He told me to tell you that...

I was interviewed by a college senior last week for one of his classes. He’s a ministry major and one of the questions he had to ask was what would you tell someone going into the ministry. A former youth pastor had told him, “Run as far as you can in the opposite direction.” I get that answer. There are days we want to quit and run like Forrest Gump but running from God is never right, ask Jonah.

Being called to serve the Lord in the vocational ministry is a huge honor and a great privilege. I can remember for lack of a better word how “proud” my grandparents were that my dad was a pastor. I remember my Aunt Hazel (everyone should have an Aunt Hazel) would introduce my dad and share, “Gary is a minister.” Even as a kid it made me feel good that my dad did served in that capacity.

Carey Nieuwhof is kind of a church guru and former pastor, says, “Leadership surrounds you with people, but can leave you utterly alone.” I find this to be true in the ministry. Most pastors and their wives have very few real friends (I might be the exception to this - God has blessed my socks of with great friends).

Management consultant Peter Drucker has ranked the job of a pastor as one of the four hardest professions. We are right alongside, the POTUS, University Presidents and Hospital CEO’s. At least he says, “You are in good company.”

This doesn’t get said very often because no one wants to sound weak but the ministry is hard. The ministry is messy because people are messy. I’ve been there when they cut a woman down from the rafter of her barn after she hanged herself. I’ve been there when they pulled a man out of his bedroom closet after he used a gun to end his life. It’s just like television, they carry you out in a black body bag. There’s nothing glamorous about this, you feel nothing but nausea and you want to just go home and take a shower and pretend that what just happened didn’t happen.

I remember when we were young a million years ago and we were living in St. Louis, we had a great pastor (prior to my call into the ministry). After we had moved and years later we found out this awesome man of God had committed suicide. Hard to understand and I think that’s the point.

Just last week another high profile pastor (Darrin Patrick) decided the pain was too much to bear. Jarrid Wilson who was connected with Greg Laurie’s ministry in California (Harvest Crusades and Harvest Christian Fellowship) took his life last year and left behind a young wife and two kids just like Darrin Patrick. Pastor Wilson was a mental health advocate who had founded the ministry, Anthem of Hope that was helping people struggling with the same issues that eventually wore him out.

I’m not suggesting all pastors are suffering from depression or subject to suicide. I’m not saying that at all. I’m just saying your pastor is a person that needs renewal and validation just like anyone else. This is not about me either - I’m just sharing what’s on my heart as I grieve the loss of a life that mattered just like every life matters. I also know this goes beyond being patted on the back, mental health is real and needs to be taken seriously by everyone. If you are struggling reach out, you will be surprised at how much people care.

Your pastor is working hard right now, texting, calling members trying to keep up with the sheep. Your pastor is learning a new rhythm and new skills as they record sermons, use social media or other platforms to post these messages. They are working hard at trying to reopen the church in the safest and most comfortable way. In case you didn’t know it churches are not built for social distancing. Your pastor is praying for you constantly and he is concerned for you, he loves you and he wants the best for you.

Go ahead and reach out to your pastor today, tell him God sees him and that God likes him.

He told me to tell you that.