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Blog Archive
October 02, 2019
Terry's Thoughts October 2019
WOW, October is here and 2019 is entering into its last quarter. As clichéd as it might seem the words “where has the year gone” applies. I certainly pray 2019 has been a great year for you. In many ways 2019 has been an amazing year for many here within our association. Lives have forever been changed. Some have found Jesus as their personal savior, but sadly we have also watched as some have gone home to be with the Savior. Even in the home goings they have experienced the ultimate victory. I neither have the space or time to recount all that has happened within the WCBA. I do hope, however, to detail the happenings within the WCBA at our upcoming Annual Meeting on October 20th beginning at 4:00 P.M. at Conway Baptist Church. I look forward to sharing one of my best reports ever. Hope to see you there.
October is one of the busiest months of the year. It marks the onset of Fall with all its activities both within our families and our church families. Many will be celebrating church anniversaries, homecomings, Fall revivals, and Fall festivals. Along with these activities there are the usual sports activities that occupy a great deal of our time following children and grandchildren around. As we celebrate and participate in all of these activities let’s not forget our responsibility to do all we can with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
There is one activity that is an emphasis in October that often gets overlooked. That activity is Pastor Appreciation Month. My prayer is that you will remember to formally recognize the hard work our pastors provide to all of us the whole year round. There are a number of ways you can recognize and bless your pastor by simply praying for him along with showing him some tangible blessings. There are several great websites that provide suggestions, but whatever you do make sure it is a real blessing. Speaking of praying for your pastor the following are some ways, a good friend sent me, you can pray for him that will be a true blessing:
- Pray for your pastor’s marriage and family. Pray for your pastor’s marriage and children to thrive. Pray for your pastor’s parents or other relatives. Ask God to make his home a place of beauty and joy that sets a good example for the flock of God.
- Pray for your pastor’s spiritual life. No one can draw water from an empty well. Too often pastors try to preach, teach, council, comfort, lead and support to the neglect of their own souls. Pray your pastor will keep company with God in prayer, Bible reading, and to seize opportunities to worship.
- Pray for your pastor’s physical health. The demands of ministry often compete with healthy lifestyles. Pray for your pastor to be protected from sickness and disease. Pray that he will take good physical care of himself.
- Pray for wisdom and vision. Pastors often face incredibly challenging situations and decisions. Seasons of growth, stagnation, decline, and etc. are a reality. All of these situations demand much prayer. Pray for God to grant your pastor wisdom and vision to lead the church as it needs to be led.
- Pray for your pastor’s friendships. Being a pastor can be a lonely job. Few understand the pressures they face. Many criticize the decisions they make. Pray for your pastor to make as well as maintain healthy, strong friendships that will build him up, relationships that allow him to be himself and enjoy an occasional respite from the responsibility of being “all things to all people.”
- Pray for your pastor’s finances. Many people in ministry are overcommitted and underpaid. They make sacrifices for the sake of the Gospel and often serve churches where funds are tight. But of course Scripture says, “The worker deserves his wages” (1 Timothy 5:18, NIV). Debt and other financial pressures make effective ministry all the more difficult when the pastor’s finances are out of line. So pray for your pastor’s financial well-being.
- Pray for rest. As a pastor, you can become very tired. With all the pressure that comes in ministry the mental and physical demands can become extremely stressful. Pastors find it difficult to take Sabbath Rest. Often, “running on fumes,” they are more likely to collapse over finding time to rest. Pray for your pastor to get the rest needed to be regularly and completely refreshed. Help him find times to revive himself by resting, sleep, recreation, and time off. It will benefit the church as well.
- Pray for ministry effectiveness. Nothing revives and restores a pastor like a spiritual victory. A grateful response to a sermon, helping him find new converts, new members, celebrate baptisms as a church family, and so many other little things will help make his ministry effective. Pray for your pastor to feel useful and effective in his efforts, to see the fruit of his labors, and to experience the blessing of making a real and lasting difference in people’s lives.
My prayer is that our pastors will be able to look back at 2019 and forward to 2020 realizing that these are the best years of their ministry. You can help in so many ways. PLEASE SHOW HIM SOME LOVE AND I ASSURE YOU IT WILL BE RETURNED FOUR FOLD. I am also confident that even if you forget to recognize them they will love you anyway. You are, by the way, the best association in the state and it is very hard NOT TO LOVE YOU! Remember I love you and consider it an honor to serve the WCBA!!
Terry