Ministry Inside.74
- Published
- in Ministry
I was once at a conference with mostly ministers and other church leaders in attendance. A friend of mine came in late the first evening. The room was full but there was an empty seat on a back row.
The guy took this seat. Meanwhile, the conference began and our host proceeded to welcome us to the campus. I glanced at my friend. He had only been seated for about two minutes when he said “hello” to the person on his left. This guy was a teacher at the institution hosting the seminar. This guy looked at my friend and mumbled something. He then immediately got up from his chair and moved elsewhere in the room.
I witnessed this scene and thought, “Wow, we spend a lot of money to conduct conferences like this one. Guest speakers are here from different parts of the country. The point is to encourage church leaders. Yet, we can’t even say hello and sit with these ministers.”
Many ministers, preachers, pastors, and elders are very weary.
What creates weariness?
I’m not quite sure. But I do know what contributes to it. For many of us, this is not a weariness that comes from reading a book for hours or having a fascinating discussion into the wee hours of the morning.
Rather, I am referring to the kind of weariness that comes from the work of ministry.
Where does weariness come from?
- Weariness is to spend hours and hours with a couple about their marriage only to see them divorce.
- Weariness is to see the church respond so graciously to a family who has been burned out by a fire only to see them place membership at another church three months later.
- Weariness is to pray for an opportunity to invite your neighbor to church only to see some of your friends walk past her without speaking.
- Weariness is to be in a church situation characterized by much strife and tension.
- Weariness is knowing you need to have thick skin, but the insults and rude comments are becoming too much.
- Weariness is to see the long, slow death of someone in your congregation. Then the funeral. Exhausting.
- Weariness is to realize that you are deeply disappointed regarding other church leaders who have behaved immaturely in a recent church situation.
Can you relate to any of these?
(You might find encouragement in: Matthew 11:25-30; Psalm 63; and Joshua 1.)
Hello Jim
As a church member-leader I appreciate this post. It helps me to be more aware of these situations as well knowing and appreciating some of the causes the weariness for pastors. This way we can be better encouragers and walk with our pastors.
Maybe a good follow-up to this topic is the notion of “Helping your Pastor Help You… combatting weariness as a Church Family”.
I like this because it is a reminded of the first step, awareness and causes.
Have (as our Sr. High youth group likes to say) BOOM moment Easter
Walter
Walter,
Good to hear from you. Thanks for the kind words regarding the post.
Thanks also for the follow up suggestion. Very good!
I haven’t attended that sort of event, but I’ve seen similar things happen at other conferences, etc. Americans aren’t very social. We keep purposely putting ourselves in social settings because we know we could benefit from them, yet in the end, we sit with our friends, ignore everyone around us, etc. Sad.
Jenny, it is sad isn’t it. When we do this, it really is our loss.
Thanks so much for your comment!