About 18 years ago I visited a new church work that met in a school. I was warmly greeted as I arrived. The service was lively, engaging, deep, personal and encouraging. The people were sincere and caring. There were about 40 people in the congregation. I went home troubled. 1/
I was troubled because the church had existed for 5 or so years, the pastor was worn out & tired of barely surviving & was contemplating quitting. I was troubled because I expected to see something wrong. I didn't! I saw so much good. Yet they were barely making it. 2/
I wanted to find a reason for their failure to thrive. I wanted to see some sort of big flaw in the way they ran things. But I didn't see it. I couldn't find a logic to the struggle. I couldn't find a logic to why they struggled & other less spiritual healthy churches thrived. 3/
I went home troubled, realizing I still had a judgmental attitude about myself, that the good pastors grew their churches and the bad pastors failed at growing their churches. I still had that wicked thought in my heart. Yet here I was confronted with a good struggling pastor. 4/
On the drive home, I began to realize that there was no guarantee that my new church would do any better. All my growth dreams and grand plans did not matter within the logic of a world that would reject the church I just visited. 5/
It's been 20 years since I planted the church I serve. We are very small and insignificant in the eyes of our culture, our denomination and our Christian celebrity culture. I am just some opinionated guy with a small congregation. I am no one's church expert. 6/
I've spent enough time in Christian media to see the same names and churches platformed. Occasionally someone or something new rises to the surface and takes over the publishing, speaking circuit. For the most part, it is all a bit stagnant. You hear the same people praised. 7/
Regardless, I often think about the pastor and church I visited in that school almost 20 years ago. I think about how he pastored better than me and better than just about anyone I've ever met. He was never platformed, never published, never conferenced. He was just faithful. 8/
I am thankful for the faithful, unrecognized pastors who really do represent the heart of the Kingdom of God. I am thankful for all of you who have given your hearts to the ministry, even when your church remained small and insignificant in the eyes of the world. 9/
Your voice matters, your words matter, your work is profoundly important...even if no one ever truly honors your calling and your name. Peace to you! 10/10
