The Best Advice Ever - For the Preacher

When I first entered full-time ministry as a youth/associate pastor I thought I knew everything.  I was naive, arrogant and a bit prideful...ok full of pride, 100% grade-A prime pride.  After all I was in seminary, reading all the cutting edge books, attending the conferences led by change agents in the church world, I knew how to run a church.  I secretly analyzed the pastors who I served with and knew that when I got the chance to be the pastor I would know what to do and be the next hot commodity on the conference circuit.


How clearly mistaken I was.  After a couple of years 'behind the pulpit' I called one of my mentors, Barry Camp who faithfully led a wonderful church for over 20 years (all of which were done so with conflict, strong-willed people and all the other trappings of a local church).  I called Barry for some advice and a shoulder to lean on, also to apologize to him for being a youth pastor who thought he knew everything.  Barry must have sensed in my voice and by the tone of the conversation that I needed some advice and he graciously gave me the best advice I have ever received from a pastor.

'Chris, if you are going to make it in ministry as a pastor you need three things; a clearly defined divine call, an intimate relationship with Jesus and thick skin.'

These words echo in my mind every Monday when I drag into my office with a 'preaching hangover' and every time I wonder how I can keep at the hardest vocation I have ever been a part of (and one that I love to be a part of with all my being).  You know as well as I do that being a pastor is a full-contact sport and as wonderful a vocation as it is, it is difficult.  I think that there is a great deal of wisdom in listening to pastors who have made it to retirement cleanly-without scandal, faithfully and with integrity.  More than anything, in 20+ years I want to look back at this ministry God has granted me without regret, with dignity and humility in a life given and ministry accomplished cleanly.


Over the next couple of posts I am going to develop and discuss the three ideas my 'pastoral guru' laid on me a couple of years ago.  Here's to making it cleanly through!