OT: I Need Prayer
I know this is the place to talk software and get help. However, many of your names are familiar to me and so many of those names have big hearts and big faith attached to them.
I am a Pastor in a rural, small-ish church (175 or so on Sundays). My job is not in jeopardy or anything of the sort.
Would you please pray for me? God knows my needs; if you would just agree in Jesus' name that His will be done, I would appreciate it. I feel like giving up but I don't think God wants me to leave. The church is doing really well right now and there are no big fights, power struggles, etc. My heart is heavy for many reasons - some I understand and some I don't.
I am not asking for pity, just prayer, and I will surely appreciate it.
Jerry
Macbook Air (2024), Apple M2, 16gb Ram, Mac Sequoia, 1TB storage
Comments
I know this is the place to talk software and get help. However, many of your names are familiar to me and so many of those names have big hearts and big faith attached to them.
I am a Pastor in a rural, small-ish church (175 or so on Sundays). My job is not in jeopardy or anything of the sort.
Would you please pray for me? God knows my needs; if you would just agree in Jesus' name that His will be done, I would appreciate it. I feel like giving up but I don't think God wants me to leave. The church is doing really well right now and there are no big fights, power struggles, etc. My heart is heavy for many reasons - some I understand and some I don't.
I am not asking for pity, just prayer, and I will surely appreciate it.
Jerry
Brother,
Also a small church pastor, who can relate very well to what you're going through. Am praying for you, even as I compose this response.You are not alone, either in your struggles, nor in your ministry, nor as a sheep called into the task of shepherd. I'm convinced that God is providing all you need to not only make it through this time and in your ministry, but to thrive in them -- not that I know you or your situation; but I do know our God.
If you want to dialogue about this, I'd be happy to share my journey with you via email (richderuiter in the place where that ubiquitous search engine's email is common).
Help links: WIKI; Logos 6 FAQ. (Phil. 2:14, NIV)
Been there, done that. And will be praying for you brother. May you find God's grace as you seek His way.
Blessings,
Floyd
Pastor-Patrick.blogspot.com
Jerry,
Asked God to give you a sense of His presence in and with you, a reaffirmation.
Asked God to encourage you and to give you a renewed sense of His direction.
Asked God to empower you and to utilize you and the gifts He has entrusted to you to make measurable impact on the people around you.
Asked God to open doors of opportunity to share your faith and assurance with those who need Christ and asked God to give many of those folks saving faith and to move them to transfer their trust to Jesus and be born again.
Asked God to give you health and strength, to renew and build up your relationships, to fill you with His Spirit, to open His word to you and give you renewed understanding and new insights to encourage you and share with others, and to draw you close in your walk with Him.
In Jesus' name, amen.
Jerry,
I am praying for you as well. I too am a Rural Pastor (coming up on 25 years at the same church) and know the struggles. If i can do anything else let me know, but most of all I will take you before the Throne.
In Christ,
Nord
My thoughts and prayers are with you Jerry.
Prayed as requested Jerry.
I am a Pastor in a rural, small-ish church (175 or so on Sundays
While much younger I was a second staff person in a church that size.
There were many crisis and difficult challenges that faced the Senior Pastor.
I realize that today there are many mega-churches, But 175 at worship on a sundau is "not" small.
It can produce "many" difficult challenges.
Be assured of my prayers and heart felt concern also.
All the best
Regards, SteveF
Jerry, I too am a small church Pastor. Our church is not a "mega church" like 175 average on Sundays; rather we average between 30-40. Two weeks ago I was ready to resign. In fact on Monday morning I was going to call the chairmen of our deacons to set a meeting and let him know. But I had no peace in my spirit and knew that it was not God's will. As I opened His word he led me to several different passages but the first chapter of Colossians really jumped off the pages (okay the computer screen[;)]).
I ended up preaching a message last week from verses 27-29 of that chapter and my congregation will never know how much that message was for me. I encourage you brother to let God direct you and comfort you in your time of discouragment and difficulty. Let His word overtake and consume your emotions.
Feel free to email me at fhchap At the standard gmail address.
Its been a rough summer for me. I've had many thoughts in my mind but this I know; If everyone in the NT who had rough times followed through on some of the thoughts I have had, there would have been no one to write the NT.
I can't say God is or is not calling you to anything other then obedience and His character (yes, that is a vastly simplified list). For the rest of the details I will certainly pray you have wisdom.
pastor Jerry,
Praying for you for strength and grace. God will make a way.
mac
Our church is not a "mega church" like 175 average on Sundays; rather we average between 30-40.
Fred -
Thanks for the laugh! I guess it is all perspective. The church I came from (I was the Youth Pastor) was around 500. So 175 seems small to me.
But for you, I suppose 175 seems large!
Again, thank you for the smile on a day when I needed it.
Jerry
Macbook Air (2024), Apple M2, 16gb Ram, Mac Sequoia, 1TB storage
Everyone who responded...
I started to list everyone by name, but was afraid I would forget someone.
I am overwhelmed with your love and compassion - and you don't even know me. Thank you. Tears are in my eyes as I type this.
