We are coming up on the time of year when pastors and ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ get really busy. Not that they aren’t busy throughout the year, but the holiday season is even more demanding than other times of the year. For those believers suffering from anxiety, depression, loneliness and other season affected disorders the holiday season seems to exacerbate the issues that they are already dealing with. In fact, I used to do a radio series for several years helping people deal with holiday issues and the trials people were going through. We even had a call in segment for people seeking assistance. I must have done it for five years or more, but eventually there was a change at the station and the program was removed from their line-up.
I don’t know that people realize how hard pastors and other ministry staff work. As odd as it sounds, some folks believe that pastors only work on Sundays and take the rest of the week off. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, to write an original sermon can take as long as 20 hours to complete. And then there are all the other responsibilities that go with the position.
For example, I have negotiated divorces, financial crises, made numerous hospital visits and have officiated at funerals. Several of those funerals have been to bury friends – people who I had come to know and love throughout the years. And, frankly, there is a list of folks who have asked me to do their funerals if they pass before I do. Last year, a dear friend of mine died of ALS. I walked with him from diagnosis until he died only eight months later. For me, it’s the most difficult part of my pastoral responsibilities.
Of course, there are pleasant things as well. I have officiated at hundreds of weddings, done pre-marital counseling and I love teaching several Bible studies each week. I also design and teach special classes as I am asked. But sometimes it is like dancing on the head of a pin to keep it all going.
Our daughter, Kristin, has worked in churches for approximately 20 years now. Unquestionably, she is gifted in the area of children’s ministry and has done an admirable job in growing children’s and young adult ministries in the two churches where she has held positions. She has felt so compelled to continue to answer this calling that she has attended years of additional schooling and became a commissioned ruling elder in the church where she currently serves. That is in addition to the doctorate that she already holds. The celebration of this accomplishment was in early June and it seems to me that the event opened the floodgates of work for her.
Although she is surrounded by a great team of other pastors and volunteers, there have been times that I have noticed the signs of overwhelming trials with people she has come to love. After twenty years in ministry, she has worked with several generations of children in some ministry areas and recently she has had to deal with death, illness, hospital visits and many of the more difficult parts of a pastor’s responsibilities. But it’s time for a shout-out!
The Presbyterian synod that she belongs to has done an admirable job of teaching pastors and other ministry personnel how to deal with the demands of their vocations. Not only do they teach their charges about looking for the signs of burn-out, but they also work with how to develop strong volunteer networks; and even things as important as financial planning and how to deal with parsonage allowances, etc. Many of these subjects are not typically covered for pastoral staff members, but this particular synod has really developed a wonderful support system to take care of their own. Kudos to them!
As many of you know, even highly paid athletes don’t get the same kind of mentoring that these parties get. They sign contracts for mountains of money and an overwhelming number of professional athletes declare bankruptcy. They just don’t get trained on how to develop support networks around them – to say nothing of fiscal management. Professional sports leagues would do well to model their help and curriculum for young athletes after the successful churches.
Nonetheless, there are people leaving the ministry in droves. There is a serious need for folks who are interested in serving humanity through the church. But pastoral burn-out is a real thing and it is hurting our churches. As more and more people leave staff positions in the church, it increases the workload for those who are left. So it is a cyclical problem that grows more intense every year.
Our verse for tonight recognizes our need to depend on Jesus to sustain us. Isaiah, the Old Testament prophet, tells us the words of God in Isaiah 46:4, “Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.”
My encouragement this evening is that God will carry us. Now we have to do our part as well, but we are only responsible for the work, the effort – the result is up to God, and we can’t control that. My prayer is that we will all recognize the need to leave the result to God. As long as we work, we are doing the work of the kingdom. And I would encourage you to pray for your church leaders as well. They have quite a burden to bear as well! God will bless our collective effort. Have a great day in the Lord, grace and peace…