The Imperfect Pastor<\/em>, \u201cIf I am bored with ordinary people in ordinary places, then am I not bored with what God delights in?\u201d<\/p>\nDuring the worst months of COVID-19 and racial tensions in our city, I almost did call it quits, even though I had nowhere to go. At a late-night elder meeting, I was assigned the task of writing another pandemic update letter to our church. The staff and elders didn\u2019t know at the time that I wrestled with whether to send my resignation letter instead. But I chose to stay.<\/p>\n
That doesn\u2019t make me a better pastor than those who have made other choices. I know the real issue isn\u2019t so much about staying or going, but obeying God.<\/p>\n
Years ago, in another context, I felt called away from a church after only two years. But watching the faithfulness of my boss who stayed at that church\u2014and now having stayed through several hard seasons at my current church\u2014I can testify to the ways God blesses pastors and their congregations when those in leadership weather the storms together.<\/p>\n
Paul implies this type of pastoral longevity in his words to Timothy. Timothy was to set an example for his congregation \u201cin speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity\u201d and to devote himself \u201cto the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.\u201d Then Paul added the reason for this: \u201cso that everyone may see your progress\u201d (1 Tim. 4:12\u201313, 15).<\/p>\n
In other words, Timothy should stay long enough for his church members to see him improve because they will come to know the grace of God better as they see it grow in their pastors.<\/p>\n
True pastoring\u2014the biblical relationship between shepherds and sheep\u2014often takes several years of trust-building. It takes time for a congregation to trust a pastor with weighty personal matters like officiating weddings, counseling in crises, or presiding over funerals.<\/p>\n
My friend Shad Baker, senior pastor of Carlisle Evangelical Free Church for nearly twenty years, told me, \u201cI think one of the good things that happens when pastors stay is that they have context to understand complicated situations.\u201d<\/p>\n
They are more aware of the dynamics between key families, can mourn with those who struggle with addictions, hurts, and losses, and can celebrate the joys and victories. They know whose cancer is in remission and whose has returned. Pastors can\u2019t acquire the gravity of this intel by reading a briefing.<\/p>\n
But more than that, a pastor\u2019s own maturity often comes through endurance. The type of progress Paul exhorts Timothy to display doesn\u2019t merely entail refining his public speaking skills, but improving his habits of repentance and submission to accountability, which require time and practice.<\/p>\n
In a section of his book The Jesus Way<\/em>, Eugene Peterson explores the ministry of Elijah and all the kings and prophets Elijah would anoint. Peterson notes that Elijah \u201cwill not see the results of his prophetic work. None of us in this kingdom work ever do.\u201d Then he adds, \u201cWe plant sequoias.\u201d<\/p>\nI wouldn\u2019t disagree with Peterson. Ministry leaders draw deep encouragement from such biblical truths. But sometimes when a pastor has a long obedience in the same direction among the same congregation, that pastor does get the joy of seeing ministry seeds become saplings, if not the early makings of sequoias.<\/p>\n
Just the other week, our elders took a night away from our regular meeting to celebrate our associate pastor, the one who\u2019s leaving to plant the new church. We played pickleball together and talked trash about whose foot did or didn\u2019t cross into the kitchen on a volley. We also spent time reminiscing. After eight years together, we have plenty for which to be thankful.<\/p>\n
But I found myself feeling most thankful for what God did after we endured interpersonal conflicts and burnout. \u201cI\u2019m not sure all of you were here for these moments,\u201d I told them, \u201cbut there was a time we almost didn\u2019t make it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Yet there we were, a bunch of friends laughing and pretending to be athletes again and telling stories of how God had dwelt among us. And it hit me that none of those sermons or baptisms or retreats we considered highlights would have happened if one or both of us pastors had left.<\/p>\n
Maybe you\u2019re a pastor contemplating a transition, or like me, trying to learn how you can stay long-term. Either way, I hope my testimony can encourage you.<\/p>\n
Our Christian subculture loves visionary leaders, dynamic pastors, and leveraging momentum. Yet God is teaching me about the ministry of not<\/em> leaving. Sometimes pastors obey the Spirit by starting that new program. Sometimes pastors launch a new initiative, update the mission statement, or find a new church. More often, however, they obey the Spirit by continuing to show up day after day.<\/p>\nI don\u2019t know how long I will pastor at my current church. I say with Ezekiel, \u201cO Lord God, you know\u201d (37:3, NKJV).<\/p>\n
But I do know this isn\u2019t a day for me to quit, but to stay.<\/p>\n
Benjamin Vrbicek is the lead pastor at Community Evangelical Free Church in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, the managing editor for Gospel-Centered Discipleship, and the author of several books.<\/p>\n
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