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My Greatest Struggle in Ministry

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Pastoral ministry is an amazing calling.  I'm still in awe that I'm get to do what I love so much every day.  It's a wonderful work... but far from easy. Over the past eight years of pastoral work I have had to learn a lot about myself.... and others.  I try hard to learn and grow... to learn from my mistakes... and improve from them... all the while trusting in the power and guidance of God, growing in my love of Him and His church. My greatest struggle in ministry still remains my greatest struggle.  It comes back regularly... and it's hard to explain in one short statement... but I'll try. Because I live, eat, breathe, and sleep church life, I know everything going on here, far more than anyone else.  That gives me more insight in where we need to go as a church... and my struggle comes when others can't see what I see... and I can't seem to get them to see it... My heart breaks for what people are struggling with.  The hurts, pain, loneliness,

Take Small Steps to your BIG Vision!

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I consider myself a big picture, vision type of person.  I can see the clear destination on where we need to go as a organization.  I can see the problems that are preventing the results we are hoping to accomplish. But when it comes time to put the steps in place to get to the vision... I struggle, get easily distracted, and get lost in the details. I've had to learn how to take small steps today to continue to move towards where we want to be tomorrow.  And this is challenging for me as well, since, probably like you, I wish I was already at the vision I see so clearly in my head!  It's not my default to naturally work this way. Here's a real life example of this that I'm working through.  Our church is growing.  We are seeing an increase in families, in young singles, and in older couples coming.  We are seeing people from no or little church background come.  We are seeing people coming to faith in Jesus as Lord and Saviour.  We are seeing people get engaged

What Breaks Your Heart?

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I was watching this video by Pastor Andy Stanley from the 2014 Catalyst conference. In his opening statements he challenges leaders to know who they are... and asks them what breaks their hearts. As a pastor in the local church I know exactly what breaks my heart.  It's what keeps me up late at night.  It's what drives me crazy when I'm not able to articulate it in such a way as to get others on board.  It's become my reason for all that I do in the church. What breaks my heart is Christians who live like non-Christians and give non-Christians a bad image of Christ . Let me try to explain why this breaks my heart. I didn't grow up in church.  I know most people would assume that since I'm a Pastor that I come from this very religious home.  My family is great but church life wasn't really a part of my upbringing.  In fact, by grade 8 I didn't believe that God was real and I thought that the church was a scam to get people's mone