Pastoral Patience

Some of you may know that I have been pursuing grad studies. It was "supposed to," work out right after graduation. But, here I am, 2 and a half years later and grad school just starting this December. However, not only am I in better shape to attend grad school after 2 and a half year, but so is the school. They now have national accreditation, they now have financial aid and scholarship opportunities.

These things brought to mind something so integral in ministry. Patience.

We may have heard "Low and Slow," but even before "Low and Slow," other things need to take place. Lee tell you about my friend. Let's call him Jon. . .

Jon graduated from college, majoring in ministry, hoping to get the open position of Contemporary Programing Pastor at the church he grew up in. In fact, all of the signs pointed in that direction; elders, pastors, committee members and such all giving him the green light... or a kind of greenish light of sorts. It obviously comes to Jon's great surprise when the church hired a guy from out of the blue to take the open position. To Jon, this was a shock. Were did the support go? Where was the "you being here is a God thing," talk? What happened? I spoke with Jon a few weeks after the transition, "How are things going?" Jon, never being one to talk down about anyone, replied, "...Weeeellll.... let's just say, I end up just holding my tongue a lot." Through out the conversation I learned that not only had the church passed on the Jon, but that they had hired someone (remember, Jon never says bad things about nobody..) who was totally incompetent. Every single area of the ministry was hurting. Things from song selection, service planning, musicianship, working with the church's personality and even dealing with the rest of the pastoral staff all became monumental challenges that were never there before. He painted a picture of a very fiery, downward, spiral.

And all Jon could do was watch.

I bring this up because I know these feelings. You would be fooling your self if you said you never have felt them in your chest. Twisting your heart, itching your stomach. These are struggles, feelings of inadequacy, of being unjustly looked over, disrespected, having the answers and answering to someone who doesn't...legitimate or not, we have had these thoughts and feelings. And whether God ordains these struggles or not, a direct lesson or a byproduct can always lead to patience. But not just patience, pastoral patience. Knowing in your heart what is right and just, but letting things run their course; but never letting your fire die, and speaking prayerfully when asked. In Jon's case, it was a church trying to sort out it's identity in a swiftly changing culture. The new guy only lasted some six months and since then Jon has been brought on board in one capacity or another. He has helped to guide the churches contemporary programing and has now been asked to help develop a Young Adult worship format.

Jon is still a volunteer, but he is ok with that - God has blessed him with other professional endeavors. But, through the cleansing fire of patience, his training, his passion for the church, has not gone to waste.

We are leaders of this generation, no matter our resources, no matter our situation. Proactively pray and struggle. Seek counsel and maybe sometimes, keep your mouth shut.

Some one seeking pastoral patience is a pastor in every sense of the word.