A Very Varied Ministry

I remember a seminary student-turned friend's response to a question about how he found my weekly schedule and daily activities after a few weeks’ placement with me.

“Very varied”, he replied.

I am pleased (well, for the most part) to report that that has not changed.

Yesterday I attended the Grace Baptist Partnership trustees meeting to report on my work in Europe.

Today among other things I waited with a sick neighbour for an ambulance, oversaw delivery of a skip, loaded a wheelbarrow many times with rubble, bricks, and other rubbish that was then transported to the skip, conversed with passer-by (one at some length about her spiritual growth, church involvement, and basics of healthy Christian living), did a book-table and sketch-board street preaching outreach, spoke with our local Police Community Support Officer about some rather serious issues on our doorstep, sorted the next couple of week’s finances for an elderly neighbour I look after, attended the first part and chaired the second part of the Haringey Heartlands Residents and Business Liaison Group.

One doesn’t know what a day may bring, but on schedule for the rest of the week is taking the aforementioned elderly neighbour to get his hair cut, visiting an elderly woman on our road who semi-regularly attends our Sunday morning service, meeting up with a pastor from a nearby area, discussing needed work with a local handyman, grabbing a coffee with a brother who is looking at ministry opportunities in Europe, overseeing a hall-hire, and a couple of other things here and there. In the midst of this, preparing to preach Sunday morning and evening, and gathering Thursday night with members of the church for prayer. And of course, I will spend time with my wife and rest as all men should.

I say this not to be self-referential but to be testimonial and to praise God for giving me the opportunities and the strength to fulfil such a varied ministry. I also hope to draw from this, if I may, a few points of general principle and biblical counsel. 

To those who desire to “enter ministry”: know what it is you desire and why you desire it. To assist with preaching and evangelism is one thing - a helpful, noble thing! But to lead a church is quite another. And do not expect people, especially but not always non-Christians, to understand, know about, or even appreciate most of what you do. I once had a conversation with someone who suggested to me that my line of work was very easy and relaxed! I had to explain that the list of weekly activities is already quite long enough, but it does not begin to scratch the surface of the spiritual and emotional burdens carried.

To those called, qualified, and being equipped in preparation for ministry: do not let your academic theological studies and hypothetical theories blind you to the existential realities of pastoral life. If you have not already you will have to learn flexibility, efficiency, and creativity. There is a world beyond the study, or in many pastors' cases, a table and laptop in the family living room. 

To those already in vocational ministry: do whatever you must, do it well, and do it sincerely, generously, and cheerfully. Some days you will have to pick up soiled clothes and scrub human excrement off the walk leading into the church, other days you will be baptising and presenting new members to the church. Do not be above hard manual labour, scrubbing toilets, and picking litter. Do not be beneath providing advice, offering counsel, giving correction, and clearly, boldly proclaiming the Scriptures.

To church members: your pastor works hard. Oddly the idea that he only works on Sunday has become popular among some, and the idea that he basically spends his week behind a desk studying and can take a couple of days off is common among others. These ideas do not apply to the pastors I know and work closest with, nor to me. He needs you praying for him, encouraging him, honouring him, and supporting him. You are commanded quite directly in Scripture to support him with your money (for example, 1 Timothy 5:17-18), so do not let the abuse of this principle in some quarters result in your neglect of it altogether. By extension, your stewardship of time to use your gifts to the benefit of the church is incredibly encouraging to and supportive of your pastor (see for example Ephesians 4:1-16 and Hebrews 10:24-25), entailing your presence at as many gatherings of the church as possible, your voluntary initiative to serve in some way in church life, and your cheerful participation in church projects.

Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus—the great Shepherd of the sheep—through the blood of the everlasting covenant, equip you with everything good to do his will, working in us what is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. (Hebrews 13:20-21)