In my Southeastern Seminary class this semester, “Pastoral Ministry and Leadership,” I required students to interview a pastor who has served more than ten years in ministry. One of the questions was about their greatest joys in ministry. Here are some of the findings from this group of pastors:
- Seeing people come to know Jesus. No pastor can adequately describe the excitement when a lost person is redeemed through the grace of God. That’s one of the times that ministry is completely worth it.
- Seeing people “get it.” There’s nothing quite like it when laypersons genuinely connect with the gospel and their eyes light up with excitement. Every pastor loves it when that happens.
- Sending out workers. These pastors were excited when they could raise up and send out the next generation of church planters, pastors, and missionaries – even when doing so meant they sent out their best.
- Seeing radical transformation of lives. That includes things like breaking sin patterns, healing broken homes, restoring fractured relationships, and overcoming struggles. When transformation brings joy to others, pastors rejoice, too.
- Experiencing church change. Because these pastors have been in ministry for more than a decade, some have been in the same church for some time – and they’ve seen their church overcome much to move forward. They’ve seen congregational miracles take place.
- Watching members grow up – literally and spiritually. When you’ve served one congregation for years, you get to baptize kids who grow up, marry, and then have kids you help dedicate to the Lord. Nobody else has that kind of privileged access to others’ lives.
- Preaching the Word. It can be a heavy task, but something happens when the “preaching bug” bites you. The fire seldom goes out, even when ministry is hard. Even the pastor who has been wounded deeply often still loves to preach the Word.
Come back tomorrow, when I’ll let you know what these pastors said have been their greatest frustrations. You might be surprised.
And, pastors, what are your greatest joys?
I think you should add personal sanctification. Otherwise great list.
Thanks, Steve, for adding this joy.
When do the mere mortals ever get to see the pastor/minister happy?
I’m not sure I understand your question, Mark, but I appreciate your being a reader and a contributor.
Too many times, the ordinary people in a church never see the pastor happy over anything. It is obvious that some pastors don’t like conducting weddings, baptisms, etc. Some appear upset by the time they get up to preach. My question was “when do the people get to the see the joy reflected in the pastor’s actions?”.
Thanks for the clarification. I, too, would hope that folks get to see more often the joy of pastors.
Thanks for the article Dr. Lawless. I might add, baptizing into the second and third generation. I love leading and adults to Christ and baptizing them and later on baptizing their children. It is such a joy to see Christ being shared and experienced from generation to generation. Of course you have to stay in the same church for a while to see this.
Very true, David. Thanks!
I love viewing and working with the congregation as a “team,” all working together for the cause of the Kingdom.