Burnout? Rosie and others - that is a wise perception. I am 47 but this is my first lead-Pastor position. I was a Youth Pastor for many years before this. I was not prepared for the pressures, demands, spiritual attack, and temptations. I experienced some of it before - I was full time as a Youth guy - but not at this level, and some of the things are new to me - especially a couple in the temptation category.
I have a friend who Pastors a very large (16,000+) church in a southern state. The church was exploding with growth and success, and one day his brain kind of checked out. He did not know where he was or who he was with. He had to be hospitalized. They made changes in the church and he is great now.
On a much smaller level, I can relate to what happened to him. We have seen many come to Jesus, almost doubled in size, built a new building, changed our worship style, and I am trying to lead the church toward Elder rule. This has all happened in about 4.5 years (Feb. 5th will be 5 years for me here).
God has been good - almost all of the growth have been either people coming to the Lord for the first time or those that have fallen away from church and have not been for many years. We have had a few church hoppers, but not many and I discourage it.
So why would I want to bail out on all of that? Stress, trying to keep up, not enough staff added for the growth, plus all the other stuff every Pastor deals with: cruddy pay, apathetic people, not enough leaders, people that don't follow through, etc.
I am hoping to establish a solid Elder board around me to keep me balanced and accountable. I need help. We hired a Youth Pastor and that has helped some, but the demands are still high .
I love my church family and believe this is where God has placed me. I also know I have messed up along the way, personally and as a leader. I wonder why God leaves me here when I have fallen so short. But I am reminded of Paul the murderer, David the adulterer and abuser of power, Peter the deny-er (not a word, I know), and Mark the deserter among others.
I do try to keep balance. I work around 50 hours per week and am blessed to not have to work outside the church. I take Friday/Saturday off and am pretty good at keeping those as true days off. Sometimes I have to work on Friday mornings, but mostly I stay away from work and the church is good about respecting that.
This year I decided to get healthy and have lost almost 60 lbs. I ride 9-10 miles on a bike every day, rarely missing a day. It's getting colder here so I am going to have to figure out how to exercise in the winter.
Being non-denominational, there is no support that way. I often feel alone. There are no major problems at home; my wife says she is happy but I feel pretty disconnected.
Again, I will ask for prayer. Now you have a little better picture of things. You all have ministries and burdens of your own; please don't pick up on mine - just pray for me.
Thank you so much - all of you.
Jerry
Macbook Air (2024), Apple M2, 16gb Ram, Mac Sequoia, 1TB storage
Jerry, I want you to seriously consider what Rosie said about burnout. I too have pastored small congregations, as small as 20 - 30 members. Ministry can be demanding. If you need an ear to unload on contact me at lynden_williams at the mail that is hot. I can call you, thus enabling us to pray together.
Heavenly Father, I ask for the presence of your Holy Spirit to be with Jerry. Let him experience your peace. Help him to know that 1 Peter 5:7 he can cast his cares upon you, because you care for him. May he remember that you are there to guide and direct him, Psalm 32:8, and that he is special in your sight. Psalm 139:13-18. May he remember that the work that you have begun in him, you will complete. Philippians 1:6. Keep his heart and mind fixed on the ministry that you have called him to, for if he comes to you, he will in no wise be cast out. John 6:37.
Be encouraged my brother.
Mission: To serve God as He desires.
Jerry, I want you to seriously consider what Rosie said about burnout. I too have pastored small congregations, as small as 20 - 30 members. Ministry can be demanding. If you need an ear to unload on contact me at lynden_williams at the mail that is hot. I can call you, thus enabling us to pray together.
Heavenly Father, I ask for the presence of your Holy Spirit to be with Jerry. Let him experience your peace. Help him to know that 1 Peter 5:7 he can cast his cares upon you, because you care for him. May he remember that you are there to guide and direct him, Psalm 32:8, and that he is special in your sight. Psalm 139:13-18. May he remember that the work that you have begun in him, you will complete. Philippians 1:6. Keep his heart and mind fixed on the ministry that you have called him to, for if he comes to you, he will in no wise be cast out. John 6:37.
Be encouraged my brother.
Amen
Blessings in Christ.
I am not asking for pity, just prayer, and I will surely appreciate it.
I just got home from the hospital. I will have several days of bed rest time so I will keep praying for you. My prayer needs are only physical and pale in comparison to the spiritual burdens many pastors must bear sometimes. I will certainly remember you through the day as God reminds me (--maybe with a personal pain or two for prodding.)
Logos 7 Collectors Edition
I am not asking for pity, just prayer, and I will surely appreciate it.I just got home from the hospital. I will have several days of bed rest time so I will keep praying for you. My prayer needs are only physical and pale in comparison to the spiritual burdens many pastors must bear sometimes. I will certainly remember you through the day as God reminds me (--maybe with a personal pain or two for prodding.)
Brother Matthew ,I am praying for you as well.
Blessings in Christ.
I feel like giving up but I don't think God wants me to leave.
I understand just how you feel. More important, as the song says, "Jesus knows just how I feel." Praying for you, brother.
Done and doing.