I served as a local church pastor for 15 years. ![]() But it’s also full of tension: intense conflict, unrealistic expectations, relational strain, and, at times, soul-aching loneliness. Ministry is an amazing call, full of great joys and significant moments in people’s lives: officiating weddings, presiding over funerals, seeing first-hand how lives are changed for Christ. ![]() After all of that I am now convinced the two most difficult jobs in the world are these-one, to be President of the United States, and two, to be the leader of a church. Over the years I have made a career out of studying the most challenging management roles out there. It’s why leadership guru Peter Drucker said this: I mean, when am I not a pastor?” This always-on, week-in, week-out grind takes a toll on pastors and their families. “It was my day off,” he said, “but I don’t really have a day off. I asked the pastor how he felt in that moment. Forty-five minutes later, they finally parted ways. Each question from the pastor uncovered five new frustrations. The congregant shared a number of difficult things happening in the church and in his own spiritual life. You can probably guess what happened-a short greeting turned into a much longer conversation. ![]() After checking out, he bumped into a congregant in the parking lot. He was shopping at Home Depot, quickly grabbing a few items for a home project. October is Pastor Appreciation Month, bringing with it a complex mix of conflicting thoughts and emotions for most pastors.Ī few weeks ago, I spoke with a pastor friend about his recent day off. You may not know it, but this is a significant month for your pastor.
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