Pastor’s Point of View
by Wade Brown

A Daunting Job Description!

It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. (Ephesians 4:11-13, NIV)

Pastor, you know more than anyone else this is a pretty tall order! It’s even more daunting when one considers what this truly looks like in your life on a daily basis. Peering into your life a bit, we envision you praying, reading, reflecting, studying and considering how you can most effectively equip us to do works of service. While that’s the essence of your calling in those verses, your job goes far beyond that.

Looking more closely, we see you bringing a message of hope and healing at a funeral and days later officiating a wedding for a young couple. When we’re hospitalized, you visit us. When we’re troubled, you encourage us. When we’re lonely, you remind us of God’s continual presence in our lives.

Often times, we forget the sacrifices you make for us. Even when those closest to you need your time and care, we want more from you. You counsel us. You pray for us. You shepherd us. You rejoice with us. You mourn with us.

When the weekend comes, we’re ready for a break. We plan, play, relax and do a few things in the yard or around the house. We spend time watching our kids at a sporting event, or we enjoy hanging out with family and friends. You might do some of these things as well, but those are not the things that consume you. You’re still preparing, still praying, still reflecting, and still anticipating what God’s going to do in the hearts and lives of people when they gather for one to two hours. Whether you’re preaching or teaching, leading or managing—or whatever you’re called to do as a pastor, you seek to honor Him in the ways you steward your gift(s).

We know you’re called. Otherwise, how could you believe for one second that you could do all these things? We also know you’re human. You have weaknesses, and you don’t pretend you don’t. For that, we’re grateful. We’re also grateful for you. You are a pastor. You are our pastor. We love you, and we appreciate you. Thank you for surrendering your life to Him … for our sake!

On behalf of The Church and millions of Christ-followers,

Wade Brown
Director, Church and Community Care

P.S. Watch the video below for an additional encouraging word to help you in your daunting job.