many ministers who will read your comment with great appreciation. I also wish that many in congregations throughout the world could hear these important words.By the way–I think that you are very good to your minister. 🙂
Matthew– Thanks very much. I am glad you are viewing these. I hope you new work in Colorado is going well.
Frank,What a kind, gracious comment. Thanks very much. I not only enjoyed participating in these interviews but have enjoyed viewing them again each week. Thanks Frank.