SuperPastor!
- Posted by: Todd
- Posted on: Thu, September 09, 2004
- Viewed 211
- (4) comments so far
Do you ever get tired of trying to be Super-Pastor and yet not seeing the results you'd like to see? Have you ever borrowed a great idea from another church that bombed at your church? Ever get frustrated that you take two steps backward for every one step forward?
Thomas Fischer writes,
What is a "super" pastor? Simply one who, in spite of the conflict, disappointment, frustration and anger--and the accolades, praise and success--never, ever loses sight of the most important thing: a vital connectedness with God... Whatever the condition of "super" pastor--broken or unbroken, celebrated or collapsed--and whatever the condition of the church--growing or dying, unified or schizoid, enthusiastic or disheartened--the affirmation of God's calling remains. Isaiah wrote, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good tidings..." (Isaiah 52:7 NIV). That is what makes any pastor a "super" pastor. Beautiful feet. No matter where God leads those feet, and no matter what they experience, those feet remain beautiful because they singular mark of a "super" pastor: they proclaim the Gospel. No matter what the circumstances, in season or out, the "super" pastor continues to preach the Word wherever God leads those awesome, beautiful feet. Are you a "super" pastor? It's easy to tell if you are. Don't look around you. Don't look at your church. Don't look at your leaders. Don't look at your antagonists. Don't look at your church's problems or successes. Don't even look at yourself in the mirror. Just look at your feet.
What are your thoughts?
Ted Haggard writes in his book Dog Training, Fly Fishing, And Sharing Christ In The 21st Century, "Superman, Wonderwoman, Aquaman… was there anything they couldn’t do? Routinely leaping tall buildings, firing laser blasts from their fists with pinpoint accuracy, and deflecting bullets with a lightning-quick reflex of the wrist—they were larger than life. How was any would-be hero to compete in the eyes of a child? Dad, the local fireman, the social studies teacher --all paled in comparison. I always thought that if only I could be like one of the great pastors, I’d have a great church. I figured the biggest problem with the church I pastor was that I was me and not someone else. You understand what I’m talking about, right?
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Comments
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Dan Moore on Mon, September 20, 2004
Culture has a way of creeping into our thinking. I am a product of my times and cutlure. Bigger always seems to be better. That said, I was comforted by visiting another pastor who is retiring. He spent 17 years in one church. He is not well known nationally or even regionally. He is just faithful. He arrived at his present calling to a faithful small group of less than one hundred, a small building on four acres of land. He tried the “programs” and finally gave up on them. He just focused on loving the Lord and His people. The church did grow. Land was acquired (at some opposition by the way). The church has over 300 members and still growing. There is no formal visitation program. Music is traditional. Hymns are sung from hymnals. Families are strong. A dozen men over the 17 years have been called to the ministry from that church.
That man is satisfied in serving the Lord. He may not be a superpastor in the world’s eyes - but he have been found faithful.
I hope I can do the same.
Pastor Dan Moore
Bill Little on Mon, September 20, 2004
I believe many preachers today want to be a Johnny Hunt, Charles Stanley, or Rick Warren and have ministries like these fine men of God. But few want to put in the sacrifice necessary. It is evidenced by the tenure of most pastors, 3.5 years. I have envied those who by the world’s standards have attained some measure of success. What I have discovered is that all of God’s men who are called into service are in some way “supermen.” The lesson I learned the hard way is that there are no insignificant pulpits and it follows then there are no insignificant pastors. There is one more inescapeable fact, there are no insignificant church members either. This is where I believe we have the task that is super human - to love everyone the way Jesus did and add value to their lives. Even when they throw stones.
One last comment, I agree with the comment that “not everyone will agree with our ideas or want to take risks.” Another way of saying that is, “people are afraid of stepping out in faith.” We might as well get used to the truth that we will not all agree on everything and not let that distract us from doing great things for God. As Col. Norman Vaughn says, “Dream big and dare to fail.”
bernie dehler on Sun, February 20, 2005
Super-Pastor… Sounds dangerous for anyone with an ego…
How do you get recognized as being a super-Pastor? Seems to me, the only way is to be on top of a large organization. A Pastor who plants other independant churches, even a very large amount of them, would never be recognized, as he has no visible empire to show. But I think the effect would be much greater than a pastor of a mega-church. The church planter is teaching and setting-up others for leadership— a multiplying effect.
...Bernie
http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/247
Celeste on Tue, July 07, 2009
Hi. A billion here, a billion there, pretty soon it adds up to real money.
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