Comments on: advice to young pastors: thick skin, tender heart needed

By: Ex-christian

Ex-christian — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 07:54:51 +0000

Nickolas, you said, “Having been a Pastor in a Charismatic church, it tends to draw some people with serious problems . . . and listening to them tell their concerns, sometimes you want to cock your head and wonder where these people come from.”

I never was a charismatic pastor, but I was involved in a small amount of charismatic lay ministry for about 4 years, and I agree that charismatic churches and groups do tend to draw some people with serious problems. To me that’s one of the best parts of the experience of the faith community, that people with many different kinds of problems can be helped, at least to some degree, by the fellowship of believers. To me that’s what ‘the mystery that we call the God who is Love’ is all about.

By: Nickolas

Nickolas — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 23:04:07 +0000

Aaah . . . a series of sprints! How appropriate. Having been a Pastor in a Charismatic church, it tends to draw some people with serious problems . . . and listening to them tell their concerns, sometimes you want to cock your head a wonder where these people come from . . . however, even with those kinds of issues. I have met and enjoy the fellowship of some of the most delightfula and wonderful people. The pluses certainly out weigh the minus.

By: Ex-christian

Ex-christian — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 21:38:23 +0000

Thanks for the link to this book. I”ve read a bit inside it and I’ll be reading more soon. I like its rational approach to happiness.

http://www.amazon.com/How-Happiness-Scientific-Approach-Getting/dp/159420148X

By: justin barss

justin barss — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 17:56:47 +0000

Great article ken – i really appreciate someone willing to talk about this. Its not a focus of the church. Gladly, its a focus of our pastors – my wife and i are planting a vineyard church in wilmington, delaware and they’ve REQUIRED that we take time off for special family events and that our marriage comes first.
thanks for speaking your mind and heart, ken.
peace, jb

By: steven hamilton

steven hamilton — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 10:59:47 +0000

don…i utterly agree. i feel like ministry thus far has been a series of sprints, and getting a sabbath-rhythm…and the peterson book is well-recommended…thanks!

By: Don

Don — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:38:33 +0000

Ken, this is great advice and kind to young pastors — really all of us. Having been at this gig for 30 years, you are so right. Pastoral ministry is not for the faint of heart. One young pastor said recently, “I know. I know. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.” No, it’s really a series of sprints, with some of them feeling like a marathon. Ken’s advice about getting important rhythms as part of your life is the best advise you’ll ever hear. The rhythms will allow you recovery time in between the sprints. Good old Eugene Peterson in his book “Working the angles” gets it, too. If you get the angles right (Prayer, Bible reading, spiritual direction), you’ll make it in the ministry. … Now is that thick skin and a tender heart or steel wool and a tender heart?