In staff meeting, one of our pastors asked us to pray for his mom because she’s having a bad flare-up with her medical condition.
She lives in another state and is part of a different church, but I asked if I could call her.
He said yes and gave me her number.
1/
She lives in another state and is part of a different church, but I asked if I could call her.
He said yes and gave me her number.
1/
I dialed the number and she picked up the phone. We talked for a few minutes and then I prayed with her.
After we finished, she texted her son and said I was the first pastor to call and pray over her since she was diagnosed 5 years ago.
The first one… IN FIVE YEARS.
2/
After we finished, she texted her son and said I was the first pastor to call and pray over her since she was diagnosed 5 years ago.
The first one… IN FIVE YEARS.
2/
She is not some fringe attender either.
This woman has been a committed and serving church member her entire adult life at numerous churches.
Pastors, I say this as someone who believes deeply in the role of shepherd and the potential of healthy churches…
3/
This woman has been a committed and serving church member her entire adult life at numerous churches.
Pastors, I say this as someone who believes deeply in the role of shepherd and the potential of healthy churches…
3/
If we “don’t have time” for the most basic pastoral functions, like praying with someone who is sick, then what the hell are we even doing?
4/
4/
If we’re writing great sermons, running meetings, planning strategy, managing donors, leading staff, and casting vision, but neglecting the people God has asked us to care for, we are no longer pastors.
We might be CEOs, speakers, and strategists, but we aren’t pastors.
5/
We might be CEOs, speakers, and strategists, but we aren’t pastors.
5/
“Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God.
Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example.” 1 Peter 5:1-3
6/
Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example.” 1 Peter 5:1-3
6/
This is our calling, fellow pastors:
- care for the folks in the church.
- support people with enthusiasm, not reluctance.
- lead with humility, not arrogance.
- lead by example, not decree.
- be eager to serve, because it’s ultimately God you’re serving.
Let’s do it.
7/7
- care for the folks in the church.
- support people with enthusiasm, not reluctance.
- lead with humility, not arrogance.
- lead by example, not decree.
- be eager to serve, because it’s ultimately God you’re serving.
Let’s do it.
7/7
Tons of heartbreaking responses to this thread, so here’s what I want to do:
If you’d like to be prayed for over the phone, and you don’t have a pastor who is willing or able to do so, I’d love to do that for you.
My DMs are open. Message me with your number and I’ll call asap.
If you’d like to be prayed for over the phone, and you don’t have a pastor who is willing or able to do so, I’d love to do that for you.
My DMs are open. Message me with your number and I’ll call asap.
I’ve gotten to pray with a bunch of people over the last 24 hours; from Canada to Nigeria to Kentucky and everywhere in between.
And here’s the thing:
I think I was more blessed by it than they were.
What a privilege it is to simply listen to someone’s story and pray together.
And here’s the thing:
I think I was more blessed by it than they were.
What a privilege it is to simply listen to someone’s story and pray together.
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